Gothenburg-based lifestyle travel organizer byKettil sees a gap in the market for private travelers who want world-class travel advice.
– Starting a new business with a focus on exclusive private travel in the middle of a pandemic can be seen as daring, says Marlene Kettil, CEO and founder of byKettil.
Marlene has extensive experience in the industry and is used to seeing opportunities when they arise. In the second half of 2020, when travel was almost at a standstill, it was therefore, according to her, the perfect time to sneak the business in. She understood from customers and suppliers that there was a gap to fill and clear trends of an increased need for travel expertise. Now the company is taking the next step on its journey.
Strategic partnership
The business and group travel agency AKI Travel, based in Borås, becomes a partner in byKettil.
– We often receive questions about private travel services from business customers and travel-loving travelers in various networks. Now we can finally give them the right service while strengthening our relationships and putting more focus on refining our core business, says Magnus Järrenfors at AKI Travel.
This gives byKettil the opportunity to also offer these customers assistance and service for their private trips. A strategic partnership that enables byKettil to take the next step as a tour operator. Together, the two companies strengthen each other with knowledge, customers, systems and travel logistics.
Before, during and after the trip
Paradise islands in the Indian Ocean and the Caribbean, safari adventures in Africa, ski trips, combination trips in Southeast Asia or Central and South America are examples of trips they offer, says Marlene Kettil, who runs byKettil together with Ulrica Hjorth.
– We have worked with travel for over 25 years and can safely guide our customers to make conscious choices according to their dreams, and we are accustomed to taking care of everything that may arise before, during and after a trip.
Traveling sustainably
The ambition is that travel dreams should be combined with traveling more sustainably without anyone having to sacrifice either comfort or freedom of choice.
– There are so many amazing places in the world to discover and hotels to stay at while minimizing your footprint and having the opportunity to give back to the community you are visiting. We have a great responsibility that we share with both travelers and all other players in the industry, concludes Marlene.
