From a Simple Idea to Transforming Bookings in Albania – The Story of Elsa Bakiu and Rumio
In a market where bookings were still made through long phone calls and endless messages on Instagram and WhatsApp, Elsa Bakiu saw an opportunity for change. Together with her partner, Hasan Musaj, she decided to create Rumio – the platform that is bringing a fresh approach to how Albanians and tourists book services.
“Many businesses were losing clients simply because they didn’t have a fast and clear way to manage bookings,” says Elsa. “We wanted to bring everything together in one place – simple, in the local language, and accessible to everyone.”
From Idea to Reality
The idea for Rumio was born from everyday experiences: local businesses were overwhelmed with manual schedule management, while clients often faced delays and a lack of clear information.
Elsa and Hasan began working on an app that would:
- simplify bookings in just a few seconds,
- automate the business calendar,
- provide transparency for prices and schedules.
The result? A platform that connects clients – including tourists – with local services, bringing Albanian businesses into the digital era.
The Link Between Tourism and Services
Albania is experiencing a tourism boom, with over 10 million visitors a year. Many of them want to enjoy services – a massage by the sea, a modern barber in Tirana, or a beauty treatment before an event. But language barriers and lack of information often get in the way.
“With Rumio, tourists can see prices, schedules, and available services in real time and book instantly – no phone calls, no uncertainty,” Elsa explains.
This model not only helps tourists but also increases revenue for local businesses by making them visible to an international audience.
The Challenge of Educating the Market
Even though the technology is ready, Elsa admits the biggest challenge has been educating businesses:
“Many are used to traditional methods. We show them with concrete examples how much time they save and how many more clients they can get by being part of Rumio.”
This process requires patience, but results speak for themselves: businesses using Rumio are seeing significant growth in bookings and more efficient time management.
The Future of Rumio
Elsa’s vision is clear: “We empower service businesses to grow, shine online, and serve better – making digital simple.” With integrations into search engines, Google Maps, social networks, and other systems, Rumio aims to become the first tool that comes to mind whenever someone wants to book a service.
“We are not just building an app,” Elsa adds. “We are building a bridge between local communities and the world.”
Download Rumio for free and start receiving online bookings today.
- iPhone: Rumio Biz
Android: Rumio Biz: Booking Services
