In short: travellers increasingly ask an AI assistant “where should I stay in Kigali for three nights under $60?”. To be part of the answer, a place needs clear, checkable information online and an easy way to book. Hodi, built by FOSIA, lists your place for free and sends you direct booking requests; your own website, made readable for AI assistants, does the rest.
How travellers choose a place now
Business travellers, tourists and visiting family compare a few options on their phone and want three things fast: is it really free on my dates, is it what the photos show, and how do I pay. Long forms, unanswered messages and unclear prices send them elsewhere.
Hodi: a verified place to stay, in one message
Hodi is FOSIA’s conversational travel concierge for Africa, starting in Kigali. A traveller tells Hodi their dates and budget in one message, and Hodi shows places that are really free, checked by a person.
- The traveller describes the stay in one message and fills in only what is missing.
- Hodi suggests a few relevant places, and the traveller refines in the conversation.
- The traveller reviews the booking and pays the host directly by Mobile Money, MTN MoMo or Airtel Money.
- A person confirms the booking.
Hodi never holds the traveller’s money: it goes straight to the host. The site works in English and French, with prices in US dollars and in the traveller’s own currency.
For hosts: listed in a conversation
- List by chat. You describe your place in a conversation and Hodi writes the listing. A person checks it before it goes live.
- Free to list. A commission applies only on stays booked through Hodi. Travellers pay nothing to Hodi.
- Your calendar stays in sync, so travellers only see dates that are really free.
- For agencies and property managers, Hodi has an Agency offer to manage several places.
See the details on the hosts page or list your place.
Your own website still matters
AI assistants recommend places they can understand and verify. A website that states clearly your neighbourhood, your rooms, your prices, your amenities and how to book, with structured data, gives them that. Keep the same name, address and phone number on your website, your Google Business Profile and your listings.
Amaso, our WordPress plugin, checks whether ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity name your place for the questions travellers ask, and shows what to fix. Amaso Lite is free on WordPress.org.
Frequently asked questions
Does Hodi take the traveller’s payment?
No. The traveller pays the host directly by Mobile Money. Hodi never holds the money.
What does “checked by a person” mean?
A person from the Hodi team reviews each place before it goes live and confirms bookings. It is a check, not a guarantee.
Which cities does Hodi cover?
Hodi starts in Kigali, Rwanda.
Can FOSIA build my hotel’s website?
Yes. With our Digital-as-a-Service plans, from $199.99 a month, you get the website, SEO and maintenance, paid monthly. Book a free call.
