Civitatis, the Madrid-based online travel agency (OTA) for tours and activities serving Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking travelers, has announced a leadership transition. Founder and CEO Alberto Gutiérrez (top photo, left) will step down from his executive role, with Chief Product and Technology Officer Andrés Spitzer (top photo, right) taking the CEO reins on the first of January 2026.
Gutiérrez, who founded Civitatis in 2008, will remain on the company’s Board of Directors. His departure from day-to-day leadership follows nearly two decades of growth that saw the company expand into a global platform while remaining cashflow positive throughout its history.
Incoming CEO Andrés Spitzer brings a background in technology and marketplace businesses, including roles at Amazon, Europcar, and Ubeeqo, and has led product and technology at Civitatis since February 2025. The company said the transition reflects a natural evolution as it enters its “next phase of growth at scale.”
Civitatis has focused heavily on curated supply, language-specific experiences, and repeat customers, supported by investments in technology and AI across user experience and operations. They’ve also had particular success with reaching travelers in their native languages on social media — including TikTok and Instagram. (Check out this article where they shared some of their social media strategies with Arival.)
Backed by majority shareholder Vitruvian Partners since 2022, with an additional investment of $50 million announced in 2024, the company has continued to expand internationally, with particular momentum in Latin America, where it reports growth of more than 40%.
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