Born in a Hotel. Fourth generation of Hotel Family business. More than 15 years of professional experience in the travel and Hotel industry. Specialized in business development and strategy in luxury and business Hotels. Guillermo holds a strong experience in launching, managing and operating e-commerce start-up’s as BYHOURS. We interview Guillermo Gaspart to know his impressions about being South Summit Finalist and what he thinks about the entrepeneur world.

1. What does the South Summit mean for you? What do you expect from this event?
This event is a great opportunity to showcase BYHOURS to national and international investors, media and possible partners. It is also important for us to remain in touch with the tech and startup ecosystem, to inspire and to be inspired by other promising startups in and out of our direct sector.

2. Why did you decide to participate in the competition?
As we had already been finalists in other editions (2015) I think this time our nomination is not due to the launching of a new product or concept (which we are) but to the milestones we have achieved after 6 years in the market. Growing on expertise and geographically could be some triggers to hopefully be winners.

3. Why did you decide to start your business and how did you come up with the idea?
6 years ago, Christian Rodriguez, a business oriented and analytical minded entrepreneur focusing on disruptive models, asked hospitality expert and hotelier, Guillermo Gaspart, why the shortest stay you could book at a hotel was 24h. At that time, products and services were being personalized in all sectors, but not when booking a hotel room. This question was the starting point and the implementation of the pay-per-use model to the hospitality market. Although we developed and launched the microstays and BYHOURS concept in Barcelona, some months later and spread to the main cities in Spain, and later on to international markets in three continents.

4. Why is your company  useful for the user?
There are a few user cases. Our classical one is for business people between meetings or families traveling, (early-late flights, layovers, etc.), hotels close to hospitals, theatres, football stadium… and corporate trips, normally we don’t need stay more than 12h in these trips and they are not always during night hours.

5.  How did you feel when you knew you were finalist?
Fantastic! We are always honored to be listed as one of the most promising startups at an international event and more so in the case of the South Summit.

6. What do you think will happen in the future of startups?
Certainly there are some strong innovations appearing, we have to keep an eye on the market and on the opportunities we can approach in the future.

7. What advice would you give to those who want to participate in South Summit?
Stay confident, and connected. It’s very important to be open mind. For entrepreneurs, the best way to take advantage of this event is to prepare it in advance.

8. What does being an entrepreneur mean for you?
Passion, commitment and resilience. Those entrepreneurs who want to build a company only for sell it, is the worst mistake to start a company.

9. What´s your dream in life? 

Drinking without being hangover the days after would be one :-)