Meet Hana: A host from Nézel who is passionate about the arts

As the French Parliament prepares to vote on the Digital Bill on June 29th, the home sharing community is mobilising to maintain simple rules for home sharing. We have always believed the best way to understand the positive impacts of home sharing is by hosts sharing their stories. This blog post is the first in an ongoing series that gets to know our hosts better.

Meet Hana

“I became a host in order to share great moments with people from all around the world” explains Hana Cathala, owner of a small and charming house in Nézel, 50 minutes outside Paris. Hana is originally from Prague, but has been living in France for twenty-five years. She occasionally rents out her son’s former bedroom.

Hana speaks seven languages and has lived in several places: Reunion Island, Turkey, Philippines, Morocco. She used to be a sports teacher and a therapist. Today, in addition to being a consultant for spas, she is passionate about pottery and makes her own ceramics.

“There is a very nice twenty-five year old Chinese girl staying with me right now. She wanted to spend some time meditating in a calm environment. We share the same interest for art, as her mother taught her calligraphy. I brought her to l’Atelier des artistes in Benne, the place where I manufacture ceramics. On Sunday, we will go together to the flea market in Nézel.”

Hana loves to give some hiking advice in the countryside or places to visit around her house: Giverny, the town of impressionist painters, the Thoiry zoo and a delicious Chocolate factory in Maule.

“I have been a big fan of car sharing for thirty years, and today Airbnb allows me to welcome guests and spend unique moments with them.”

Many hosts like Hana will be gathering together tonight at Cinéma du Panthéon in Paris. Hosts and supporters will meet others who are passionate about home sharing. We will have a drink, learn more about the current legal framework in France, and get a chance to meet the local Airbnb staff.