... at the magnificent French Riviera, a group of friends gathered around a rustic wooden table. They were hoteliers, B&B owners and small business operators – people dedicated to offering travelers a true taste of European hospitality.

That evening, stories of frustration emerged. High commissions from booking platforms were cutting into already slim margins. Algorithms and hidden fees made them feel powerless, while the personal touch they valued so much was being lost to faceless corporations.