Startup Story
Making travel and tourism arrangements can often be stressful, particularly for companies and people with complex needs, but Irina Mayra Cremildo, founder of Kusafiri Afrika LDA in Mozambique, has the specialist services to make travel less of a chore and a real pleasure.
LoA chatted to founder, Irina Mayra Cremildo, this month to learn about her inspiration in business and her love of travel management.
Tell us about yourself
My name is Irina Mayra Cremildo and I am the founder and CEO for Kusafiri Afrika Lda, a Travel Company based in Maputo in Mozambique, and specializing in Travel and Tours arrangements for F.I.T and M.I.C.E segments. I have attained a Bachelor Degree in Travel and Business Management from Universidade Politécnica, and have 11 years industry experience. I am also certified in Travel Design by the Ana Grassi Academy and I am a Certified Amadeus GDS trainer. I started my business in 2013 and today have 4 employees working with me.
“My dream is to position Mozambique as an International Tourism destination - the best services and best service providers are to be found here.”
“My aspiration is that for the next ten years we will be the leading provider and trainer of Human Resources in the tourism field.”
What does your company do?
We cater for all travel arrangements and needs: ticketing, accommodation, visas, travel insurance, tours and transfers either on Business or Leisure travel. We also cater for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibition travel and venue arrangements. We also assist corporate companies on relocating their expats into Mozambique: Housing arrangements, school registration, exchange of driving licenses. Recruitment and Training for travel agencies staff members.
What inspired you to start your company?
The lack of travel jobs and opportunities in Mozambique, and also the need for services of quality as those we can experience when visiting our neighbouring countries. My dream is to position Mozambique as an International Tourism destination - the best services and best service providers are to be found here.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
We aim to develop people, to contribute to self-development and growth, while providing them with the best experience a travel agent can bring into their personal and professional lives. The ideal is to excel, to enchant and develop the customer.
Tell us a little about your team
My team is composed of 4 staff members:
1. Salvador Machanguana is our Senior Travel Consultant, he is responsible for arranging all travel means from air, sea to road trips.
2. Celia Tete is our Junior Travel Consultant, she caters for all documentation related needs: travel documents, visas, travel insurance.
3. Teresa Bie is our Tour Consultant, she caters for all accommodation, activities and transfers needs. She also acts as our first point of contact.
4. Naomi Cremildo is our Admin and Finance assistant. She works directly with the expats.
“We aim to develop people, to contribute to self-development and growth, while providing them with the best experience a travel agent can bring into their personal and professional lives.”
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I stated my entrepreneurial journey in 2012 after resigning from my Sales Executive job at Kenya Airways Mozambique. I always loved to design trips, this started when I was attending university as it is my way of knowing the world without travelling. This initiated my great adventure in December 2012 after arranging and travelling with a group of 13 passengers to Thailand and it never stopped. Currently I am the Managing Director for Kusafiri Afrika and I am also the Trainer and Account Manager for AMADEUS. I am always looking for opportunities for self-development and growth. I am keen on new work opportunities that could contribute to self-development, to increase my experience and exposure. That certainly benefits my business.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
We have learned a lot in almost 10 years of existence. So my aspiration is that for the next 10 years we will be the leading provider and trainer of Human Resources in the tourism field.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
The liberty of being creative, implementing new ideas, meeting different people every day, and setting my own standards according to my beliefs. The freedom of time and schedule management and spending quality time with my children.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
If you can dream it, you can do it, it’s God’s gift, go for it!
Contact or follow Kusafiri Afrika Lda
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL irina.cremildo@kusafiriafrika.co.mz
Why LoA loves it…
So often in business, it’s essential to find a niche where you can really stand out from the crowd by offering high quality, specialist services to customers who need them - and in the world of travel and tourism, specialist help is certainly needed. That’s where Irina Mayra Cremildo and her team at Kusafiri Afrika are really building a great reputation for themselves, with their ability to take away the stress and strain of travel management for customers. It’s all about being the best in the business and making the lives of customers that much easier! — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa