In today’s digital economy, the ability of small businesses to thrive depends on more than visibility -it requires independence from costly intermediaries and access to advanced technologies. At the intersection of artificial intelligence and hospitality, Alexia Abreu, Founder of Lumara, is pioneering a solution designed to reshape how boutique hotels operate and grow.
Breaking Dependence on Third-Party Platforms
For decades, boutique hotels and independent accommodations have relied heavily on Online Travel Agencies (OTAs). While OTAs provide visibility, they also claim commissions as high as 20-30%, often squeezing the margins of small operators. Lumara was born to challenge this model.
At its core, Lumara offers a proprietary booking system that empowers hotels to manage reservations directly – commission-free. Unlike standard website templates or generic booking plug-ins, Lumara integrates booking, guest management, and AI-powered communication into a single smart platform. This independence not only protects revenue but also restores control over customer relationships, enabling hotels to deliver personalized experiences without external interference.
Hotels shouldn’t have to pay a toll just to welcome their own guests,” says Abreu. “Lumara was designed to give them back their autonomy, powered by the same advanced tools that large chains enjoy.
AI Concierge: A 24/7 Guest Experience Revolution
While the booking system lays the foundation, Lumara’s AI Concierge elevates the guest experience. Unlike optional add-ons, the concierge is fully embedded into the platform, functioning as a 24/7 multilingual assistant. Guests can interact via voice, chat, or social messaging, making inquiries, receiving tailored recommendations, or even finalizing bookings without staff intervention.
For boutique hotels, where staff resources are often limited, this AI-driven assistant acts as a digital extension of the team. It reduces operational burden, increases guest satisfaction, and ensures no opportunity for engagement is lost.
According to Abreu, this integration is not a gimmick but a deliberate design choice: “We wanted AI to work seamlessly within the booking and communication flow—not as a separate chatbot, but as an intelligent concierge woven into the hotel’s identity.
Global Relevance and Economic Impact
Although Lumara is rooted in boutique hospitality, its innovation addresses a much larger challenge: how small businesses can compete in a digital-first economy. By reducing dependence on large intermediaries and automating key customer interactions, the platform contributes to broader U.S. priorities of small business empowerment, digital transformation, and economic growth.
The relevance extends beyond tourism. Lumara’s framework – integrating AI, proprietary booking, and customer experience could be adapted to other industries where small enterprises face disproportionate dependency on middlemen.
The Founder’s Vision
Alexia Abreu’s journey reflects a rare combination of marketing expertise, business analytics, and entrepreneurial innovation. With over a decade of experience in digital marketing, she has led high-budget campaigns, developed AI-driven strategies, and founded Lumara to apply cutting-edge technology to one of the world’s oldest industries: hospitality.
Her ability to merge creative strategy with advanced analytics has earned her recognition across multiple markets. Today, through Lumara, she is not only innovating within the travel and tourism sector but also contributing to larger conversations about AI adoption, small business resilience, and the future of guest experiences.
Recognition and Future Outlook
Lumara’s approach has already drawn attention from global entrepreneurs, technology advisors, and media outlets covering the rise of AI in business. The platform represents a proof of concept with significant potential for scale, aligning with the U.S. priority of fostering innovation that strengthens economic competitiveness.
Looking ahead, Abreu envisions Lumara as more than a hospitality solution. The long-term goal is to create a universal framework for AI-powered independence – where small businesses in diverse industries can own their operations, engage customers directly, and reduce reliance on extractive platforms.
True innovation isn’t about adding more tools; it’s about creating smarter systems that empower the underdog,” Abreu notes.
About Lumara
Founded by Alexia Abreu, Lumara is a hospitality tech platform designed to empower boutique hotels with a proprietary booking system and integrated AI concierge. The solution helps hotels become independent from third-party commissions while elevating guest experiences through 24/7 AI support. Learn more at www.uselumara.com.
