When you meet Elodie, CEO and co-founder of FastPay Hotels, you immediately feel her energy, calm confidence and genuine warmth. She’s the kind of leader who loves her work deeply yet knows when to put it down to take her daughter to horse riding lessons. That balance between passion and presence defines not just who she is, but how she leads one of Mallorca’s most forward-thinking travel tech companies.

“I always work on holidays, but I work whenever I want, that’s the beauty of owning your company.”

 

From Brussels to Mallorca: A Journey of Reinvention

Born in Brussels to a Belgian father and French mother, Elodie grew up in an environment where education and ambition were non-negotiable. Her father, an architect, wanted her to study hard and pursue a prestigious career.

And she did, beginning her professional path in Amadeus, the global travel software giant, where she spent eight formative years. Later, she joined Expedia in Madrid before moving to Lowcost Travel Group in Mallorca.

It was there that she met Paul Evans, the company’s CEO, a man whose leadership style changed her life.

“He didn’t care how you did things as long as you achieved results. He gave us complete freedom.”

That trust-based environment introduced Elodie to entrepreneurial thinking long before she became an entrepreneur.

“He basically invented remote work before COVID,” she recalls. “He trusted people to work when and where they wanted and we worked harder because of it.”

 

 Founding FastPay Hotels

When Lowcost Travel Group went bankrupt, Elodie and her then-manager decided to build something new, a company that would modernise hotel distribution and payments. That idea became FastPay Hotels, founded in 2015 in Mallorca.

“We jumped into it without overthinking. We were a bit crazy,” she admits.

At the time, Elodie was juggling a new marriage, a home and a young child.

“I did everything in the wrong order, had a daughter, got married, bought a house, then started a business,” she laughs. “It was chaos, but it worked out.”

FastPay Hotels proliferated by simplifying how hotels and travel agencies handle prepaid reservations, a model that revolutionised B2B hotel payments.

 Leadership That Empowers

Elodie’s leadership style reflects both her personal journey and her deep empathy as a woman in business.

She says,

“My personality is reflected in my leadership. At FastPay, I wanted women to feel safe, to never have to choose between career and family.”

That philosophy shaped the company culture. From its early days, FastPay offered flexible hours, remote work options, and support for parents, long before such policies became common.

“If someone’s child is sick, they just tell HR they’re working from home. That’s it. No questions asked.”

Today, over 80% of the team is women, not by design but by attraction. “They came because they wanted to work somewhere that understood them,” she says proudly.

Transparency is another pillar. Elodie holds monthly meetings to discuss strategy, finances, and both the company’s wins and struggles.

“When people understand why we make decisions, change becomes easier to accept.”

Leading Through Change

In 2023, FastPay Hotels underwent its most significant internal transformation when Elodie’s business partner left. It was an emotional moment but also a turning point.

“It was a sad and difficult time. But the team stood by me completely. They believed in the company, and they stayed strong.”

That loyalty was profoundly moving for Elodie. “When someone leaves, I always thank them sincerely. It’s my company, not theirs, so their dedication means everything.”

 The Reality of Leading in Mallorca

Being a business leader in Mallorca brings unique challenges. The island’s economy is heavily reliant on tourism, and housing costs are high.

She admits that,

“Mallorca is wonderful, but it’s expensive. Some companies are moving operations to Madrid or Barcelona because it’s cheaper. We need to fix that.”

Culturally, she believes success in Mallorca requires adaptability. “You must understand the local culture and language. It’s a small island, so everyone knows each other. Relationships are everything here.”

 

 Women, Leadership, and the Next Generation

Elodie is deeply passionate about women in leadership, both in Spain and globally.

“Ten years ago, it was hard to be a woman leader. You’d get questions like, ‘How do you cope with work and family?’ I wanted to create a company where that question does not exist.”

She believes progress has accelerated in recent years and that the next generation won’t compromise.

“My daughter’s generation won’t bend to fit in. If you don’t want them, they’ll go somewhere else.”

Her own emotional intelligence, once seen as a weakness, is now one of her greatest strengths. Diagnosed as hypersensitive, Elodie learned to embrace her emotions as part of her leadership.

“Empathy is not crying at work. It’s knowing when to regulate your emotions, so others feel safe. It’s balance.”

Building Meaningful Connections

For Elodie, success isn’t about competition; it’s about collaboration.

She stays in touch with peers, even competitors, to exchange insights about the evolving travel landscape.

“I talk with everyone, let it be suppliers, clients, or competitors. We share ideas, not secrets. That’s how you stay ahead.”

She also represents FastPay on the European Board of HSMAI, the global association for hotel marketing and innovation, where she helps connect the next generation of hospitality professionals with industry leaders.

The Future: Sinantis and Smart Tech

FastPay Hotels’ evolution continues with its new brand, Sinantis, a next-generation platform that uses AI and automation to optimise hotel distribution.

“We don’t want people doing work a machine can do. We want them thinking, learning, creating.”

The company’s small team of 30 accomplishes what competitors need 300 people for, which is proof of how powerful innovative technology and empowered people can be together.

“Our philosophy is simple: technology should free people to think.”

 Conclusion

Elodie’s journey is a masterclass in authentic leadership, balancing passion, empathy, and resilience while redefining what it means to be a woman in tech.

“Do what you love. Stay transparent. And never forget, it is just a job. Life always comes first.”