Two friends. One bad experience with a travel agency. And a decision to build something completely different.
Andrei was born in Romania and grew up on the Costa Brava, Spain.
Sergio is from Seville. They met working in a restaurant in Barcelona — and a few years later, both ended up calling Dublin home.
Before starting Neko Travels, both founders had a disappointing experience with an agency while trying to travel to Australia.
The trip never happened. Once the payment was made, they felt forgotten, like no one cared about their situation.
That experience, though frustrating, became fuel.
They realised there was a better way to do things.
A way to build a travel agency where people feel genuinely guided, supported, and listened to, not just another number.
That’s how Neko Travels was born.
In Dublin, Andrei spent years working in the international education and travel industry, helping students from all over the world come to study English in Ireland.
Sergio brought a background in engineering and operations — the reason nothing at Neko ever falls through the cracks.
Together, their experiences on both sides shaped everything Neko Travels stands for.
From an early age, both founders were fascinated by Japanese culture. Anime, manga, and shows like Naruto sparked a deep curiosity for exploring the world and learning new languages. They admired Japan’s passion for excellence, its attention to detail, and the richness of its history and traditions.
That curiosity for other cultures never went away. It became the foundation for everything Neko stands for.
In Dublin, Andrei spent years working in the international education and travel industry, helping students from all over the world come to study English in Ireland.
Sergio brought a background in engineering and operations — the reason nothing at Neko ever falls through the cracks.
Together, their experiences on both sides shaped everything Neko Travels stands for.
From an early age, both founders were fascinated by Japanese culture. Anime, manga, and shows like Naruto sparked a deep curiosity for exploring the world and learning new languages. They admired Japan’s passion for excellence, its attention to detail, and the richness of its history and traditions.
That curiosity for other cultures never went away. It became the foundation for everything Neko stands for.
Co-founder
The person behind every conversation, every deal, and every new school that joins the Neko family
Co-founder
The person who makes sure everything actually happens, on time, on budget, without surprises
Content Creator
The face and voice of Neko online. If you found us, there's a good chance it was through her
Graphic Designer
Every visual element you see from Neko passes through Lidia. Design isn't decoration, it's how we communicate
Co-founder
The person behind every conversation, every deal, and every new school that joins the Neko family
Co-founder
The person who makes sure everything actually happens, on time, on budget, without surprises
Content Creator
The face and voice of Neko online. If you found us, there's a good chance it was through her
Graphic Designer
Every visual element you see from Neko passes through Lidia. Design isn't decoration, it's how we communicate
Because of their deep connection to Japanese culture, Andrei and Sergio knew from the beginning that the name of their company had to reflect that inspiration.
That's why they chose "Neko," which means cat in Japanese.
Cats are curious, independent, and adventurous — qualities we aim to inspire in every student and traveller who joins Neko Travels.
In both Japan and China, cats also symbolize good fortune and prosperity, especially the famous maneki-neko or lucky cat often seen at shop entrances. A little bit of that good energy is what we hope every student carries home from their time in Ireland.
Because of their deep connection to Japanese culture, Andrei and Sergio knew from the beginning that the name of their company had to reflect that inspiration.
That's why they chose "Neko," which means cat in Japanese.
Cats are curious, independent, and adventurous — qualities we aim to inspire in every student and traveller who joins Neko Travels.
In both Japan and China, cats also symbolize good fortune and prosperity, especially the famous maneki-neko or lucky cat often seen at shop entrances. A little bit of that good energy is what we hope every student carries home from their time in Ireland.
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