Philosophy:
Travel is about more than checking off sites from a guidebook. It's about interacting with the world, seeing it from different perspectives and understanding our place in it. HelloGlobal believes the only way to really know a place is through its people: by fostering cultural awareness, asking questions and sharing an experience with someone new. When we learn about each other, where we come from and what it's like there, traveling turns into a life-changing (even a world-changing) experience. Let's face it: new places are better with faces.
Mission:
HelloGlobal is here to change the face of travel (or rather, give a friendly face to travel)! (See what we did there? ;) By connecting open minded travelers and friendly locals we are turning conventional sightseeing into a global community of shared stories, food, laughter and knowledge. In the long run, we're looking to bring the world closer together by helping everyone see that those people over there are people too, and the place they live may be really different, but it's amazing when you see it though local eyes.
Story:
We're Staci, Craig, Curtis and Derek. In 2010 we were together and talking about how great it is to have friends and family around the world. When one of us travels somewhere new, inevitably someone lives there, has been there or has a friend that they'll introduce us to. This translates into a totally local experience around the globe.
So, we wanted to find a way to spread that combination of relationships and authentic experience to others with a passion for exploring the world. Four of us got to work and a year of sweat, tears and coffee turned into HelloGlobal.
We're officially registered in Chicago, IL and although we tend to globetrot, this is where the magic started. In fact, it was Craig's swanky pad in Wicker Park that the first brainstorming sessions took place. But then, the beauty of a travel themed startup is you just might find us anywhere (insert winky face here).
Here's who's who on the team (with profile links, oh my!):
Craig: Chief of Mischief
Staci: Dictator of Swank
Derek: Ambassador of Leisure
Curtis: Viceroy of Awesome
