When a tour company is built on personalisation, its travel tech must be equally adaptable.
Formerly known as Eyes of Rome, CityEyes recently rebranded to reflect its growth beyond a single destination. What began as a Rome-based private tour operator now spans 13 destinations across Europe, with further expansion planned.
CityEyes operates exclusively in the private tour segment. There are no scheduled group departures and no fixed templates. Every experience is curated around the guest. Their clientele includes families, honeymooners, retired couples, and even guests planning marriage proposals.
Guide matching is central to the model. CityEyes works with a selected group of guides who operate exclusively for them, allowing precise alignment between guest interests and guide expertise, from art to archaeology.
Last year alone, CityEyes delivered 15,000 private tours. That scale, while maintaining a private-only model, requires strong operational systems behind the scenes.
Rapid growth across destinations
Between 2021 and 2024, CityEyes experienced exceptional growth.
The company recorded 100 per cent year-over-year growth each year during that period. Few private operators sustain that level of expansion while maintaining quality standards.
Looking ahead, projections for 2026 are strong. On OTAs alone, bookings are currently tracking at approximately plus 35 per cent.
CityEyes has also expanded into Paris and plans to launch in Spain. Over time, the goal is to diversify further across Europe while maintaining the private tour focus.
To support this level of expansion, distribution efficiency is critical.
Custom in-house software and complex distribution
In 2023, CityEyes CEO Edit Preka and his team began evaluating new channel management solutions. At the time, they were using other systems, but there were issues with technological compatibility.
CityEyes operates on an internal booking system built specifically for their workflows. They required a channel manager that could connect to their in-house software via API while functioning purely as a distribution layer for OTAs.
They did not need a booking engine replacement. They needed quick and easy connectivity.
Edit describes their requirement clearly:
“We were searching for something to connect with our in-house software. We needed something better technologically. We needed a customised connection.”
Other platforms allowed them to push availability only. That meant product names, descriptions, pricing, and other elements still required manual creation inside the channel manager. That duplication slowed expansion and increased operational friction.
TourCMS offered a different approach.
“What TourCMS offered us was a really customised connection. We can push everything. The product name, the descriptions, the prices, everything. We built a connection where we can push a product in 10 seconds.”
For CityEyes, this was decisive. The ability to push complete product data directly from their internal system removed redundancy and simplified workflow.
CityEyes customises experiences for travellers. TourCMS allowed them to customise their distribution architecture.
Alignment was what they were seeking.
Operational efficiency at scale
Since implementing TourCMS in 2023, CityEyes has seen measurable operational improvements. Availability management is one of the most significant gains.
“If you need to block a date on each OTA, you spend a lot of time. Now you can do it for all the OTAs in a few seconds.”
For a private operator coordinating guides, museum slots, and high-value clients, centralised availability control is essential.
Launching on new platforms has also become easier.
In the past, opening a new OTA channel required careful consideration. Did the team have enough time to build products manually? Should expansion be postponed?
Today, that hesitation is gone.
“You don’t have to think about it. You can do it easily.”
When CityEyes launched on platforms like Klook, they were able to push their full inventory quickly and accurately. Distribution expansion no longer requires a separate project plan or dedicated team.
This agility supports their broader strategy of testing new destinations on OTAs first before launching them fully on their website. For highly competitive cities such as Paris, visibility on OTAs provides a valuable proving ground.
TourCMS makes that testing process fast and efficient. This agility is only possible with robust channel management built around flexibility.
Focused support that matches the technology
Technology alone was not the deciding factor. Support quality mattered equally.
Edit met Eduard Marti from the Palisis team at Arival in Berlin before signing the contract. He also worked closely with Violeta Yonkova, our API & Connectivity Specialist Manager, involved in building the custom connections.
The onboarding process was collaborative and solution-oriented. What stood out most to Edit is the supplier-focused approach. He shared that if he were talking to another tour operator about our solution, he would say:
“TourCMS is available for every need. If I were to say, hey team, I need this connection or feature it would be done. It’s all customisable, and the API is great.”
In contrast to platforms that prioritise scale over service, CityEyes values having responsive access to a team that understands their needs. He also highlights the technology itself:
“If you work with a custom in-house software to handle your bookings and you just need to distribute your products, this is the perfect choice.”
For a business that operates at volume while maintaining a premium, private-only model, dependable support is essential.
Strengthening the foundation for future growth
CityEyes’ new website launch marks the next chapter in that journey.
With strong growth metrics, a refined brand identity, and scalable travel tech powered by TourCMS, CityEyes is positioned for continued expansion.
When asked to summarise TourCMS in one word, Edit’s answer is simple: “Professional.”
For CityEyes, distribution is an extension of their bespoke experience model. And with the right technological foundation in place, they are free to focus on what they do best: delivering highly personalised private tours across Europe.