Filip Alexandru – Entrepreneur, Tourism Visionary and Advocate for the Danube Delta

An interview with Filip Alexandru, an entrepreneur with over 10 years of experience in tourism and marketing, founder of Casa Filip in Sarichioi and Destination Management Organization (DMO) Manager for Tulcea, about vision, leadership, values and his professional evolution.

Filip Alexandru is an entrepreneur at heart, with over 10 years of experience in tourism and marketing. He is currently the owner of Casa Filip in Sarichioi, a traditional guesthouse with a private circuit in the Danube Delta. Out of a desire to contribute even more to Romanian tourism, he decided to get involved in public administration and local politics, becoming the manager of the Destination Management Organization (DMO) of Tulcea Municipality in 2023 and a county councilor in 2024.

C&B: How would you describe yourself in a single sentence that would spark the curiosity of those who don’t know you yet?

Filip Alexandru: Through everything I do, I want to leave something good behind me, here in Romania. I’ve had countless opportunities to leave the country, but I always chose to stay. I know that if you have the necessary ambition and work hard, you can achieve something great here as well, no matter how difficult it may seem at times.

C&B: If we look at the narrative thread of your career or business, what were the key moments that defined you?

Filip Alexandru: The first moment in this narrative thread was the decision to move to Bucharest for my studies, where I graduated from the Faculty of Geography at the University of Bucharest (both bachelor’s and master’s). The second moment was when, immediately after finishing university, I created my first business, a tourism marketing agency, having the opportunity to work with important names in the HoReCa industry. The third step was when, together with a good friend, I founded a group of tourism projects dedicated to Bucharest, the most important being the Bucharest City App. After 11 wonderful years in the capital, life “settled” me in Tulcea, more precisely in 2017. But even here, I started “pushing forward” from day one. Casa Filip in Sarichioi is my reference project in this narrative thread, but the work I am doing under the tourism brand “Tu și Tulcea” through the DMO Tulcea Municipality is growing day by day.

C&B: What were the main challenges in transforming a traditional house into an authentic tourism concept?

Filip Alexandru: I knew from the beginning how I wanted to transform the old property in Sarichioi into a new architectural symbol of the local community and a new landmark on the map of niche Romanian tourism. However, plans on paper are always easier than putting them into practice. In other words, once you actually start working, it feels like it never ends—neither the physical work nor the spreadsheet with the initial investment. Fortunately, everything was completed successfully, and the Casa Filip concept proved itself from the very first year of activity (2019).

C&B: Is there a dream or ambition that has always guided you, regardless of obstacles?

Filip Alexandru: My dream has always been the same: to leave something good behind me and to contribute continuously to the development of Romanian tourism. And that regardless of where I am, the position I hold, or the resources I have.

C&B: What were you like at the beginning of your journey, and how do you feel you’ve transformed over time?

Filip Alexandru: I would define the beginning of my journey as the moment I finished the IT high school in Piatra-Neamț and became a student in Bucharest. I was a kid who dreamed with his eyes open. But soon enough, I learned that dreams can become real objectives with the right ambition. And through work, seriousness, and dedication, those objectives can truly be achieved. In other words, from a student who dreamed beautifully, today I have become a mature man who confidently follows his path.

C&B: If we were to meet your team or collaborators, what do you think they would say about you?

Filip Alexandru: As much as I would like to, I can’t answer that question. They say that people often have a much better opinion of themselves than reality shows. I’m joking, of course. But I admit I would be curious to know what my colleagues, collaborators, and partners say about me.

C&B: What is the most important decision you’ve made that changed your trajectory?

Filip Alexandru: Perhaps one of the most important moments in my life was in 2017. I was working then as a Social Media Manager at Blue Air and was also managing Bucharest City App. The tourism board from Stockholm came to Bucharest for the launch of this route, and after a few discussions, the opportunity to move to Sweden’s capital for a very well-paid job suddenly appeared. I refused because I felt it wasn’t the right moment. In addition, I would have somehow broken a promise I made to myself, even if that professional challenge might have been temporary. Shortly after this moment, I decided to retreat to Tulcea, initially for just one summer, and I fell hopelessly in love with the Danube Delta. Well, that one-summer escape turned into a real move. And no, I don’t regret anything. It was meant to be!

C&B: What does a typical day look like for you now, and what moments of the day bring you the greatest satisfaction?

Filip Alexandru: Ever since I became a father, on April 11, 2019, achieving an (almost perfect) balance between my personal and professional life has become my main ambition. Therefore, beyond all the projects I am involved in and manage with great seriousness, dedicating time to my boys and being with them as much as possible continues to bring me the greatest satisfaction.

C&B: What values or principles guide you in what you do, and how do you apply them every day?

Filip Alexandru: This year has been a difficult one for me, with many situations I had to handle one by one, but also with many valuable lessons learned. Professionally, I continued to follow my path with the same ambition and perseverance. However, on a personal level, I believe I have evolved the most—after a few cold showers and after being forced to open my eyes wider. In a world increasingly guided by false principles and superficial values, I remain loyal to my own mindset: dignity, integrity, and honesty remain at the core of my existence. That will never change!

His journey—from entrepreneur in Bucharest to a key figure in developing tourism in Tulcea—shows that true success is shaped by consistency, authenticity and the desire to leave something meaningful behind.