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Women Who Launch: Juliana Chies of Lets GoDo

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By Ina Yulo Stuve on 9th March 2023

Originally from Brazil, Chies travelled extensively throughout South America before setting roots in London, and her love for connecting with locals on her travels sparked the idea for Lets GoDo. “Our experiences are authentic and accessible, and our booking platform is designed to be simple and easy. Guests trust us and enjoy the fact that we create a community, which is key to standing out in the travel space.” she says. On this edition of Women Who Launch, The Sybarite speaks with Chies about how she stands out in a crowded market and where her dream destination is.

“When people travel, they typically stay at the same location for 3-5 days. It can take up to three days to meet a local that will give you the best tips or even offer to show you around,” exclaims Juliana Chies, Founder and CEO of experiential travel company Let’s GoDo.

“If you don’t know a local in the place you’re visiting, it’s very hard to find the best things to see and do, so I thought why not create a platform where locals are the one creating the experiences,” shares Chies. She planned to launch Let’s GoDo back in 2020, but the pandemic put a halt to her plans. A veteran of the music industry and a Notting Hill resident, she quickly pivoted and leveraged the platform she had already built to support a digital version of Notting Hill Carnival that ensured an engaging experience for online attendees.

Chies is familiar with having to roll with the punches and credits being surrounded by entreprenreurs, including her father, as a means to learn and grow from the best in the business. Originally from Brazil, Chies travelled extensively throughout South America before setting roots in London, and her love for connecting with locals on her travels sparked the idea for Let’s GoDo. “Our experiences are authentic and accessible, and our booking platform is designed to be simple and easy. Guests trust us and enjoy the fact that we create a community, which is key to standing out in the travel space. Whether a traditional dinner at someone’s house or a trek to a hidden beach, Let’s GoDo connects travellers with people to discover the very best of a destination,” she says. On this edition of Women Who Launch, The Sybarite speaks with Chies about how she stands out in a crowded market and where her dream destination is.

If we asked your ten-year-old self what sort of career she’d have, what would she say?

When I was younger, I always wanted to work in show business like my father, which I did. I really enjoyed working in the industry, but travel is my passion and I think my ten-year-old- self would be pleased that I’m doing what I love!

How did growing up in South America influence your love for travel?

I travelled a lot during my childhood. Brazil has so many places to visit and I was fortunate enough to see a lot of it. We also used to regularly drive to Uruguay and Paraguay, as well as visit my sister who lived in Argentina for a couple of years, so I was lucky to be able to explore neighbouring countries as well as Brazil. 

What is your strategy for standing out in a competitive field?

Apart from a very good marketing team, Let's GoDo is a community. Customers are at the heart of our strategy and we want them to rely on us for travel experiences that are fun, authentic, and memorable. Building trust as a brand is hugely important and we carry out a strong vetting process to ensure the experiences on the platform are the type of thing travellers actually want to see and do. 

We also offer a lot of support for our hosts, whether they’re new or experienced hosts. We provide personal advice and guidance from our marketing experts every step of the way so they can feel confident in hosting and selling their experience to customers. There are also several incentives which hosts can benefit from, such as our referral scheme, as well as monetary prizes for those who earn ‘super host’ status. 

What's the one task you always do yourself and the task you always recommend to outsource?

I think building an in-house team is super important but the only task that I would recommend outsourcing would be PR. 

Is there a particular business skill you are currently trying to master?

I love learning and at the moment, I’m trying to master digital marketing—a skill which is incredibly important to the successful running of Let’s GoDo. 

Could you give me some examples of the ultra-local experiences users can enjoy when using Let's GoDo?

Experiences include everything from cooking classes with locals in their homes and city pub crawls to find hidden gems, to guided meditation experiences and photography workshops where guests can learn top tips from an expert. 

Where is your current dream destination and why?

Croatia fascinates me—it’s a small country but with a massive sense of community and openness. The breath-taking views and incredible architecture are huge reasons I’d love to visit!

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