I had the pleasure of interviewing Jitka Hrebikova, CEO and founder of Boho Travels. A luxury travel agency whose mission is to provide naturally-based healing and beauty services.
Tell us about you, your career, and how you founded Boho Travels.
Jitka Hrebikova: I have been working in tourism for many years, and I’ve had the opportunity to gain experience in large multinational companies and small family businesses. However satisfactory the experience, I never had the opportunity to advance my own dreams. It was a dream or a vision of having my own ideas to create a very unique complex of medicine, beauty, and nature. I woke up one day and decided to become my own boss, turn my ideas into reality, and accomplish my own goals without someone else’s permission or instructions. The reasons were freedom, new experiences, and to learn more about my ability to make things happen. The most important one was to be subservient to myself only. My vision was pretty clear: It was a combination of travel and health. It is the most important value we have, and many people only realize it once they become sick. Naturally, they desire to recover from their ailments. The first steps were to create one concept that connects those interests, find the business structure, and set up the main pillars of the offered services.
Do you have small habits that made a meaningful impact on your life and business?
Jitka Hrebikova: I regularly observe successful people, especially ladies, and by doing so, increasing my will to create. I feel that my unique thinking pattern outside of the box enables me to deliver better services.
How does Boho Travels market its product/services online?
Jitka Hrebikova: Our services are deliberately tailored exactly to the need of our customers. Generally speaking, we connect wellness spas with sports activities and city recreation. Because of this, our company doesn’t utilize direct online purchases. Everything we create is very original and entirely tailored to our clients. Our balneology doctors custom fit medical programs to each individual client. Mineral waters and mud programs have been proven for years. The cures have a beneficial effect on the musculoskeletal system, osteoarthritis, arthritis, weight loss, and stress processes.
What specific tools, software, and management skills are you using to manage your online marketing?
Jitka Hrebikova: One piece of the puzzle that is my work is Google, of course – My smart friend who knows the answer simply for everything, tells me where to go when I get lost, connects me with my friends, reminds me of my schedule for the day and translate for me anything I want. While Google helps with personal trifles, I also use a wide range of social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to broaden the scope of potential clients. Rather than blanket online adverting, we prefer to connect with potential clients in local demography.
What is your hiring policy/process, and how do you retain your employees?
Jitka Hrebikova: I mostly give opportunities to ladies on maternity leave or single mothers who need flexibility, the possibility to work from home, and naturally financial support as well as their own time-space, generally speaking. The Covid-19 pandemic on its own has negatively impacted the mental health of so many people, particularly women. With us, they can contribute to other people’s health and relieve their stress. This creates a very nice work relationship based on big responsibility from their side and flexibility on my side.
How are you funding your growth?
Jitka Hrebikova: The main investment is the opening of new destinations. Our BOHO collection is very much growing and wants to offer our clients a wider portfolio of beautiful places to visit. Other big parts of funding go into FAM trips organized by our agency. This is a necessary promotion of our services, leading to new business opportunities and strengthening current relationships with valued clients.
Who are your competitors? And how do you plan to stay in the game?
Jitka Hrebikova: Possibly small travel agencies with some holistic business focus. Our competitors have never been big massive travel agencies without personal customer focus. Our clients are people with weaker health. They require a personal approach, and every stressful situation without personal assistance would be extremely difficult for them. This is an absolute convenience as personalized programs and relaxation for body and spirit are our priorities.
Tell us a customer success story of yours?
Jitka Hrebikova: One of our services continues to be very well regarded by our clients: It is the Medical Spa which combines with our wide variety of wellness cures. These services have been proven to be beneficial for healing many diseases and ailments such as (osteoarthritis, arthritis, consequences of trauma, rheumatic processes, etc.). However, positive effects not only occur during the curative period but, most importantly, persist for several months after treatment, resulting in long-term wellness…This is one of the reasons why we have many happy returning customers. Our clients regularly return to the spa and routinely favor our services. Pick a happy customer and tell her story!!
Your final thoughts?
Jitka Hrebikova: Balm your body and soul, and do the best for your health. You have only one life.
0 Comments