There are moments in your career when the world seems to spin a little faster, when you step back, take a breath, and realize how connected our stories really are. For me, that moment came over the last three weeks.
It started in London, walking the buzzing halls of the World Travel Market. Every direction I turned, I saw the same thing: people from every corner of the world telling stories of their destinations with pride. Standing there, I was reminded just how big and yet how beautifully connected our industry truly is.
As I moved through the crowds, listening to accents and ideas, I felt both small and inspired. It struck me that the essence of travel hasn’t changed: people still crave connection, discovery, and belonging. The difference now is how we tell those stories and how we can use technology, especially AI, to help us tell them better.
The next day, I joined the stage at City Nation Place, speaking with Visit Britain about how AI can help destinations move beyond transactions to inspiration. I shared what we at Tiki believe deeply: AI isn’t here to replace creativity, it's here to amplify it. It gives us the tools to listen more deeply, to understand intent, and to tell stories that feel personal again.
From London’s fog to Hawaii’s sun, I traded city streets for palm trees. The entire Tiki team gathered for our annual retreat, a time to think big, plan boldly, and reconnect.
For a week, we brainstormed our products, refined our approach, and re-anchored our narrative. We talked about growth, revenue, and how to scale globally without losing the heart of who we are. We laughed, debated, shared ideas under the stars and I was able to bring my family along to experience it.
It reminded me that great companies don’t just innovate; they nurture. The Tiki ethos isn’t about chasing trends, it's about aligning people and purpose. Seeing that alignment in action, surrounded by my colleagues and loved ones, filled me with a sense of pride that no boardroom could ever replicate.
The final week took me from the Pacific to the North Atlantic, to Reykjavík, Iceland, where we officially signed Tiki’s membership with the European Travel Commission (ETC) for 2026.
Forty European tourism leaders gathered in that room, a collective of perspectives from across the continent. Listening to each of them share how they use marketing not just to attract visitors but to enhance quality of life moved me. Their belief that “tourism is a force for good” aligns perfectly with who we strive to be at Tiki.
Joining the ETC was more than a milestone. It was a promise: that we will continue to help destinations inspire, connect, and grow responsibly globally.
Three weeks. Two continents. Countless reminders of why we do what we do.
Despite all the noise, the tension, the uncertainty in the world today, I came home with renewed conviction: our world is, at its core, a place for good. Every time we explore it, meet someone new, or see a familiar place from a fresh perspective, we become better.
As travelers, storytellers, and humans, we have a responsibility to keep looking outward.
So go. See the world.Because in seeing it, you might just rediscover yourself.
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