about us

It's not about the destinations you've visited; it's about the people you've encountered along the way. 

G'day! I'm Jérôme Masson,  a Melburnian for the past 12 years, juggling the chaos of hospitality and single parenting to my 11-year-old mini-me.

Picture this: born in the sunny south of France, my family tree looks like a tangled spaghetti junction. 

With an English/Swiss German mum, a French dad, and English ancestors called the Thornton who globe-trotted from England to St Petersburg, Russia, and all the way to Cambridge, New Zealand, we practically had our own United Nations at the dinner table.

My grandma, Eva, did the international marriage thing with my Swiss grandpa, Otto, while he was rocking it at IBM in Turkey. But please, don't ask me where I come from unless you've got a map, a compass, and maybe a GPS.

Globalization's side effect? Xenophobia. So, while we're busy celebrating Australia Day, Bastille Day, and even International Women's Day, why not throw in a Xenophobia Day? After all, we're citizens of the world, and whether you're a migrant, expat, or just a couch surfer, we all get a dose of it.

When people ask me, "Where are you from?" I chuckle and tell them, "There are only two cultures left in the world – iPhone and Android. We're practically siblings."

The cure for xenophobia? More mobility! Let's measure time by experience. In the future, we'll realize we're not divided by rivers or state borders but united by our shared struggles to assemble IKEA furniture.

Back in '94, I kicked off my culinary journey as an apprentice chef, trotting around the globe from high-end bistros to 5-star resorts, cruise ships, and even as an airline chef. Fast forward to 2020, the year of "gifts" – thanks, pandemic – and I decided it was time to march to my own beat.

Introducing "Erica Escape" – my Airbnb retreat in the middle of nowhere (well, near the mountains). My grand plan? A future tea house/café – because every chef dreams of being a tea-sipping maestro.

Homeschooling and lockdowns? Perfect time to renovate and redesign Erica Escape with my 27 years of hotel ninja skills. By 2025, it'll be the eco-friendliest Airbnb this side of the Southern Hemisphere.

So, instead of binge-watching TV or scrolling your life away on your phone, join me on a hike to reconnect with the "real" world. The world is our playground, and Erica Escape is less than 2 hours away from Melbourne. Pack your sense of humor, and let's make some memories!

Currently dwelling in Melbourne, I'm open to job opportunities 

 Let the good times roll!