Guest interview - Tom Meyers of EuroCheapo
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Tom Meyers is the founder of the US based EuroCheapo, which aims to make your time in Europe affordable and memorable. The site features expert reviews of cheap hotels in Europe. EuroCheapo encourages you to travel simply and creatively, interacting with places and cultures without spending too much.
1 What is the aim of your business?
EuroCheapo was created in 2001 with a mission to help travelers find the best budget hotels in Europe . Our readers want to save money on their hotels in Europe , yes, but they also want something a bit different from a standard chain experience. They want to know about hotels that are independently-run, that are different (maybe even kind of funky!), and that have an interesting story that might bring them closer to the local culture.
Our reviewers are travel experts who, in most cases, live and work in European cities and know them very well. Our aim is to guide our readers in researching, finding, and reserving at the best hotels for their budget—and having an accommodation experience abroad that is unique and satisfying. Through our articles, city guides, and daily blog, we also hope to help with the logistics of traveling abroad and help inspire travelers to learn more about Europe .
2 What prompted you to start your own business?
I decided to start EuroCheapo in 2000 after working for two years as a web producer at an internet startup company in New York . According to the whiz-bang rhetoric of the time, the internet was destined to break down national barriers and make us all global citizens. Yet, working at an internet company never let me travel much farther than two cubicles away! I have always been a big proponent of European travel and, having lived in Paris during college (1995-1996), had been looking for a way to return. A company, therefore, that forced me to travel abroad, sounded like the perfect solution. I’d have to start it!
3 What has been the hardest aspect of having your own business?
Growing as a company is an interesting experience! In the early days, I was the only real employee, though I sometimes received help from friends. I therefore had to learn how to do everything in the business—from visiting the hotels and corresponding with the owners, to designing the site and coding the pages! There was also the marketing—not to mention search engine concerns. All of this, and I had to figure out how the site could become a viable business, generating revenue. I love this challenge—and I love learning all of the different skills.
As you grow (as companies must!), you have to learn to “let go” of certain responsibilities. This was probably the hardest part for me, as it is for many entrepreneurs. You realize, after all, that other people can perform your responsibilities better than you can (imagine!) and that the company will benefit from their skills. It’s hard at first to let go, but it’s an enormous relief when you see that they’re not only adequate, but are exceptional! The entire company benefits from having the best people perform their jobs!
4 What is the funniest thing that has happened to you running your own business?
I’ve probably seen a couple thousand hotel rooms. I wouldn’t even know where to start with “funny hotel” stories, because, of course, you see it all.
I would say ironically, that relaxing while traveling abroad has become a bit more of a challenge for me since starting the site! I now have to make an effort to “turn it off” when traveling. Next month, for instance, I’ll be visiting Paris and taking a bike ride through the south of France . I will have to force myself not to check up on a couple hotels or set off to find new ones! I will remind myself that this is a vacation. No matter how hard I try, however, I know that, upon entering my hotel for the night, I will immediately start taking mental notes—“soundproofed windows? Shower or bath? How’s the bed?” I’ll probably even take a photo of the room…
5 Is there anything you would do differently with the benefit of hindsight?
Yep. I would have invested more heavily in technology earlier on. We’re now doing things like adding user reviews to hotel reviews that we could have done years ago when it was being introduced on the web. As obvious as that sounds, you never know what is going to catch on and what isn’t. I would recommend to anyone with a web-based business to remember that your development cycle never stops. If you don’t know what features the next version of your site will have, you’re asleep! Don’t be afraid of development—it’s what keeps you looking current and relevant.
My comments
Thanks very much for that Tom. I can relate to wanting to start a travel business so you can travel as part of your job. However as Tom says it is hard to switch off when you travel for pleasure. The whole technology thing is hard to predict, if you jump on the wrong IT bandwagon you could end up spending a lot on a system that either never really takes off or is quickly superceded by another system.
