Why we do this
We're not a software company that decided to enter hospitality. We're hoteliers who learned to code because existing technology was failing us.
"We built ChatBook to save my hotels, not to make money. Our philosophy is to democratize technology."
What we believe
1. Small hotels deserve first-class technology
You shouldn't need Marriott's budget to have intelligent automation. The technology that powers big chains should be within reach of a family hostel.
2. AI should amplify, not replace
ChatBook doesn't replace the hotelier. It amplifies their judgment, their knowledge, their personality — at scale, 24/7. Human hospitality remains the heart; AI is the muscle.
3. Complexity is the enemy
If you need an IT team to implement a tool, that tool isn't designed for you. ChatBook sets up in 10 minutes because that's how it should be.
4. Commissions are an unfair tax
OTAs charge 15-25% for doing what you could do: connect with your guest. We believe in tools that help you capture direct bookings, not middlemen taking your margin.
5. Freemium isn't a hook, it's a philosophy
We offer a real free plan, with no expiration date, because we believe you should test the value before paying. If ChatBook doesn't work for you, don't pay. It's that simple.
6. Built from operations, not from software
ChatBook wasn't born in a tech lab. It was born from the real frustration of a hotelier losing bookings at 11pm because they couldn't respond. That perspective guides every product decision.
The origin
ChatBook was born in Santa Marta, Colombia. Gustavo Marval, after more than 15 years operating small accommodations, always faced the same problem: inquiries arrived when he couldn't respond. At 11pm, while resting, travelers from around the world asked about availability. By the time he responded in the morning, they had already booked elsewhere.
Existing technology didn't work. Chatbots were clumsy, booking engines were cold forms, and "enterprise" solutions cost more than a small hostel's entire monthly budget.
That's how ChatBook was born: a conversational booking engine built from real hotel operations. Not a tech product looking for a market, but a solution to a problem we lived every day.
Where we're going
ChatBook is the first module of something bigger: the Cognitive Hotel Brain. An ecosystem of intelligent tools that allow any accommodation — regardless of size — to operate with the efficiency and personalization of the world's best.
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