Exclusive Interview with Civitatis CEO:Alberto Gutierrez

Welcome to an exclusive interview with Alberto Gutiérrez Pascual , the visionary leader behind Civitatis In this interview, we delve into Gutierrez's leadership style, his vision for the company, and his thoughts on the future of the travel industry. With a focus on customer satisfaction, personalized experiences, and a commitment to sustainability, Gutierrez shares valuable insights on how Civitatis is driving growth and innovation in the ever-evolving travel landscape. Join us as we explore Gutierrez's strategies for exceeding customer expectations and creating unforgettable travel experiences. Discover how technology and adaptability are shaping the future of travel, and gain valuable perspectives on the challenges and opportunities faced by the industry. This interview provides a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Gutierrez's leadership philosophy, the strategic direction of Civitatis is, and his vision for the future of the travel industry. Get ready to be inspired by his passion for exceptional customer experiences and his unwavering commitment to innovation.

1. Can you share with us the story behind the founding of Civitatis and what inspired you to start this travel platform?

In 2008, I started writing free travel guides that I posted on the Internet for advertising income and affiliate programs to help me cover my travel expenses. The idea of selling tours and guided tours in Spanish emerged a year later. As soon as I started I discovered the potential behind it and I knew that it would be the future. At the end of 2009 it was selling tours in seven important destinations for Spanish travelers. And today, we sell more than 88,000 activities in 160 countries. And we lead this category.?

2. What sets Civitatis apart from other travel platforms in terms of unique features or offerings? At Civitatis we carefully select the suppliers we work with. In this way, we can afford to offer our clients the best tours in each destination, and not fifty different options in which you are barely able to find the difference. In addition, our product catalog in Spanish is unrivalled, it is virtually insurmountable, and we are working to replicate the success in the other languages we work with: English, French, Italian and Portuguese. To all this we must add a digital platform very simple, intuitive, and that works wonders. Supported at all times by a team of Customer Service 24/7 able to solve any doubt or incident that may arise to the tourist.

3. How has Civitatis adapted to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and what strategies have you implemented to ensure the safety and satisfaction of your customers?

We took advantage of the pandemic situation to improve everything we were already strong in, such as the offer of activities or the simple use of our platform. And we also surrounded ourselves with new partners to help us grow when the virus left, because we knew it would happen. And so it has been: it was months of hard work to sow, and since 2022, we are reaping the fruits.

4. What role does technology play in the growth and success of Civitatis , and how do you envision it shaping the future of the travel industry?

Civitatis is a purely technological platform. I myself am a digital native. Technology therefore plays a key role in the origins of Civitatis and in our development. In addition, we are very proud to say that we are helping to digitize thousands and thousands of suppliers. We already work with more than 6,000 around the world, and obviously many of them were already working with technology. But others do not, and we believe that giving them the means to be able to sell online to customers anywhere in the world is also something very relevant within corporate social responsibility. Thanks to the collaboration with Civitatis, for example, a small fishing boat owner in the middle of the Amazon has digitized his business and has exponentially amplified its benefits. ?

5. Can you tell us about any recent partnerships or collaborations that Civitatis has formed to enhance the travel experience for your customers?

We have carried out several very interesting collaborations in recent months. If I have to keep one, perhaps it would be the one we have closed with Paradores, because of the great relevance that this brand has within the Spanish tourism sector in a historical way. It’s synonymous with quality, just like Civitatis, so I’m delighted to be able to surround ourselves with partners like this.

6. As the CEO of Civitatis , what is your vision for the future of the company and how do you see it evolving in the coming years?

We are in the process of international expansion. It is a very important challenge, where practically every year we are growing by 50% compared to the previous year. Honestly, I don’t see any ceiling on our growth, nor do I want to see it! I am very happy with everything we are getting at Civitatis . But it is not easy, and the different situations of territories as diverse as Latin America, the United States, France or Italy, make us have to give our best to continue achieving our goals. We’re ambitious, and we’re gonna make it.

7. How does Civitatis ensure the quality and authenticity of the experiences and tours it offers to customers?

We have a large Supply team in charge of reviewing each and every one of our 88,000 activities. They are great experts within the sector, and their criterion is quality assurance. However, we also rely constantly on the thousands of real reviews we receive every week about our activities. If we see that the score of an excursion begins to decline, a red light lights on our radar and we understand that something is wrong. It needs to be corrected or changed.

8. What measures does Civitatis take to prioritize sustainable and responsible travel practices?

Sustainability is fundamental for Civitatis , because we understand that tourism can only be responsible. Otherwise, there will be no tourism to do. For this reason, we strongly insist on ethical and environmental criteria being met in our activities, as well as on inculcating all these values not only to our suppliers or employees, but also to travellers. In 2023 we had more than 10,000,000 customers, so the impact they may have on society and the environment is very large. We need it to be a fully positive impact, and we are working towards it.?

9. In your opinion, what are the key elements that contribute to creating a seamless and memorable travel experience for customers?

Exactly what we offer at Civitatis : quality, safety, trust, reliability, variety in the offer... It is the key to our success, and has been our main focus since I founded the company in 2008.

10. Lastly, what advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs in the travel industry who are looking to make a positive impact and create successful ventures?

Contrary to what other entrepreneurs would say, my advice would be not to try to invent anything, and focus efforts on something that has been done all life, improving processes, usability or marketing. No matter how hard we try, Rome? will always be Rome.

As we conclude this exclusive interview with Alberto Gutiérrez Pascual , the CEO of Civitatis , we are reminded of the timeless wisdom that Rome will always be Rome. Rather than chasing after elusive and grandiose ideas, Alberto's advice to entrepreneurs is to harness the potential of what already exists and strive for continuous improvement. By focusing on refining processes, enhancing usability, and optimizing marketing strategies, businesses can achieve remarkable success. Let us embrace this unique perspective and unlock the true potential that lies within the familiar.

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