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Remco LoupCEO/CTO at 333travel

Start with the problem. Let the data decide.

How I look at problems and solve them as CEO/CTO of 333travel: with data, with teams, and with whatever technology fits. Right now that's often AI. Next year it'll be something else.

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How I work

  1. Problem first, technology lastWhat is actually broken, and for whom? A tool is never the strategy.
  2. Let the data decideMeasure before you choose. Opinions are a starting point, not an answer.
  3. Build it, then learn from itWith a team that owns it. Ship, look at what happens, adjust.

Newest

Always the most recent post or series

Series · 2 parts25 min in total

Can a conversation be a travel channel?

We built a full AI travel interface from scratch, not to say we do AI, but to test whether a conversation can be a real channel for personalised travel. Part 1 is the why, part 2 the how.

  1. Part 1 · The problem We built a full AI travel interface from scratch, not to say we do AI, but to test whether a conversation can actually be a meaningful channel for personalized travel. This is what it took, why a plugin will never get you there, and why most AI chatbots are just expensive search bars. 10 min read
  2. Part 2 · The build The technical deep-dive into how we built Joy: a RAG pipeline with vector search and reranking, a memory system that took four iterations, and the UI/UX decisions that make a 25-second response feel more instant. 15 min read

Latest writing

2026

  1. Series · 2 parts25 min in total

    Can a conversation be a travel channel?

    We built a full AI travel interface from scratch, not to say we do AI, but to test whether a conversation can be a real channel for personalised travel. Part 1 is the why, part 2 the how.

    1. Part 1 · The problem We built a full AI travel interface from scratch, not to say we do AI, but to test whether a conversation can actually be a meaningful channel for personalized travel. This is what it took, why a plugin will never get you there, and why most AI chatbots are just expensive search bars. 10 min read
    2. Part 2 · The build The technical deep-dive into how we built Joy: a RAG pipeline with vector search and reranking, a memory system that took four iterations, and the UI/UX decisions that make a 25-second response feel more instant. 15 min read

2025

  1. I Vibecoded an app and this is what I learned.

    I built a "production" app using Vibecoding. 97,089 lines generated. Only 25,056 made it to production. Four complete refactors. The AI didn't fail because of bad prompts. It failed because AI forgets, loses context, and creates duplicate logic no matter how well you guide it.

    Building7 min read

  2. Let’s Stop Talking About AI (and Start Solving Real Problems)

    This article explores why AI should be treated as a tool, not a strategy; why hallucinations are mathematically inevitable in current generative models; and why true progress starts with solid architecture, ownership, and clear thinking and not with chasing hype.

    Strategy7 min read

  3. Web 4.0 and the autonomous web: The rise of AI-driven customers

    I call this the autonomous web: a world where AI assistants don’t just retrieve information but act as independent digital consumers serving their Humans. And businesses that fail to prepare for this shift are at risk of becoming invisible in this generation of digital commerce.

    Strategy6 min read

  4. The AI revolution: how 333travel stays relevant in an AI world full of possibilities

    The world is changing rapidly. With the rise of AI models like ChatGPT, ClaudeAI, and Gemini, access to data and insights is easier than ever. Companies with no expertise in travel try to enter the market by leveraging other people's content with these technologies. But what sets 333travel apart?

    Strategy6 min read

2024

  1. Stay Connected with a dynamic DNS updater for TransIP

    Easily access your home PC despite a dynamic IP! This script automatically updates your TransIP DNS records with your current IP, ensuring seamless connectivity. Secure, customizable, and perfect for remote work or hosting services. Stay connected effortlessly!

    Under the hood6 min read

  2. Automating Let's Encrypt with Certbot and TransIP using Docker

    Want to auto update/manage your SSL certificates inside your Docker with Certbot and hosting your domain with TransIP? Then look no further!

    Under the hood9 min read

  3. Deprecated: Supercharge Your headless (Raspberry Pi) VPN with ProtonVPN and WireGuard

    Deprecated: Effortlessly manage ProtonVPN on your headless device like a Raspberry Pi with this Python script. Automatically connect to the fastest server using WireGuard for optimal speed and security. This is to mitigate error 422 using the protonvpn-cli client which is broken as of now.

    Under the hood19 min read

  4. Scrum and the army, a different kind of mission.

    Scrum isn’t a quick fix. It’s like planning a mission like the army. A sprint isn’t about speed, it’s about precision, teamwork, and adapting to the unknowns along the way.

    Teams5 min read

  5. Azure + MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL performance compared

    Exploring Azure's database performance while on a journey through MySQL, MariaDB, and PostgreSQL. Find out which database leads the race.

    Under the hood11 min read

  6. Latency Anomaly: An attempt to untangle Azure Performance issues in Western Europe

    Unveiling a significant Azure performance issue: Zone 3's unexpected latency anomaly in the Western Europe region challenges cloud deployment strategies

    Under the hood6 min read

  7. Hotfixing with Docker Artifacts in a Git Flow Strategy

    Master hotfixes in Kubernetes with Docker. Learn to rapidly deploy critical fixes in a CI/CD pipeline focusing on streamlined branching. Perfect for tackling urgent issues without disrupting flow. Dive in now.

    TeamsUnder the hood5 min read

  8. CI/CD pipeline with Docker and Git branching strategy

    Exploring CI/CD with Docker & Git. Mastering deploying Docker artifacts via Git branching. Dive into strategies for DEV, STAGING, PROD environments. Perfect your pipeline!

    TeamsUnder the hood7 min read

  9. Why "AI" caught you by surprise

    Explore the AI (r)evolution. Discover how intent understanding transformed AI, from Flow.ai to ChatGPT, transforming the digital world in steps. Dive in for my own unique insights!

    Strategy5 min read

  10. Inline Skating for wider feet

    Wonder what skates would fit people with wider feet? Looking for good fitting skates? Read on and find my take on what you all find about this topic on the internet.

    Inline skating5 min read

  11. 2019 - Blast from the past: How 333travel is revolutionizing the Travel industry

    Discover how 333travel's AI 'Joy' redefines customer interaction back in 2019, blending AI's intent understanding with personal touch. A game-changing journey in AI-led travel solutions!

    StrategyBuilding8 min read

2023

  1. Issues displaying images from our Static server

    We noticed that in the browsers we use (Edge and Chrome) there were reports from the failed images in the console which reported. ERR_HTTP2_PROTOCOL_ERROR

    Under the hood9 min read

  2. Useful commands

    Useful commands and scripts that simplify technical tasks, like managing logs using Notepad++ with regex or automating DNS checks for domains.

    Under the hood1 min read

  3. Sprint Reviews in high performance Scrum

    I first learned about Scrum way before the 2020 manifesto update was in place. So when we went to a Scrum master training after this 2020 release we had a nice little discussion about the change that has had the most impact with me since this update to the Scrum guide.

    Teams4 min read

  4. Inline skate routes Alphen aan den Rijn

    Discover my personal skate routes in Alphen aan den Rijn via Google My Maps. These carefully chosen paths have an excellent surface for at least 90% of the way. While I do my best to find the ideal routes, you may occasionally run into some rougher asphalt, cobblestones, and cattle grids.

    Inline skating3 min read

  5. The misinterpretation of the word “Sprint” within SCRUM

    Changing a word like "Sprint" wont mean anything if you dont foster an environment in which the words rush and haste aren't words that describe the work ethics. A sprint is just about an x week development cycle everyone understands, it shouldn't be at all related to haste and rush.

    Teams5 min read

  6. From Traditional Businesses to DAOs: Opportunities for Product Owners

    I am already for a while intrigued by transforming a business into a DAO (Decentralized autonomous organisation). Thinking of my role as a Product Owner i thought of a way that can work very well when transforming a part of our business into a DAO

    StrategyTeams10 min read

  7. Inline skating these days

    Something totally not related to Agile or Tech but an little story how i feel about having found inline skating again and my past with inline skating.

    Inline skating6 min read

  8. A understood Subject Matter Expert

    Without a "good" SME (Subject Matter Expert) stance within SCRUM, every product is a lesser product then it can be. That's why this is one the most interesting misunderstood stances of a Product Owner to me.

    Teams5 min read

  9. A journey into visual Scrum

    In this post, I will share the experiments we conducted during the last three sprints with our physical Scrum board. The focus was about creating a better understandable visual representation of our sprint progress. Sprints are two weeks increments for us at this moment.

    Teams6 min read

  10. ChatGPT and the future of blogging

    I will explain how a native Dutch speaker utilizes ChatGPT and Hemingway to enhance grammar, sentence flow, and readability in my English texts, resulting in hopefully more polished and comprehensible writing.

    Building4 min read

  11. Docker Nginx HTTP/3 and Brotli

    Here you will find a working docker file i created as a base to build my projects on. This a recent Nginx with compiled HTTP/3 support and Brotli support for better compression. This is posted here to share it back with anyone.

    Under the hood12 min read

  12. Achieving FLOW with Scrum

    In this post I share our current journey of implementing Scrum and Kanban principles with my team, this is mainly about emphasizing the importance of real collaborative work and instilling a product vision which helps us to achieve FLOW which translates to high value Scrum for us.

    Teams6 min read

  13. The ultimate ZSH and Windows Terminal look and feel

    In this post i will explain my particular setup of how i use my windows terminal along with some other tips. So if you want to impress someone while working in your favorite coffee place by making them feel like you work for Nasa.

    Under the hood5 min read

  14. Our sprints in real life

    This post explains how we as a team manage our current Board on which we keep our sprints. This board is leading over Jira we love working analog next to our digital work.

    Teams8 min read

From the server room to the boardroom.

I started in IT and DevOps, became Product Owner of the system that runs 333travel, then COO, and since January 2026 CEO, with the CTO role still on my desk. What hasn't changed: I translate between business and tech, and when something defines the customer experience, we build it ourselves.

More about me LinkedIn Get in touch
  1. BackgroundIT and DevOps
  2. 2015Product Owner of BOSS, our own CRM, CMS and booking flow
  3. 2021COO of 333travel
  4. 2026CEO/CTO of 333travel

Built in-house, with my teams

  • BOSSThe system the whole company runs on
  • JoyOur AI travel assistant
  • TravelMilesLoyalty, rare for a tour operator

Off the clock: Back in the halfpipe on aggressive inline skates, thanks to my kids. A 90s skater never really stops. Skate routes & gear