Entrepreneur Interview with Adam Dailey of Ludus Tours

Business Name:
Ludus Tours

Website URL:
http://www.LudusTours.com

Year Founded:
2003

Business Partners:
Currently we are partnered with and are the Official Tour Operator and Hospitality Provider for various National Federations and other organizations.  For previous events we have partnered with USA Track and Field, Bobsleigh/Skeleton Canada, Canada Freestyle Ski, US Speedskating, USA Luge, USA Bobsled/Skeleton, US Figure Skating and Jamaica Bobsleigh Federation amoung others.

Number of Employees:
<10

What does your company do?
Ludus Tours specializes in tour packages and hospitality at the world’s biggest cultural and sporting events.  We offer travel packages to the 2012 Summer Games in London, the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, and Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, among other events. Since 2003, Ludus has helped thousands of individuals, families and organizations with their accommodation and hospitality needs.

Was there a specific turning point when you realized your business was moving to the next level?

Recently, when people assume we’re much larger than we are.  They ask me how long I’ve been with the company, not knowing I helped found the company.  Also, this industry is somewhat small.  There aren’t many players and someone usually falls off every Olympics.  We’re still around, and trying to innovate and think of better ways to take care of our guests. Running into strangers who have heard of our business is always a sign that maybe we’re taking things up a notch.

What processes or procedures have you implemented that have helped grow your company?

Undoubtedly, it’s attempting to find the right people.  Our company really focuses on its core values and tries to find people who share our way of looking at things and will be a net positive on the group.  We’ve also tried to make our business more of a process instead of just gut instincts.  This is a constant challenge, but we’re getting there.  I think the processes we’re implementing are just a constant attempt to innovate and improve.  We’re not going to stop changing or evolving or trying new things.

What is most rewarding about running your business?
Flexibility.  The ability to work with great people and meet new folks all along the way.  Of course, the events we do are amazing.  I always say if we fall on our face and go bankrupt at least we’ll have gone to all of these events that people pay us a lot of money to go see themselves.

What challenges have you faced and how have you overcome them?
As a small business, cash flow is always an issue.  Especially in our company, where our events are cyclical.   People are always an issue as well.  I mean, you have to find the right people and this is always a challenge.  Great people can make your company.  The wrong people can drag everyone else down and send the wrong message.  So this is a big challenge for us.

If you were starting over today, what would you do differently?
Great question.  I would talk to more entrepreneurs so I could learn from their experiences. I would trust my instincts more.  Almost every time we’ve screwed up, I knew in my gut it wasn’t going to work beforehand, but I figured I should try.

What advice do you have for other business owners?
Who do you know? Use your contacts and form long-term friendships and meaningful relationships with these people.  As simple as this tip is, it is the starting point of our successful company that some people may hesitate using because of the belief that they want ‘to make it on their own’. Ask yourself: Who do you know? Who do they know?

Ludus is a small company, and therefore has limited resources, so we rely heavily on creating, building and maintaining relationships.  Email is free.  Years before the Olympics begin Ludus sends a team to the event city (currently we have a team in London), to cultivate relationships with local vendors, partners and even competitors.  Starting our event programs so far in advance also allows us to build rewarding relationships with Federations to continue helping various athlete family members.

Another thing that people don’t talk about much is that being an entrepreneur is like jumping off a cliff.  It’s risky.  You have to be ready to take a risk…and fall flat on your face.  My suggestion for an aspiring entrepreneur is to take the plunge.  Nobody is going to push you to do it…it has to come from you and don’t look for signs.  Take the leap of faith and don’t look back.

Please list any favorite books, tools or resources (software, website, etc.) you would recommend for others:
Salesforce.com is a tool we’re starting to use but we’re about a C+ in terms of our abilities right now.  I am part of Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) and i really enjoy that group and the forum experience.  Through that, I’ve enrolled in an Entrepreneurial Masters Program at MIT.   I try to keep reading books as well.

What is something that people might be surprised to learn about you?
I work to live.  If it were up to me, I would be Mr. Mom.  I love hanging out with my family.