Eurotrips founder interview: why he sold his Prague travel firm

Unfortunately, Around Prague wasn't able to meet the founder of Eurotrips in person, as the company's head, Alexey Ilyash, is constantly on the road and rarely in Prague. As Alexey himself told us, he's currently focused on developing new travel products, which is why he spends most of his time abroad.

We tried several times to “steal” some of Alexey's time while he was in Prague, but after the third failed attempt, we decided it would be better to talk over social media instead. We put together a list of questions for the head of one of the most successful travel companies in Czechia, aimed primarily at the Russian-speaking community, and waited patiently for his answers.

Around Prague: How did you move to Prague, and how long ago was that?

Alexey: That was about 7–8 years ago. Honestly, I don't even remember exactly anymore. My parents moved here, so it's a pretty ordinary story.

AP: Did you have the idea of starting a travel company right away?

A: Before that I worked in tourism myself. I was at a company that organized completely ordinary sightseeing tours, mainly to Prague, Czechia and a few other European countries.

I went on a few of those excursions myself, and they didn't leave the best impression. It felt like sitting through a three-hour lecture on monarchy and architecture given by a guide in his fifties. I decided it was too boring and uninteresting, so I wanted to try organizing something I'd actually enjoy myself.

AP: When did that happen, and how did it all start?

A: Eurotrips was founded in February 2012, and that's when we ran our first tour. I traveled across almost all of Europe, found a young local representative in every capital, and together we put together an entertainment program for tourists. Our main goal was to show European cities through the eyes of a local.



I'd say we brought something new, fun, trendy and young into tourism. To understand the spirit of Eurotrips, just take a look at our photos or videos from the tours.

Thanks to this fresh approach and our young local representatives, the company grew quickly, and today Eurotrips operates in Czechia, Poland, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova. We're planning to open offices in Russia and Kazakhstan soon.

AP: Do you have a background in tourism? Do you need one to organize tours like these?

A: Luckily, I don't have any formal background in tourism, and that's exactly how we ended up building a company that's completely different from the usual tour operators. We did everything the way we'd want it for ourselves! The main goal was for our clients to feel, on our tours, like they were simply visiting friends in Europe.

AP: Is Eurotrips your first venture in tourism?

Yes, my first in tourism. Before that there were a few other projects we worked hard on, but Eurotrips ended up pushing them into the background.

AP: In total, how many people have traveled with you on your various tours?

The number is close to 10,000 over the whole period. The record I'm proudest of – 204 tourists taking part in a single tour! Three buses went at once, and of course it was to Amsterdam (smiles).

AP: As we understand it, you've sold Eurotrips. Tell us, what should we expect now? Will there be any major changes, and who did you sell it to?

A: Yes, I sold it. As of this year I've handed the reins of the Czech office to a new team who are full of enthusiasm and new ideas. Eurotrips in Prague has plenty of interesting things in store. The team is working on a new website and a lot of new destinations.

AP: Why did you decide to sell the company?

I'm about to start working on tourism in Russia and Ukraine, so I've handed the Czech branch of Eurotrips over to the local team. A project like this needs close, constant attention, otherwise you risk losing your audience.

AP: There's talk that the company was sold for 500–600 thousand crowns. Is that true?



A: That's confidential information.

AP: Some say that profitable companies don't get sold. Do you agree?

A: Hmm, this is a different kind of company, it needs constant attention, and if you don't give it that attention – it fizzles out. That's why, for the sake of the overall brand, we decided to split the countries between several people. The new ideas and perspectives on the company's direction have already proven themselves in other countries.

AP: Tell us, who did you sell the company to? Are they people you know? Do they have a background in tourism?

A: Yes, they're my friends, young and full of enthusiasm. As a matter of principle, we don't bring people with a formal tourism background onto our team. We think that would only hurt the spirit of the company.

AP: What will you be doing now? Are you still involved with Eurotrips?

A: Of course. We'll keep growing Eurotrips' global network. I'll be focusing on less-developed markets and taking the company to an international level. Thanks to the crisis, big players are dropping out of tourism, and new ones are taking their place, ones with a better chance of strengthening their position and claiming a spot in global tourism.



AP: Where are you based now? Do you still come to Prague?

That's a tricky question, I'll be spending most of my time outside Prague, flying back and forth between Ukraine and Russia.

AP: You've been to almost all of Europe, do you have a favorite city or country?

A: I absolutely love Italy and France, but I still consider Prague my hometown, and I always enjoy coming back to it.

AP: Would you like to stay and live in Prague?

A: I can't say for sure yet, I'm still pretty young. We'll see where fate takes me.

The Around Prague team would, in turn, like to wish Alexey success in all his future endeavors!