Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa became the first team to summit Mount Everest on May 29, 1953. Their historic feat turned the pair into an international symbol of adventure, courage and teamwork. Joining Melissa for this special episode of Passport to Everywhere are the duo’s sons, Peter Hillary and Jamling Tanzing Norgay, who have carried on their families’ legacy. Peter Hillary is an author, motivational speaker, expedition leader and mountaineer, and he first ascended Everest ...

Chef Yannick Alléno is widely known as one of the world’s greatest chefs. He’s dedicated his career to reinventing French cuisine across 17 international restaurants, which have earned a total of 16 Michelin. He joins Melissa to talk about his London debut Pavyllon and its dedicated Bar Antoine at the Four Seasons Park Lane. Chef Yannick has infused his creativity into Pavyllon, transforming it into one of the most coveted reservations in London (which earned its first Michelin star within si...

A trip to Japan isn’t complete without a stay at a ryokan, and Gora Kadan in Hakone National Park captures this authentic experience in a world-class way. A 90-minute drive outside of Tokyo, the luxurious, traditional Japanese inn was originally a summer retreat of the Imperial family, and it now attracts both local and international travelers from all over the world. Melissa is joined by Ryutaro Hashimoto, the CEO of Gora Kadan and co-head of Japan at Star Asia, and Malcolm MacLean, the foun...

Villa La Coste, located just outside Aix-en-Provence in the South of France, has become one of the most legendary hotels in the world. Melissa sits down with Paddy McKillen, the mastermind behind the 28 suite boutique hotel to explore its varied history. Villa La Coste sits on the grounds of the extraordinary 600-acre estate, Château La Coste, where one also finds an open-air contemporary art museum and winery. The property is a labor of love – a product of Paddy’s passion for art and a...

The iconic St. Regis celebrates its 120th anniversary this year, and to help tell its epic story, Melissa is joined by three key members of the brand: Amanda Nichols, the global brand leader of St. Regis; Octavia Marginean-Tahiroglu, the general manager of The St. Regis New York; and Israel Kelly, who’s been on the frontlines of the respected butler team for 29 years. Together, they discuss how the prestigious collection of hotels set a new standard for luxury hospitality, starting with the o...

Bill Bensley is an avid traveler, visionary architect, interior designer, artist and landscape designer. After studying landscape architecture at Harvard, he left for Asia in the early 80s and founded his company BENSLEY in 1989. He now has offices in Bangkok and Bali, and his team has crafted over 200 extraordinary projects spanning 30 countries. He brings a creative, curious approach to his work on iconic hotels, resorts, spas, homes and palaces around the world. Melissa and Bill explore th...

CEO and founder of the Canadian foundation Shorefast, Zita Cobb is also the creator and innkeeper of the Fogo Island Inn. Located in the subarctic on an island off an island, or as Zita says, “far away from far away,” the Fogo Island Inn remains one of the most captivating hotels in the world. A daughter of a local fisherman, Zita grew up on the island and returned home after paving a successful path in business with the aim of giving back. The powerful, wild geography of the Labrador current...

Pablo Carrington is the founder and CEO of Marugal, the hotel management company in Spain that owns one of Indagare’s most beloved hotels, Cap Rocat. Originally a 19th century military fortress, the hotel opened in 2010 reflecting the essence of the island in its mystical rooms carved in rock overlooking the dazzling Mediterranean Sea. Pablo joins Melissa to share his unexpected path into the hospitality industry, and how capturing a “sense of place” became essential in offering guests an aut...

Jeff Galak is an expert in decision making, consumer behavior, and consumer psychology. He’s spent decades studying how people maintain happiness and has used his findings to understand what this means for travelers. With a Bachelors of Science in Marketing and Economic Theory, Master of Philosophy in Marketing, and Ph.D. in Marketing all from New York University’s Stern School of Business, Jeff now serves as an Associate Professor of Marketing at Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of...

Elizabeth Lesser is a spiritual coach, bestselling author, and co-founder of the Omega Institute, a specialty retreat center located in New York. She’s led multiple Insider Journeys with Indagare, including two on the Camino de Santiago. The Camino de Santiago, also known as the Way of Saint James, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Spain that has attracted pilgrims for thousands of years. Elizabeth shares her experience walking the Camino – from what she expected and how she prepared to how ...

Italian hotelier Valentina De Santis has turned dreams into reality at Passalacqua on Lake Como. Often referred to as the Italian Eloise at the Plaza, she grew up running the corridors of her family’s hotel, the Grand Hotel Tremezzo, and was instilled with a love for hospitality at a young age. She joins Melissa to share stories of her magical childhood, her deep rooted love for hotels and the unexpected, serendipitous journey of her family’s latest endeavor, the mystical Passalacqua. After o...

The Managing Director of Paris je t’aime Tourist Office, Corrine Menegaux, joins Melissa to explore everything happening in Paris in anticipation of the 2024 Olympics. Paris has spent years transforming in preparation for the opening ceremony on July 26th, and Corrine shares an inside look at how Paris has invested in new initiatives to make this one of the world’s most exciting games yet. They discuss the iconic monuments hosting competitions, exciting events to look out for and how Paris pl...

Shanghai-born artist and designer Jiang Qiong Er joins Melissa to explore cross-cultural exchange and innovative art. To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, Musée Guimet invited Jiang Qiong Er to put together an exquisite installation titled Guardians of Time. Before diving into the meaning behind her latest work, Jiang Qiong Er shares stories from her childhood during a unique period of China’s history and reveals how painti...

In honor of the 4th of July, we’re re-airing one of our most popular archival episodes exploring the Grand Canyon National Park. Melissa met expert Grand Canyon guide and outdoor adventurer Geno Kelly on a trip to Sedona. As a retired firefighter, Geno has been studying, hiking, rafting and guiding the Grand Canyon for over 45 years and has visited the nation’s wonder thousands of times. In this conversation, he shares mesmerizing stories of the unique geology, wildlife, archeology and histor...

Steve Schwartz is the founder, CEO and Master Blender of Los Angeles-based tea company, Art of Tea. Through the brand's 20 year existence, he’s worked with a number of big names, including Vera Wang, The Peninsula Hotels, and Wolfgang Puck restaurants, and he published his debut book, Art of Tea: A Journey of Ritual, Discovery and Impact, in 2022. During this episode, Steve shares how tragedy launched his unexpected journey into Ayurvedic healing which then led him to discover the art –– and ...

Fashion icon and designer Trina Turk shares the lessons she learned in creating her optimistic, colorful line at the age of 34. She explores how growing up in California influenced her dreamy brand and her favorite destinations in the golden state. She also reveals her favorite flea markets in Los Angeles, her love for Palm Springs, tips for vintage shopping and more. Together, Melissa and Trina explore some of the places they’re most excited about - from Mexico City to South America - and di...

Krug Champagne has continued to set new standards for quality, creativity, and excellence since 1843 when Joseph Krug laid the foundation for the globally recognized Champagne house. In this week’s episode, Melissa is joined by Olivier Krug, sixth generation of the Krug family and current Director of the House. The two dive into Krug’s techniques and innovations, including the Krug Single Ingredient, an initiative founded in 2015 that invites chefs from around the world to craft recipes aroun...

Located in Indonesia an hour east of Bali, NIHI Sumba is an extraordinary place that fuses nature, beauty and wellness in a thoughtful, soulful way. The hotel has been named the ‘Best Hotel in the World’ for two years in a row by Travel & Leisure and has mastered the art of transformative, luxurious simplicity. CEO and co-founding partner James McBride joins Melissa to explore what makes this hotel so special and how its magic came to be. After growing up in South Africa, he spent over tw...

The visionary John Hardy has led a legendary career in jewelry, hospitality, design and education. In today’s episode, he takes Melissa through the thrilling journey of his life – from the beginning of his iconic jewelry line to the Green School (which gained global recognition from his TED talk) to the innovative boutique hotel, Bambu Indah. He shares his thoughts on why Bali is unlike anywhere else in the world, and why he believes bamboo is the hope for the future. Plus- on this week’s Ind...

Before Princess Mabel van Oranje was a royal, a prominent human rights activist and serial entrepreneur for social change, she grew up in a typical Dutch Family. In fact, it was her father, whom she lost far too young, who inspired the activist in her with his stories of far flung destinations and the challenges certain communities face. On this week’s episode, Mabel talks about the path that led her to founding VOW for Girls; the organization, borne from a friend’s wedding, strives to build ...

Award-winning travel writer Francisca Matteoli has authored over a dozen books and collaborated with the likes of National Geographic, Conde Nast Traveller, and Louis Vuitton, but what is now a fulfilling and celebrated career was once just a passion. Francisca was raised in a family of travelers –– in fact, her grandfather once had the bill for an entire year at the Hôtel du Louvre waived because he was such a cherished guest –– and, she’s been collecting and telling stories for her entire l...

Father-daughter duo Roberto and Marie-Louise Scio of the Pellicano Group sit down with Melissa to discuss the legacy and the future of their triumvirate of three iconic Italian hotels: Il Pellicano, Mezzatorre and La Posta Vecchia. The episode is full of Italian storytelling at its finest as Roberto recounts memories from his first overnight and his early days as a guest of Hotel Il Pellicano, through to his decision to purchase the hotel and to expand the collection. Marie-Louise explains ho...

In this week’s episode, Divia Thani, Global Editorial Director of Condé Nast Traveller, speaks with Melissa about how she found herself in what many would call their dream job. From growing up in former Bombay with a single, working mother during a time when such a thing was very uncommon, to attending university in the States, spending time in New York and returning to India only to fall deeply in love with her home-country again, Divia’s journey has been a winding one. Listen in not only to...

When he was just 26, Pico Iyer, the prolific British-born travel writer, essayist, and novelist decided to move to Japan after a fortuitous layover changed the trajectory of his life. He has written 15 books that have been translated into 23 languages, and his Ted talk on the Art of Stillness has received more than three and half million views. On this week’s episode, he sits down with Melissa to discuss everything from globalization and his time traveling to Iran, Myanmar and other countries...