so one of my heroes a man by the name of Al
Al
Al humboldt said over 200 years ago the
humboldt said over 200 years ago the
humboldt said over 200 years ago the most dangerous world view is the
most dangerous world view is the
most dangerous world view is the worldview of those who have never viewed
worldview of those who have never viewed
worldview of those who have never viewed the world let me share a quick story
the world let me share a quick story
the world let me share a quick story about a trip I took that completely
about a trip I took that completely
about a trip I took that completely changed my worldview it was 2007 I was
changed my worldview it was 2007 I was
changed my worldview it was 2007 I was with my best buddy and now business
with my best buddy and now business
with my best buddy and now business partner Greg and we bought a ticket into
partner Greg and we bought a ticket into
partner Greg and we bought a ticket into Delhi and a ticket out of Mumbai nothing
Delhi and a ticket out of Mumbai nothing
Delhi and a ticket out of Mumbai nothing planned in between for six weeks and the
planned in between for six weeks and the
planned in between for six weeks and the way that we traveled was we’d meet
way that we traveled was we’d meet
way that we traveled was we’d meet interesting people and basically
interesting people and basically
interesting people and basically convinced them to introduce us to their
convinced them to introduce us to their
convinced them to introduce us to their interesting friends so a disciple of
interesting friends so a disciple of
interesting friends so a disciple of Vedanta up in Rishikesh sent us to meet
Vedanta up in Rishikesh sent us to meet
Vedanta up in Rishikesh sent us to meet his guru down in Pune a successful
his guru down in Pune a successful
his guru down in Pune a successful shopkeeper in Agra sent us all the way
shopkeeper in Agra sent us all the way
shopkeeper in Agra sent us all the way down to Cochin to meet his friend who
down to Cochin to meet his friend who
down to Cochin to meet his friend who started an import-export business out of
started an import-export business out of
started an import-export business out of 200 square feet and turned it into 200
200 square feet and turned it into 200
200 square feet and turned it into 200 thousand square feet and the list goes
thousand square feet and the list goes
thousand square feet and the list goes on and on but one person that sticks
on and on but one person that sticks
on and on but one person that sticks with me in particular is a guy by the
with me in particular is a guy by the
with me in particular is a guy by the name of Dinesh Greg and I were in Kerala
name of Dinesh Greg and I were in Kerala
name of Dinesh Greg and I were in Kerala and we decided to carve out a day to go
and we decided to carve out a day to go
and we decided to carve out a day to go hiking in one of its tallest peaks
hiking in one of its tallest peaks
hiking in one of its tallest peaks Dinesh was our guide and over the course
Dinesh was our guide and over the course
Dinesh was our guide and over the course of that morning we got to know Dinesh I
of that morning we got to know Dinesh I
of that morning we got to know Dinesh I remember asking him at some point Dinesh
remember asking him at some point Dinesh
remember asking him at some point Dinesh is guiding your passion he responded
is guiding your passion he responded
is guiding your passion he responded candidly no sir well the nationís
candidly no sir well the nationís
candidly no sir well the nationís guiding isn’t your passion it’s not your
guiding isn’t your passion it’s not your
guiding isn’t your passion it’s not your life’s purpose what is I’m an artist sir
life’s purpose what is I’m an artist sir
life’s purpose what is I’m an artist sir I love to paint
I love to paint
I love to paint well Greg and I love art would it be
well Greg and I love art would it be
well Greg and I love art would it be possible for us to see some of your work
possible for us to see some of your work
possible for us to see some of your work and at that moment it was as if no one
and at that moment it was as if no one
and at that moment it was as if no one had ever asked him that question before
had ever asked him that question before
had ever asked him that question before his eyes grew wide and he responded
his eyes grew wide and he responded
his eyes grew wide and he responded excitedly can I show you and so we
excitedly can I show you and so we
excitedly can I show you and so we hopped in the truck and drove the
hopped in the truck and drove the
hopped in the truck and drove the backroads of Kerala past groves of
backroads of Kerala past groves of
backroads of Kerala past groves of coconut palms little tiny villages and
coconut palms little tiny villages and
coconut palms little tiny villages and on the outskirts of a speck of a village
on the outskirts of a speck of a village
on the outskirts of a speck of a village there was a speck of a house smack dab
there was a speck of a house smack dab
there was a speck of a house smack dab in the middle of a Coconut Grove as we
in the middle of a Coconut Grove as we
in the middle of a Coconut Grove as we hopped out of that truck I remember
hopped out of that truck I remember
hopped out of that truck I remember Dinesh’s mother and father and wife
Dinesh’s mother and father and wife
Dinesh’s mother and father and wife greeting us they led us to the back
greeting us they led us to the back
greeting us they led us to the back patio of their humble home and Dinesh’s
patio of their humble home and Dinesh’s
patio of their humble home and Dinesh’s mother was there picking fresh fruit
mother was there picking fresh fruit
mother was there picking fresh fruit for trees and squeezing it into a
for trees and squeezing it into a
for trees and squeezing it into a deliciously sweet juice all of us drank
deliciously sweet juice all of us drank
deliciously sweet juice all of us drank now as we finished that juice we said
now as we finished that juice we said
now as we finished that juice we said okay Dinesh it’s time to see this
okay Dinesh it’s time to see this
okay Dinesh it’s time to see this artwork of yours and he led us into his
artwork of yours and he led us into his
artwork of yours and he led us into his bedroom literally the size of an
bedroom literally the size of an
bedroom literally the size of an extra-large dining room table and we sat
extra-large dining room table and we sat
extra-large dining room table and we sat on the edge of his twin size bed the
on the edge of his twin size bed the
on the edge of his twin size bed the only piece of furniture in that room and
only piece of furniture in that room and
only piece of furniture in that room and as I looked up all of his walls were
as I looked up all of his walls were
as I looked up all of his walls were covered in his art and he’d take a piece
covered in his art and he’d take a piece
covered in his art and he’d take a piece off and show it to us and put it back on
off and show it to us and put it back on
off and show it to us and put it back on in another piece and explain the
in another piece and explain the
in another piece and explain the inspiration behind it and although I can
inspiration behind it and although I can
inspiration behind it and although I can say that Dinesh had not quite mastered
say that Dinesh had not quite mastered
say that Dinesh had not quite mastered his craft he was so proud and all of us
his craft he was so proud and all of us
his craft he was so proud and all of us were smiling and we all walked away from
were smiling and we all walked away from
were smiling and we all walked away from that experience changed for the better
that experience changed for the better
that experience changed for the better Travel is indeed the best form of
Travel is indeed the best form of
Travel is indeed the best form of Education and what that first trip to
Education and what that first trip to
Education and what that first trip to India taught me that was by forging deep
India taught me that was by forging deep
India taught me that was by forging deep human connections with others that’s the
human connections with others that’s the
human connections with others that’s the antidote to fear
antidote to fear
antidote to fear that’s the elixir to a richer life now
that’s the elixir to a richer life now
that’s the elixir to a richer life now there’s some really really good news
there’s some really really good news
there’s some really really good news more people are traveling in the world
more people are traveling in the world
more people are traveling in the world today than ever before
today than ever before
today than ever before Travel is the seventh largest industry
Travel is the seventh largest industry
Travel is the seventh largest industry it’s the third fastest growing at the
it’s the third fastest growing at the
it’s the third fastest growing at the high-end over a trillion dollars are
high-end over a trillion dollars are
high-end over a trillion dollars are spent on luxury experiences and the
spent on luxury experiences and the
spent on luxury experiences and the younger generations are just
younger generations are just
younger generations are just accelerating this shift as they prefer
accelerating this shift as they prefer
accelerating this shift as they prefer experience over things but it’s also not
experience over things but it’s also not
experience over things but it’s also not without its hurdles it seems like every
without its hurdles it seems like every
without its hurdles it seems like every single day across all of our screens
single day across all of our screens
single day across all of our screens images of terrorism disease epidemic
images of terrorism disease epidemic
images of terrorism disease epidemic political strife economic uncertainty
political strife economic uncertainty
political strife economic uncertainty they create a narrative that this world
they create a narrative that this world
they create a narrative that this world is a scary and dangerous place causes
is a scary and dangerous place causes
is a scary and dangerous place causes people to not want want to walk out
people to not want want to walk out
people to not want want to walk out their front doors every morning let
their front doors every morning let
their front doors every morning let alone hop on a plane and jump halfway
alone hop on a plane and jump halfway
alone hop on a plane and jump halfway across the world and we know that in
across the world and we know that in
across the world and we know that in times of uncertainty travel and tourism
times of uncertainty travel and tourism
times of uncertainty travel and tourism is often the first sector to get hit we
is often the first sector to get hit we
is often the first sector to get hit we don’t have to look too far to see the
don’t have to look too far to see the
don’t have to look too far to see the devastation in Egypt what’s happened in
devastation in Egypt what’s happened in
devastation in Egypt what’s happened in Paris the UK
Paris the UK
Paris the UK Africa as they had to deal with Ebola or
Africa as they had to deal with Ebola or
Africa as they had to deal with Ebola or the Caribbean with Zika even in the
the Caribbean with Zika even in the
the Caribbean with Zika even in the United States the political climate and
United States the political climate and
United States the political climate and this narrative of unwelcome nests is
this narrative of unwelcome nests is
this narrative of unwelcome nests is costing this country billions of dollars
but there’s some also some really really
but there’s some also some really really good news and I believe that with
good news and I believe that with
good news and I believe that with uncertainty first off with uncertainty
uncertainty first off with uncertainty
uncertainty first off with uncertainty stopping a travel it it doesn’t only
stopping a travel it it doesn’t only
stopping a travel it it doesn’t only cause economic implications ceasing to
cause economic implications ceasing to
cause economic implications ceasing to travel really pulls the plug on that
travel really pulls the plug on that
travel really pulls the plug on that which makes us human travel bridges the
which makes us human travel bridges the
which makes us human travel bridges the education and cultural gaps if fosters
education and cultural gaps if fosters
education and cultural gaps if fosters shifts in perspective it fuels curiosity
shifts in perspective it fuels curiosity
shifts in perspective it fuels curiosity empathy tolerance respect understanding
empathy tolerance respect understanding
empathy tolerance respect understanding and when we stop traveling that’s when
and when we stop traveling that’s when
and when we stop traveling that’s when ignorant sets in that’s when even hatred
ignorant sets in that’s when even hatred
ignorant sets in that’s when even hatred of now faceless cultures happens at the
of now faceless cultures happens at the
of now faceless cultures happens at the end of the day it’s just a lot easier to
end of the day it’s just a lot easier to
end of the day it’s just a lot easier to push that red button and drop bombs on
push that red button and drop bombs on
push that red button and drop bombs on people that we don’t know now I know
people that we don’t know now I know
people that we don’t know now I know it’s important for the industry to make
it’s important for the industry to make
it’s important for the industry to make sure that we’ve got heads and beds we
sure that we’ve got heads and beds we
sure that we’ve got heads and beds we got butts in seats that were increasing
got butts in seats that were increasing
got butts in seats that were increasing our rev par and our ADR I just believe
our rev par and our ADR I just believe
our rev par and our ADR I just believe there’s so much more at stake there’s
there’s so much more at stake there’s
there’s so much more at stake there’s such a larger opportunity I believe that
such a larger opportunity I believe that
such a larger opportunity I believe that travel has the opportunity become the
travel has the opportunity become the
travel has the opportunity become the most important and successful engine of
most important and successful engine of
most important and successful engine of political economic social cultural and
political economic social cultural and
political economic social cultural and educational progress and understanding
educational progress and understanding
educational progress and understanding in the history of modern times so what
in the history of modern times so what
in the history of modern times so what can we do
can we do
can we do what can we do to not only move the
what can we do to not only move the
what can we do to not only move the industry and travel forward but change
industry and travel forward but change
industry and travel forward but change the trajectory of importance of travel
the trajectory of importance of travel
the trajectory of importance of travel on the world stage I believe it starts
on the world stage I believe it starts
on the world stage I believe it starts with one thing we have to help people
with one thing we have to help people
with one thing we have to help people fear less fear less by getting them to
fear less fear less by getting them to
fear less fear less by getting them to travel and deeper richer more meaningful
travel and deeper richer more meaningful
travel and deeper richer more meaningful ways ways that transforms lives
ways ways that transforms lives
ways ways that transforms lives communities and ultimately the planet we
communities and ultimately the planet we
communities and ultimately the planet we live on
live on
live on we have to remind ourselves every single
we have to remind ourselves every single
we have to remind ourselves every single day why travel really matters so that we
day why travel really matters so that we
day why travel really matters so that we can infuse it into everything that we do
can infuse it into everything that we do
can infuse it into everything that we do and everyone that we touch so let me
and everyone that we touch so let me
and everyone that we touch so let me show you one example of why travel
show you one example of why travel
show you one example of why travel really matters at first I was nervous it
really matters at first I was nervous it
really matters at first I was nervous it has a butterflies and I really do not
has a butterflies and I really do not
has a butterflies and I really do not know what to expect
know what to expect
know what to expect how’s it gonna be over there I’ve never
how’s it gonna be over there I’ve never
how’s it gonna be over there I’ve never been anywhere but outside my house I was
been anywhere but outside my house I was
been anywhere but outside my house I was looking at pictures to prepare myself
looking at pictures to prepare myself
looking at pictures to prepare myself for it
for it
for it I felt like Phil’s a dream I couldn’t
I felt like Phil’s a dream I couldn’t
I felt like Phil’s a dream I couldn’t believe I was there
believe I was there
believe I was there [Music]
[Music]
[Music] first time ever traveling run as my
first time ever traveling run as my
first time ever traveling run as my first minute plane for sensing the
first minute plane for sensing the
first minute plane for sensing the oceans specific first meets uh I’ve
oceans specific first meets uh I’ve
oceans specific first meets uh I’ve always wanted to but I’ve never had the
always wanted to but I’ve never had the
always wanted to but I’ve never had the opportunity so we went to this very it
opportunity so we went to this very it
opportunity so we went to this very it was local very small school it really
was local very small school it really
was local very small school it really made me cherish and appreciate my
made me cherish and appreciate my
made me cherish and appreciate my education because I got to see what it
education because I got to see what it
education because I got to see what it was like here and what the conditions
was like here and what the conditions
was like here and what the conditions were there’s one thing we knew of that
were there’s one thing we knew of that
were there’s one thing we knew of that travel it’s one of those endeavors that
travel it’s one of those endeavors that
travel it’s one of those endeavors that makes you feel alive and the reason why
makes you feel alive and the reason why
makes you feel alive and the reason why it makes you feel alive is because it
it makes you feel alive is because it
it makes you feel alive is because it puts you in places that are
puts you in places that are
puts you in places that are uncomfortable and unfamiliar it was like
uncomfortable and unfamiliar it was like
uncomfortable and unfamiliar it was like way beyond beautiful it was like things
way beyond beautiful it was like things
way beyond beautiful it was like things you can’t explain so a feeling you have
you can’t explain so a feeling you have
you can’t explain so a feeling you have inside these things you can’t explain
it’s really a unique combination of
it’s really a unique combination of events that gets them out of their
events that gets them out of their
events that gets them out of their comfort zone and that’s why when they
comfort zone and that’s why when they
comfort zone and that’s why when they come back it is so moving
come back it is so moving
come back it is so moving it is so reaffirming of the power travel
it is so reaffirming of the power travel
it is so reaffirming of the power travel once I got like through the trip I
once I got like through the trip I
once I got like through the trip I didn’t want to come back and he would
didn’t want to come back and he would
didn’t want to come back and he would sleep on my last day just because I was
sleep on my last day just because I was
sleep on my last day just because I was pretty sad that he had it it’s okay I
pretty sad that he had it it’s okay I
pretty sad that he had it it’s okay I think to appreciate things in life was
think to appreciate things in life was
think to appreciate things in life was the thing that I brought back from Costa
the thing that I brought back from Costa
the thing that I brought back from Costa Rica and I mean the whole experience
Rica and I mean the whole experience
Rica and I mean the whole experience just made me open my eyes I would really
just made me open my eyes I would really
just made me open my eyes I would really want to do something so I could give
want to do something so I could give
want to do something so I could give back the educational component and then
back the educational component and then
back the educational component and then also this notion of when you get
also this notion of when you get
also this notion of when you get something you have to give something
something you have to give something
something you have to give something back is what makes learning a part
back is what makes learning a part
back is what makes learning a part unique I actually want to go back to
unique I actually want to go back to
unique I actually want to go back to this Rica when I have the chance I don’t
this Rica when I have the chance I don’t
this Rica when I have the chance I don’t want to go back
want to go back
want to go back [Music]
[Music]
[Music] first time seeing the ocean those
first time seeing the ocean those
first time seeing the ocean those students live in Oakland California 15
students live in Oakland California 15
students live in Oakland California 15 miles away from the Pacific Ocean and to
miles away from the Pacific Ocean and to
miles away from the Pacific Ocean and to appreciate things in life the other
appreciate things in life the other
appreciate things in life the other student said his parents make a combined
student said his parents make a combined
student said his parents make a combined household income $20,000 a year last
household income $20,000 a year last
household income $20,000 a year last year we sent 250 students on trips like
year we sent 250 students on trips like
year we sent 250 students on trips like this but imagine what this world would
this but imagine what this world would
this but imagine what this world would be like if we could send a million
be like if we could send a million
be like if we could send a million students on trips like this it would
students on trips like this it would
students on trips like this it would completely change the fabric DNA and
completely change the fabric DNA and
completely change the fabric DNA and narrative of this country of ours this
narrative of this country of ours this
narrative of this country of ours this of this world that we live in so what
of this world that we live in so what
of this world that we live in so what can we do what can we do to help this
can we do what can we do to help this
can we do what can we do to help this world rise above fear pack its bags and
world rise above fear pack its bags and
world rise above fear pack its bags and keep traveling I believe there’s five
keep traveling I believe there’s five
keep traveling I believe there’s five things that we can do to at least get
things that we can do to at least get
things that we can do to at least get started
started
started the first is travel every single day
the first is travel every single day
the first is travel every single day travel isn’t something you do two weeks
travel isn’t something you do two weeks
travel isn’t something you do two weeks out of the year for vacation or what you
out of the year for vacation or what you
out of the year for vacation or what you do for a business trip Travel happens
do for a business trip Travel happens
do for a business trip Travel happens the second you walk out your front door
the second you walk out your front door
the second you walk out your front door every morning it’s a mindset a mindset
every morning it’s a mindset a mindset
every morning it’s a mindset a mindset about being curious open-minded willing
about being curious open-minded willing
about being curious open-minded willing to get outside of your comfort zone and
to get outside of your comfort zone and
to get outside of your comfort zone and stretch yourself in addition to counting
stretch yourself in addition to counting
stretch yourself in addition to counting the number of countries you go to why
the number of countries you go to why
the number of countries you go to why not start counting the number of kitchen
not start counting the number of kitchen
not start counting the number of kitchen tables in those countries or the next
tables in those countries or the next
tables in those countries or the next time you hop in a taxi or an uber or a
time you hop in a taxi or an uber or a
time you hop in a taxi or an uber or a lift it’s really easy to pull out your
lift it’s really easy to pull out your
lift it’s really easy to pull out your iPhone and start tapping away at that
iPhone and start tapping away at that
iPhone and start tapping away at that next email how about next time you look
next email how about next time you look
next email how about next time you look at the name of the driver and guess
at the name of the driver and guess
at the name of the driver and guess where he or she’s from and then get on
where he or she’s from and then get on
where he or she’s from and then get on your phone and type in top ten phrases
your phone and type in top ten phrases
your phone and type in top ten phrases instead language I guarantee you that
instead language I guarantee you that
instead language I guarantee you that decision will take your day a completely
decision will take your day a completely
decision will take your day a completely different way the second thing is to
different way the second thing is to
different way the second thing is to create Purpose Driven brands brands that
create Purpose Driven brands brands that
create Purpose Driven brands brands that stand for something people want to align
stand for something people want to align
stand for something people want to align with things that align with their values
with things that align with their values
with things that align with their values it’s important to share the what but
it’s important to share the what but
it’s important to share the what but it’s really magical to share the lie the
it’s really magical to share the lie the
it’s really magical to share the lie the third thing is a concept I call travel
third thing is a concept I call travel
third thing is a concept I call travel deeper
deeper
deeper humans us humans we crave immersion we
humans us humans we crave immersion we
humans us humans we crave immersion we crave connection we crave a sense of
crave connection we crave a sense of
crave connection we crave a sense of self-realization help people find their
self-realization help people find their
self-realization help people find their dinesh there’s millions of beautiful
dinesh there’s millions of beautiful
dinesh there’s millions of beautiful destinations out there thousands of
destinations out there thousands of
destinations out there thousands of great hotels but it’s those places where
great hotels but it’s those places where
great hotels but it’s those places where you make meaningful human connections
you make meaningful human connections
you make meaningful human connections that you find yourself coming back to
that you find yourself coming back to
that you find yourself coming back to and the fourth thing is just be real we
and the fourth thing is just be real we
and the fourth thing is just be real we hear a lot of anticipation but I travel
hear a lot of anticipation but I travel
hear a lot of anticipation but I travel a lot I haven’t seen that supermodel on
a lot I haven’t seen that supermodel on
a lot I haven’t seen that supermodel on the elephant on the deserted beach just
the elephant on the deserted beach just
the elephant on the deserted beach just yet so we live in a beautiful world
yet so we live in a beautiful world
yet so we live in a beautiful world celebrate that let’s celebrate the world
celebrate that let’s celebrate the world
celebrate that let’s celebrate the world as it is in all of its beautiful colors
as it is in all of its beautiful colors
as it is in all of its beautiful colors and finally take leaps embrace the
and finally take leaps embrace the
and finally take leaps embrace the unknown because after all isn’t that
unknown because after all isn’t that
unknown because after all isn’t that such a powerful way to live and isn’t
such a powerful way to live and isn’t
such a powerful way to live and isn’t that the essence of what travel is
that the essence of what travel is
that the essence of what travel is really all about and with that kind of
really all about and with that kind of
really all about and with that kind of travel comes empathy and with that kind
travel comes empathy and with that kind
travel comes empathy and with that kind of empathy comes understanding with
of empathy comes understanding with
of empathy comes understanding with understanding comes the ability to fear
understanding comes the ability to fear
understanding comes the ability to fear less and who here doesn’t want to help
less and who here doesn’t want to help
less and who here doesn’t want to help the world fear less thank you
the world fear less thank you
the world fear less thank you [Applause]
”
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