Hôtel la Bienvenue*** (France)

The establishment that she has been running for the past 8 years is much more than a hotel for Léa Bérenguer, 33. It is the cradle of her family history.

I was born here. I lived here all my childhood until 1995, when my parents bought the house next door.

Was taking over the business an obvious choice?

No. When I was 15 years old and asked, I didn't really want to. I have a passion for languages. I wanted to become a translator. But at 24, with my degree in hand, I didn't see myself in that world either. My mother wanted to quit. I knew the workload that it represents... It's non-stop. When you're there, it's never closed! So I asked her to think about it for a year and I went on a trip, backpack, to Australia..

When she came back, she started working at the hotel and agreed to take over in 2012...on the condition that she would have carte blanche to renovate.

I wanted to keep the old side of the mansion, but I felt there was potential to make it a charming 3-star.

It undertakes a total overhaul:

We redid the facades, the roof, all the rooms - with more or less work; the signs, the parking lots, changed the breakfast formula, transformed the website and took over the com.

The hotel obtained its 3 stars in 2016. The National Park Spirit brand?

I have always loved nature and at 18, I worked as a seasonal employee at the National Park House in Cap Lardier. I loved this experience! So asking for the brand was an obvious choice.

Especially since the hotel is very committed... In addition to the selective sorting, the low consumption bulbs, the eco-pumps in the showers, the garden watered with rainwater and compost..

We bought steam cleaners that save water and allow us to clean without chemicals. The staff is delighted! Even the Fragonard soaps available to customers in the bathrooms are reused when they are used for cleaning the linen!

And let's not forget the breakfasts made with local and organic products.