Caius Covrig: Everything in life can be achieved if you have the passion, motivation and willingness

Caius Covrig is a former NCAA Division 1 Basketball player and young entrepreneur from Romania and owner of Kayus Boutique Hotel.

INTERVIEW

Q. What's the story behind Kayus? How was it founded?

Kayus is a 4-star Boutique Hotel in the heart of the Carpathian Mountains born from the idea of bringing a luxury concept, along with a fine dining restaurant, in an area that was preserved traditional. I aimed to create something more than just a simple holiday destination. I was keen on creating a complete experience where tourists can indulge in the breath-taking sights of nature while enjoying all the amenities characteristic of a top-end hotel.

Q. Which people or books have had the most influence on your growth and why?

The biggest influence were my parents. From an early age, they have always taught me to strive for greatness. They used to take me to business meetings and negotiations since I was only a kid, just to prepare me in advance for my future journey as an entrepreneur. This combined with the discipline of playing professional basketball, taught me that the more difficult your journey is, the more rewarding will prove in the end.

Q. How did you start your basketball career?

My basketball career started when I was only 7 years old, when my dad, also a former professional basketball player, encouraged me to enter the sports world. Even though it started only as a hobby, it evolved into a dominant part of my life. A milestone in my career was when I was chosen to play in Turkey for Galatasary, one of the best basketball clubs in Europe.

Due to my great performance there I was recruited by some American Scouters and I was offered the opportunity to move to the United States. At 15 years old I decided to take my passion to a whole new level and accept the challenge of living the “American Dream”. After 2 years playing in the US, I got recruited to play for one of the most prestigious High School Basketball teams. In 2016 I have achieved my dream to be the only Romanian Basketball player to be in the 1st Division NCAA from 2016 to 2019.

Q. What motivates you?

The biggest motivation of my life are my parents, successful entrepreneurs from the early ’90s. They constantly reminded me that everything in life can be achieved if you have the passion, motivation, and willingness to put in the work for what you want to accomplish.

Q. How do you manage your time?

Time management is a must for a person like me. My schedule starts early and ends really late since I’m also enrolled in one of the most prestigious entrepreneurship programs in the world “W.P Carey School of Business”. I usually go to the gym about 6/7 days and try to jog in the park at least 3 times/week. I try to do all my important work in the morning and finish it by 5-6 pm so I have some time left to focus on other ideas that I can implement in the future. Usually, in the evening I like to enjoy myself by watching a thoughtful documentary or reading a knowledgeable book.

Q. What makes Kayus unique?

Kayus Boutique Hotel is unique by being the first and only Hotel in the Carpathians Mountains with a fine dining concept. It also won the award of “Best Boutique Hotel & Fine Dining Restaurant” in Romania.

It gained its prestige by bringing together all the celebrities and important people activating in the business domain as I am constantly organizing special events such as openings, shows, presentations.

Q. What would you say is your #1 key to success?

My #1 key to success is to be a good listener since every opinion holds some value and gives you a different perspective from which you can view the problem. Also, by working hard AND smart and always believing in your idea because if you don’t, nobody will.

Q. What is your ULTIMATE DREAM that you want to achieve?

My ultimate dream is to take the “Kayus” concept to a whole new level by opening other hotels under the same brand in strategic positions in Romania and with time, to create a franchise across the territory and to be the first Romanian Hotel concept to do so.

Q. What are your future plans as an entrepreneur?

My future plan as an entrepreneur is in progress since I am currently building a 5* star Hotel Resort that will also include an ultimate generation spa centre. In August, I will fly over to America as I have plans to invest in the real estate industry.

Q. Future of SALISMANIA.com through your eyes?

So far, you’ve managed to bring together successful people coming from all over the world and create a context for knowledge sharing and idea development. Understanding the journey and struggles of other people on their way to success is a good lesson for paving your future. Follow Caius Covrig on Instagram