By Surbhi Gogia
Selling vehicles may be routine in a salesperson’s daily work, but for a customer, it’s anything but ordinary. For many, it happens once every five or ten years. It’s often second only to buying a home.
“When we approach that moment with care and excitement, exceptional experiences happen naturally,” says Raymon Hothi, General Manager at Surrey Honda.
This conviction lies at the core of Raymon’s leadership. Known for exceptional customer service, he has, at a surprisingly young age, led and motivated teams across multiple dealerships, guiding them toward a standard of excellence that doesn’t shift gears once keys are handed over. Instead, they keep the customer in the driver’s seat, ensuring service remains steady long after the sale is closed.
Born and raised in Maple Ridge, Raymon grew up with a twin curiosity for cars and business. He knew he wanted a career in business and explored different paths to find the right fit. A Bachelor of Business Administration helped him explore a wide range of fields.
After graduating in 2017, he aimed for the automotive industry. “I researched which auto groups offered the best growth opportunities and discovered OpenRoad Automotive Group, one of the fastest-growing and most respected groups in the country.” He joined OpenRoad Mazda Port Moody in March 2017 as an Assistant Sales Manager and was promoted to Sales Manager later that year.
Three years in, he moved into the luxury space at Audi Boundary, then took on a senior role at BMW/MINI Langley. He later served as General Manager at Hyundai Richmond and Jaguar Land Rover Langley before becoming the leader at Surrey Honda. “Each step has allowed me to grow my leadership skills while deepening my passion for delivering exceptional customer experiences,” he says.
Leading young people can draw attention. When Raymon found himself managing individuals who were older and more experienced than he was, the challenge was real. But just like a true leader, he led by example. “Preparation, consistency, and accountability became my edge. I came to understand that credibility is built through consistent action. When your team sees that you’re willing to put in the work alongside them, listen to their input, and keep learning, trust develops naturally.”
The lesson he offers to young professionals is simple: don’t allow perceived disadvantages to define you. Concentrate on growth, remain humble, and let your work ethic speak louder than your resume.
Raymon continued along the same path, and success arrived in a way that marked a career milestone. Under his leadership, Hyundai Richmond was named the Global Dealer of the Year by Hyundai Motor Company. In his view, the award belonged to the entire team.
The award was based on 10 key storewide KPIs across Sales, Service, and Parts, requiring alignment and shared accountability throughout the organization. “Customer satisfaction and loyalty were central to many of those metrics—values I’ve always prioritized. I believe our shared commitment to delivering a consistent, high-level customer experience is what ultimately drove the result.”
He says that high-level customer experience means consistently putting the guest first, whether it’s understanding their needs or going beyond the sale to help them.
The modern buyer, he explains, is changing the rules of the game. Long dealership visits are becoming less common. Customers come prepared. “Whether in automotive or any other industry, the key remains the same: consumers want transparency and clear information. They don’t want to be “sold” a product—they want a knowledgeable professional who can guide them through the process, explain the differences between models and trims, and make the experience simple. That level of trust and ease is especially important when representing a luxury brand, where expectations are even higher.”
The engine of the business also runs beyond sales. In an automotive setting, many people think of a dealership as just a place for sales and new-vehicle purchases, but its impact extends much further. “We play an important role in the daily lives of our customers and community. Our Service and Parts departments help keep vehicles safely on the road and ensure family plans stay on track—even when unexpected breakdowns happen. Sometimes that means going above and beyond, such as sourcing and rushing in parts from across the country.”
As a leader, Raymon focuses on establishing alignment, setting clear expectations, and fostering a shared sense of purpose across all departments. When everyone recognizes that the goal is for each customer, whether visiting Sales, Service, or Beyond the showroom, his contributions to the community stand out. As Co-Chair of the OpenRoad Foundation, he has helped direct more than $1.5 million in support to over 60 partner organizations across British Columbia and Ontario since 2023. Recently, Surrey Honda, the OpenRoad Foundation, and Drishti Media collaborated on a Food Drive to celebrate Vaisakhi. All food and monetary donations collected will go to the Surrey Food Bank, which supports local families, infants, and seniors.
