E95 Travel, Freedom & Finding Your Next Adventure with Jelani Millard

Speaker A: You work in hospitality, but when was the last time you actually experienced it? As a guest, as a traveler, as someone who fell in love with this industry in the first place? Because somewhere along the way, a lot of us went from living in hospitality to just running it. And today's conversation is going to bring us back. Jelani Millard, a former financial guru turned founder of the Wapichi Collection and the voice behind behind the podcast, Pay Me in Plane Tickets. You will love this fun and meaningful episode, because hospitality was never meant to trap you in a building. It was meant to open you up to the world. Jelani, welcome to the yes Show. Welcome to the yes Show. I'm your host, Christine Trippy. Each week we'll explore the life changing power of saying yes, along with hotel leadership made easy. Get ready for inspiration, fun, and sweet hospitality. Let's go. Jelani, you said yes to experiencing the world and you share with everyone on your podcast, Pay me in Plane Tickets. So tell me, and let me ask you, do you think that most hospitality leaders are so busy running the experience that they've stopped actually living in hospitality?

Speaker B: Oh, yeah, yes, actually, I do agree to that. I think you get so caught up in the weeds of the operation and sort of the, the grunt work of it all that you almost miss out on, I guess, the, the larger experience or picture of it all. Um, that's a, that's the person who asked that. That's definitely true. I can agree to that sentiment.

Speaker A: Uh, and it honestly came to me, um, many times this has happened to me in my career, talking to people all over the country, and I'll say, where's been your favorite place you stayed on? Discount. And I can't tell you how many people have said, I've never used it.

Speaker B: Yeah, I can, I can attest to that. Yeah, that's a good.

Speaker A: So I'm curious that you are a world traveler, literally. Jelani, in the last four months, five months, um, has racked up 60,000 airline miles. Am I right about that?

Speaker B: Yeah. And then I don't know how you're doing that. Yeah, we moved around a lot in 1Q20, uh, 26, hitting, um, conferences, going to a bunch of different, uh, meetings, and they're all about checking back into the hotel. Also, we held in, uh, a staff appreciation, uh, event at the hotel in Ghana. So it was a lot of that was going on. So, yeah, the miles were moving a little bit. You know, business is booming. I can say, you know, we're busy but blessed.

Speaker A: Yeah, exactly. I said exactly that today. That's so funny. Busy and blessed. Um, yeah, there are worse problems. But thinking about that, that how many people have never used your, their associate discount and you're talking to people all over the world, you're traveling all over the world. What are your thoughts on how leaders can step out of that operation and experience hospitality more than just manage it? Do you have any thoughts on that?

Speaker B: Yeah, I think I'll probably should. Whatever I say, I probably should own on to my words as well. I think maybe we should take a vacation as well. Like we should also take a break, remove ourselves from the anxiety that, okay, if we're not there on, you know, on site, um, things aren't going to burn up. That we have a trusted team that we can, you know. Uh, yeah, trust, trust. Like this whole operation with. And get out there and sort of smell the roses a little bit. I think one of the realities, uh, I've learned over these last five, six years being in the hospitality space is that when you are in it, when you are in that world, you almost lose the beautification, uh, of what travel actually brings and sort of all the culture and community that you have because you're so stuck on the operation, you're stuck on the pnl, you're still stuck in a lot of the, on actually what makes the lights go on. And I think you lose that connection of like, how do you make this experience even more wonderful when you're not actually experiencing or enjoying new experiences yourself?

Speaker A: So, yes, I always say that I learned so much being the guest again.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: And so when I go out and experience it, like, I think I've thought of all the ways to make an experience amazing. And then I go and experience something new and I'm like, wow, can you think of something that really wowed you? You, you've been all over. What is it that you look at and go, wow, that was an experience?

Speaker B: Um, I love South Africa. I think I told you.

Speaker A: Yes, I do too.

Speaker B: I do love South Africa. When I travel to South Africa, I stay in a small surf town called Mug. And one of the things that I experienced when I was in Mug, that we took back to the hotel was how, uh, the accommodation, community out there, hotel or even Airbnb alike, they are so connected to the surfers who offer lessons or offer the boards or whatever it is to enjoy the, the, the waves out there. And so that's one thing experience that I got to experience that I really appreciated. I was able to bring that experience and connect that to our Hotel. We now offer, um, surf lessons directly with the community, uh, surfers who are in, who are in that area. So that's something that I think from the travels directly translated to the operational business side of it all. So.

Speaker A: Yes. Well, you've mentioned this twice now. Tell us about your hotel. You own a hotel in Ghana and you're running. You founded your company that you're running with three partners, right?

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: Tell us who.

Speaker B: Peter and Munir. Yeah.

Speaker A: Oh, Peter and Munir. Wonderful. And Jelani, like Gelato. Uh, tell us a little bit about your company, how you came to founding that and, and, and then your hotel.

Speaker B: Okay, so five, uh, you know, going on six years ago, the Wave Sheet Collection was founded. It was founded on the. In Ghana. They were hosting the year the return, pretty much drawing in the African diaspora back into Ghana in a multitude of ways. One of those ways was seeking foreign investors to sort of reinvigorate the economy. Uh, in Ghana, there was a big, large plot of plot of land and a small but oasis beach. Oasis in Coca Vita beach, which is roughly about an hour outside of Accra, our west outside of Accra.

Speaker A: And we should put up a map while you're talking.

Speaker B: Yeah. Because most people don't even know where Ghana is. I'm like, here's Ghana, here's Accra, and then here is, uh, Cogbit Beach. You can think of it as, uh, the Jamaica a little bit. It's more Caribbean. Definitely. The weather is warm all year round, some rain, but it kind of comes and goes and bought the land, built 18 villas. Uh, wow. The first two years was basically kind of a private residences sort of in a way, sort of situation. But it grew very popular along with the community of Coco Beat Beach. So over the last 36 months, it's kind of converted into what you would see as a hotel. So that's now. Now we have hotel operation going on over there.

Speaker A: How amazing.

Speaker B: That is called Sailor Beach Cabins.

Speaker A: Would you liken it more to Airbnb?

Speaker B: It's, I think a little bit deeper now. It is kind of likened like to an Airbnb, but I would say it's, uh, because now there is, you know, you don't have to clean your room. We do everything. Yeah, yeah. It's operated like a hotel because of the clientele who visit, um, in terms of, you know, what we have to offer, uh, and staying on brand. So it is more of, I would say, a beachside resort.

Speaker A: Okay, I love that. Now take us back a little bit. What were you doing before you did this.

Speaker B: So I was in finance. So I worked for 10 years in finance, did uh, a multitude of roles and I saw about two, um, exits with uh, some very prominent tech firms. So one was in the insurance tech side and. Yeah. One ipo and I was in the web services side. So that was pretty, uh, pretty nice, right? Pretty much. That was how the building of this waveglassion idea came into play. To finally play in a playground that I've always wanted to be in, which is the travel, hospitality sector. I think it's growing into probably a small private family office, maybe see how I keep managing it and keep it going. But uh, it's, it's been nice.

Speaker A: So you're at this high end financial position, big companies probably making good money and you walked away to found your own thing.

Speaker B: I didn't walk away. I did it simultaneously at first because I didn't know if this would work or whatever.

Speaker A: That's smart.

Speaker B: Still cutting out. I don't know what I'm gonna do. But uh, I said yes. You know, I was like, I still said yes. It was like, let's go for it. Over the last two years, it's become basically my, my sole, main, uh, job. In a way, it's become a job.

Speaker A: Okay, fantastic. How did you come to choose to do this in Ghana?

Speaker B: That's because of Peter and Manir. They, they are Ghanaian. They founded the Opportunity. They were the ones who were like, oh, this is what it is. I was like, okay, so once I, I'm, I'm a spreadsheet addict. I don't even know if I should admit that, but I'm a, I'm a, I'm a, I'm a spreadsheet addict. And so that's kind of where I put the one on one together and finally got two and said, okay, this actually makes sense.

Speaker A: Okay, so you're this big finance guy, you've got a big brand new smart guy, and then you, um, slowly move into uh, this, this entrepreneurial founder of. And you're running a, uh, hotel in Ghana.

Speaker B: Yeah, yeah.

Speaker A: Now have you ever lived anywhere else or have you always been in New York? You're in Manhattan there.

Speaker B: Yeah, I've always lived in New York. I mean I did some time in D.C. for college, but living was always uh, in New York over here, but traveled a ton. So.

Speaker A: Yes, yes.

Speaker B: Had to pick and choose the battles there.

Speaker A: So when did you decide to start Pay Me and Plane Tickets? Which I can't love that name enough.

Speaker B: So, uh, the story of Pay Me and Plane Tickets was so five years ago, wanting. So there's, there's a difference between wanting to run a hotel and then actually opening it. So there's a time into that I was coming back home from South Africa and knew that I would have to pause a lot of travel. Wanted to find a way to stay in, connect and stay connected to the travel community. I'm on the plane, I'm doom scrolling like everybody else in this, in this, on the world here. And I noticed that there were a lot of. I'm, I'm older now, so there's a lot of younger people who were traveling almost rapidly and indefinitely. And I was for business purpose. I would say it was out of curiosity. I wanted to know. But between you and I, I was just jealous and I was like, how are they doing this?

Speaker A: Yes.

Speaker B: And so, uh, that uh, is the, the basis of the thesis was, you know, that's what I wanted to explore was how were they being, you know, effectively being paid in plane tickets. And I don't know if the name came up in that moment or a few champagnes later, but that's when it happened.

Speaker A: Oh, that's really cool. That's not what I was thinking, but just that you were such an avid traveler, you like, I'll just do it for a plane ticket, which I would do.

Speaker B: Well, yeah, but like what was happening was I was of the traditional you saved your money, you went on a trip and then you were out of money and to resave again. Uh, but to do it indefinitely as almost a career path or as like. Yeah, a career path was something I wasn't. It was foreign to me and so I wanted to explore it.

Speaker A: Yes, very good. What did you learn about that?

Speaker B: What I learned was travel influencing and content creating that is stuck on the travel sector is not as beautiful as it seems. There's a lot of grit, grind, hustle to it. There's um, it's very competitive. It's uh, you know, there's fluctuations on how financially they can afford this. There's a lot of grace, I think given to. If an individual is, you know, endued with some sort of fund to kind of do this, they have a little bit of backing or support to kind of go on this journey. I think there's a lot of, so a lot of like graces and mercies that are offered in that, in that journey. It's an interesting journey. I think, uh, if, if it's suitable for the right person, go for it, say yes to it, do it. Um, I think that that opportunity might have passed me a little bit. So I tried it. And you, I can say investigated.

Speaker A: Yeah, that, that was fun. But that's not sustainable for me for a lifetime career or whatnot. And you know, you see those beautiful pictures and you have to understand that they're there before it's even light outside. Just so they can get a single picture, just so they can get the shot, you know. Yeah, um, it's a hard work.

Speaker B: It's a hard work. Yeah.

Speaker A: It's constant hustle.

Speaker B: And I think, uh, one influencer that we spoke to earlier, this is like in the early days, painfully, it's grown now beyond that to my wildest dream. It's grown beyond that. But one influencer had mentioned, they compared it to, they said people who deal in comedy can, can make their comedic career in their bedroom. Right. So there's no real upstart cost what they're doing. They just have to gain the audience and then the audience supports them in terms of the sponsorship brands, however they're going to make this a career. When you're a travel content creator, you actually have to have something you're sitting on to fly to the place, stay there, create the content and keep rinse and repeating until eventually something bites. If something bites. So that's like the best way I was able to understand it. And then I think that's the best way for me to like, you know, explain it to others as well. Mhm.

Speaker A: The other thought is, I'll give you a great example. My sister creates just gorgeous cards. She, she does the crafting and she makes the cars. Everybody tells her you should sell these and she's like, I don't want to sell them because I enjoy making them for people and for, for certain people and you know, I customize it for certain people. And if I start making it my job, I'm not going to love it anymore.

Speaker B: That's a good way of looking at it. Yeah.

Speaker A: And I never want to think that travel is my job. Even though part of the, my job is traveling. I never want to think of the travel piece is my job because I always want to love it.

Speaker B: Right, that's true, that's true. Yeah. You don't want to like taint it with that, uh, sort of making it a, a daily, a daily thing, you know. Yeah.

Speaker A: Yes, yes. Or something I have to do. This is something I get to do. And even in the travel that I do for my work, I still have that. Most people by now, as long as I've been traveling for work are, I have to But I am still, oh, I get to go here this week. I get to go here. I haven't burnt out of it. Uh, but I never want travel to be that. That feel like it's the work. I have to do it. But I will say this. Um, one way to be intentional about getting out is. Is being intentional about it. Uh, you have to actually do it. Otherwise life is so busy, it passes you by, and then the end of the year comes and you go, what the heck did I do? So every year, I do a bye best year ever event, and I talk about how we need to be intentional to have an awesome year. So every year, my goal is to have a mini adventure. Every quarter, one big musogi, which is usually a big travel trip. And then, um, every quarter, I also do a winning habit. I pick a new winning habit that I'm gonna do. Nice. Yeah, my. Just, you know, the quarter just changed. So my new winning habit is to listen to music every day.

Speaker B: Oh.

Speaker A: Because I never listen to music anymore. I'm always listening to a book or a podcast or I'm reading or I'm learning. I bought Bruno Mars tickets. You kind of remind me of Bruno

Speaker B: Mars a little bit.

Speaker A: Um, and I'm like, I don't even know half of his songs. I just know I like him. But I'm like, I never listen to music anymore. Even when I get in the car, I put on a podcast.

Speaker B: Music soothes the soul. It also, um, sponsors creativity. And I think, yeah, like, uh, as we. As we get so deep into what we're doing, or we're like, our next mission or goal is the. The. We get caught up in, like, the podcasting and, like, maybe, you know, news, trying to stay up on date and everything. And so, yeah, you're right. Like, now that you've mentioned it, you kind of opened up a reality. I don't think I listened to much music as much as I did before.

Speaker A: Now I think a lot of us are in this boat. So if you're out there always trying to invest in yourself and listening to podcasts like this, um, which. That's great. And also, uh, taking that time to listen to the arts, to get back to music, to what we use, how we used to spend our time. So Even if it's 10 minutes, I'm committed that I'm gonna listen to music every day.

Speaker B: I love that. I love that. I. I need to. I need to do that type of quarterly goaling. Yes.

Speaker A: Because I've been doing this last few years, and I end the Year going hot damn to Molly. Man, this was amazing year. And it's because I was intentional. Now, I will say this January was kind of a little stressful for a few reasons. You know, busy family things, you know, different things. And the thought of going on that mini venture was starting to stress me out. And I said, you know what, you make the rules, girl. So I decided to make it a local adventure and I went roller skating.

Speaker B: Okay, got it. It doesn't have to be this big grand thing. It could be something, uh, local.

Speaker A: You make the rules. Exactly. So couple things. One, for those of you listening, if you feel like you're just stuck in the business instead of being in hospitality, um, you know, and living it, uh, make some intentions. Maybe it's one mini adventure every quarter. And maybe that's even going to your city. I'm here in the suburbs of Chicago. Maybe it's going downtown using your employee discount and just doing a staycation. Yeah, it could be as simple as that. I used to tell the kids we're going camping and we would go to the Hampton Inn. I'd use my discount and do that. So think about what can you systematize so that you can also experience hospitality?

Speaker B: Yeah. Change the, change the scenery a bit. Get those, you know, different parts of the brain working and operating.

Speaker A: Yes, yes, yes. If you were thinking about your winning habit, is there any winning habit you'd like to start this quarter?

Speaker B: I might steal your idea and do the listen, listening to music. But there are certain habits I do have. I do constantly journal. I do always take my walks and everything like that so that, you know, I get that breather. Um, I think the big thing that I've transferred into is I, for years I've lived by this particular creed. Have something to do, someone to love, and something to look forward to. And so thankfully I've sort of been able to build my life around that. So we're like, yes. Even though the days are exhausting, it's an exhaust that I've wanted, you know, so that's kind of what is I have. If I cover. If you. I think you have those three things sort of, um, embedded into your daily, you know, structure. It might not, uh, be as, I guess, a drag, you know, as, you know, as it was when, you know, you're on the come up and everything. It was definitely like that.

Speaker A: Yeah. And now say those three things again. I really love that every day you go into your day with something to

Speaker B: do, someone to love, and something to look forward to.

Speaker A: That's. And you know what? Golly gee. The world needs that. The world needs that right now. Something to do, someone to love, and something to look forward. Oh, that just. That just hit me hard. That's good. And you know what? If you just have that in front of you every day, you know, like, put it on your clipboard at your desk or.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: You know, and then. And make yourself acknowledge what those three things are today. I think that will help a lot of us.

Speaker B: It does. And it can change. It can. It can move. But, you know, uh, yeah, I think if you can build your life around that, I think it is something to do. It's something that, you know, puts a smile on you. So.

Speaker A: So let's talk a little bit about your fun travel. Where has been your favorite place to go?

Speaker B: Okay. Uh, I have two answers for that. So favorite consistently. Cape Town, South Africa. But the most beautiful place I've ever been to is Iceland. I really can't.

Speaker A: Yeah, that's the place that is interesting. Okay. I've never been to Iceland yet. What was so. So different and special about it?

Speaker B: The scenery is captivating. I mean, when you're. I went. I went there a few years ago. It was in April, so you still got to see the snow on the mountains. You got to see the ice, glaciers, the black sand beach. I. I did it solo, so I was driving, uh, you know, the. I forgot what it's called. It's like this one road in Iceland that takes you around to all of Iceland, but you get to see all these, um, picturesque, uh, nature. Nature spots like waterfalls and mountains and fords and everything. And I always tell people it was. It's. It's as if you can't. It's dangerous to be driving in Iceland because you're just looking around everything and never the road. So that's why I always tell people, like, Iceland is where you should go. Um, and, yeah, I must say, it was one of the most, you know, serene places I've been to. And, yeah, I do aim to go back someday.

Speaker A: Okay. Yeah, I'm definitely gonna raise that to the top of my list. Have you been to Portugal?

Speaker B: No, I have not, though. I have not been there.

Speaker A: Yeah, that's on my goal list this summer. I really want to check out Portugal. I haven't. I have never been there. And, um, our big trip, I told you, is Japan. So.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: So excited about that.

Speaker B: I'm excited for you.

Speaker A: That's gonna be my misogyny.

Speaker B: Yes.

Speaker A: That's my mission.

Speaker B: You're doing a lot. You're Gonna do a lot out there.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: So your list.

Speaker A: Yeah, that, uh, agenda is tight. It is tight. So I'm excited and I'm a little nervous because, uh, I think I'm a little too loud for Japan, and I'm trying to practice being less me.

Speaker B: They'll accept you just fine.

Speaker A: Yeah, I love that. Well, tell me this. That's a great question, actually. You are such an international traveler. What do you do to prepare to go to a totally different culture? Do you prepare for it? Do you, uh, do you just show up and, you know, try to experience it without, you know, prep work? Is there anything you do?

Speaker B: I must say, there have been places that just showed up and there wasn't much prep work I had to really do. Um, I think, you know, for the most part, the preparation I would have had is like packing your patience, you know, having respect for a culture. Something's a little bit slightly different than I may be used to. Uh, I don't take it personally. I don't, uh, you know, create a fuss around it. I do prepare, um, I do do some research on where I'm going sometimes to see. Okay, what's a, uh, what's sort of a normal. It's not a normal, I think. Was it maybe Japan? I did the most. Me and my wife did the most prep for. I think because of maybe it was the payment system or I forget it was. But we did a lot of prep for Japan, but she did most of the work. So. Yeah, but I think, yeah, yeah.

Speaker A: I tell my husband, he's a. He's a travel princess. All he does is get dressed in the morning and just go like the luggage. And he's like, where are we going? What are we doing?

Speaker B: Exactly. So. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, uh. But no, for the most part, uh, I do always try to look at the cultural norms and see if there's any real thing I should be careful with or concerned, uh, about. But no, most places are really nice. It's not as, you know, dreaded as it might seem in the media.

Speaker A: That's, uh, another great point. I. Even when I first became a, ah, traveler for work and just traveling across our country, um, I would watch the news about Chicago in other states, and I was like, oh, my God, Chicago is getting bad. But it's not. It's the most beautiful. It's one of the most beautiful cities in our country.

Speaker B: Oh, it is the best downtown, I'd say. Yeah.

Speaker A: Yes, it's gorgeous. It's. It's safe. It's, um, it's Clean. Um, you know, obviously every city's got bad areas and whatnot, but the news made it look like it was a war zone.

Speaker B: Right.

Speaker A: So, like, when people say you're going to Africa, they only think about what's being maybe portrayed in the media and things like that. So being portrayed in the media is always the worst part of any place.

Speaker B: Yes. It's like, sensationalized.

Speaker A: Yeah, exactly. So don't let the media portrayal be smart, look into things and all that. But, uh, but, uh, don't let the perception of the media of a certain place sway you from visiting there. Uh, so many places I've been to, people were like, you are crazy. Don't do that. But they were amazing. And then I come back with the stories and they were like, oh, Hm.

Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, you go in there with your guard up.

Speaker A: But no, exactly. I love being an ambassador for places that are getting a bad rap. Let's do some fun travel thing. Let's just see if you will give us your. Your juicy, uh, opinion. Um, loyalty program. What's your favorite hotel loyalty program or who are you most loyal to?

Speaker B: Okay, I'm, um, most loyal to Marriott. Uh, but I don't think I. I'm not like, married to them. It's just.

Speaker A: Okay.

Speaker B: I like closer to my airline. Loyalty then.

Speaker A: Okay. Who is your airline of choice?

Speaker B: United, hands down.

Speaker A: Me too. Is that a hub in New York?

Speaker B: Yeah. So Newark, New Jersey is the United hub. Uh, they do also fly out of LaGuardia, but, like, Newark is the big one.

Speaker A: Okay. Okay. Because obviously it's a hub here in Chicago too, so.

Speaker B: Right.

Speaker A: That's why United is mine too. Um, okay, what about luggage? Do you have a favorite luggage?

Speaker B: I have a way. Um, I have a way. I've had them for a while. Yeah.

Speaker A: Okay, nice. As a matter of fact, we're buying really nice luggage for a bridal gift, if you will. And everybody's like, ask Christine. She travels. I'm like, christine's cheap. Christine doesn't have fancy luggage.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: Brand. Okay.

Speaker B: No, because recently somebody said, uh, oh, check out, what's it called? Ramo. And I was like, I looked it up. That I was like, this is ridiculous.

Speaker A: I'll check it out. Just for the fun of it.

Speaker B: Right.

Speaker A: All right. What about car rental? Do you have a car favorite car rental?

Speaker B: Uh, no, not really. Uh, yeah, Uber's have pretty much gotten me out of the car rental space occasionally, I guess. Enterprise. It's everything. We have to be sort of tied to United. Whatever. I can get the United miles off of that's kind of where I would

Speaker A: see you're so smart about that. I tend to just act on what I like in front of me and not think about the tie ins. I need to think more about that. Um, but I prefer Lyft over Uber. I always lift and if it's really expensive or not in the area, I'll then go to Uber. But if I'm renting, when I was with a company, I'll just say it like that. When I was in the company, I always used national. National. I feel like the queenie, queenie, jelly beanie. I pick my car in the aisle. Uh, I boss. I am in control. And I love national, but national is the higher end. So now that I'm on my own, I do charge my clients for my travel, but I always try to give them the best deal, obviously. So I, I usually probably go more with, uh, Enterprise, uh, a little bit more than international, but.

Speaker B: Yeah, but I live for the enterprise.

Speaker A: Yes, yes, yes. Um, okay, what about state? Do you have a favorite state?

Speaker B: D.C. i love DC. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm a, I'm a Hoya. And uh, yeah, I just love dc. I think it's a great city.

Speaker A: And if someone was visiting dc, what is the number one thing they should do?

Speaker B: Oh, uh, oh gosh, you put me on the spot here. Okay, I'm going to tell you to go to Uncle Ben's Chili Spot.

Speaker A: Oh, what is Uncle Ben?

Speaker B: So it's a restaurant, historic restaurant out there in D.C. on in the U Street corridor area. And uh, great food, great history. Uh, you'll meet some great people just being on this long line and then also eating at the, the table. Then, uh, you kind of get to dine in a piece of Black history in D.C. so that's okay.

Speaker A: Well, I'm going for an event in Alexandria. Um, okay, yeah, that's right outside. Yeah, yeah. So maybe I'll spend a little time and go check it out. I like that. Now what about Manhattan? What would you say is the one thing, if you're coming to Manhattan, you've got to do this.

Speaker B: Okay. Um, I will say go to the Amman Jazz Club or Smalls Jazz Club or Saint Jardine Wine Bar. Um, but you said one. Okay, you said one. So Aman Jazz Club.

Speaker A: Okay. Oh, that's okay. Oh, that's okay. I'm actually writing down all of them. But did you say Small Jazz club?

Speaker B: It's called the, it's Small's Jazz Club. So, yeah, Smalls Jazz Club. Yeah.

Speaker A: I'm going to Tell my daughter who lives in Manhattan. Yeah, but your number one is a man jazz club.

Speaker B: A man jazz club. You got to make a reservation. Uh, it's a bit on the pricey side, but trust me, no matter what show you go to, it's worth it.

Speaker A: Okay. Oh, I am definitely going to do

Speaker B: that next time, too.

Speaker A: All right. If you're coming to Chicago, the number one thing you need to do is the architectural boat tour.

Speaker B: Okay. Okay.

Speaker A: It is the best tour in Chicago. Everybody who says, christina, come to Chicago. What should I do? That is what I tell them to

Speaker B: do, I need to do. You know, every time I've been to Chicago, it's always like a day thing or like a bit of, like a long layover. But I need to do like a, uh, couple days in Chicago and enjoy it for all that it has to offer. Like you just mentioned.

Speaker A: It does. I mean, it's got the beaches, it's got the buildings, it's got the art and the museums and the theater. I just. I love our city. I love our city.

Speaker B: I love it.

Speaker A: Yeah. I don't spend enough time down there. Yes, yes. So go. Let this be your beacon, your light, your reminder to not just live in hospitality and work hospitality, to take some time to go experience hospitality. This quarter. Uh, if you are listening, I want you to become a tourist in your own city and spend some time being the guest.

Speaker B: That's it. Tourists in your own city.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: I love it.

Speaker A: All right, so every episode, I ask my current guests a question for my last guest. And because I just did a solo episode, I'm gonna gave the guest question because I knowing I was speaking to you, I wanted to ask you this question. This, uh, is one of my favorite networking questions to ask. If you were given two first class tickets anywhere in the world, where would you go and who would you bring?

Speaker B: I was given two first class tickets. Where would I go?

Speaker A: Anywhere in the world.

Speaker B: Anywhere. Anywhere in the world. Uh, okay. It's probably gonna sound boring, but I'll say I'm gonna go back to South Africa and I'd go back with my. With my wife. That we love it. There's. Yeah. And I think we do the first class experience. I think that's why we would. I'd pick her.

Speaker A: Yeah. Anybody who picks a short flight on that free trip, uh, in first class is missing the boat.

Speaker B: You did it wrong. Yes.

Speaker A: All right, so if you're going to go to Cape Town, South Africa, what would be your number one thing you have to do?

Speaker B: The Della Graph Hotel. Uh, Is one of, uh, my favorite places to stay. One of my favorite places to visit the restaurant. The scenery. It's in, it's in um, the wine region of Stellenbosch. It's just beautiful. It's filled, uh, with African art, uh, great wine, and it's just peaceful. And it's, it's was founded by the, um, Lawrence, uh, Graff, who makes all the diamonds and stuff like that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So if you're into diamond stuff, he does all that. And it's, it's, it's a beautiful property. It's one of those aspirational places that I think, um, you know, have inspired for our business as well and, and uh, going forward. So they're all graphically where I would say and that whole little area.

Speaker A: Okay, nice. I definitely gonna need to check with you before I go anywhere because you really do unique things and stay in unique places. I tend to. I just mentioned I'm more of a budget conscious girl. And I do, I do like ordinary things. And some people might look at me and go, you do very extraordinary things. But I feel like I do kind of like the touristy ordina. Hearing some of these very unique, different things. Um, so it's good. That's why it's good to talk to people and listen to people and, and hear about their experiences. Especially use, uh, these questions for networking. It helps, um, do it. Now I'll tell you my favorite thing in Cape Town, which I would say this is what you should do, but only if you're this kind of a person. I hired a guide. A friend of my daughter's has a aunt who lives in Cape Town and is a hiking guide. And I hired her to guide me up Table Mountain.

Speaker B: Oh, wow. Okay. Did the climb.

Speaker A: It was. I just have no words and I feel so bad that this is my favorite thing of our whole African trip because I did it without my husband.

Speaker B: That's good too.

Speaker A: It truly was. Anything that makes my heart pound is always ends up being my favorite thing of the trip. But, um, that would be my thing. And you don't have to climb it like I did. You can take a tram up to the top, which my husband did, do that part.

Speaker B: Okay.

Speaker A: And, uh, so Table Mountain was my favorite part in Cape Town or. Yeah.

Speaker B: Did you, did you go during like sunrise or sunset or was it just in the middle of the day?

Speaker A: That was sun. Sunrise. We started before the sun came out. We watched the sunrise. We went up. Now the other one. Do you remember what the other mountain is?

Speaker B: Uh, it's lion's head. Yeah, Lion's head. Yeah, Yeah.

Speaker A: I hiked that in the middle of the day and there was this massive rainbow and people were hang gliding in the rainbow. It was like magic. It was magic.

Speaker B: That's beautiful.

Speaker A: It was. I'll send you a picture. But we also did the dune buggies.

Speaker B: Okay. And this is where.

Speaker A: Okay, this is so funny. So we did this dune buggy tour. I saw it. And, um, we got a lift there. Okay. We didn't have a car, so we got a lift there. And that lift to Uber. And when, um, we were being dropped off, the girl says to us, she's this young girl, had young kids. And she said, she said, you know, would you like me to wait here? Because you're not going to get another Uber from this location back to Cape Town. So it was a little bit farther away, but not that far. Was within an hour. I would say, yeah. And I don't remember what the town was. And I'm just like, oh, my gosh. Well, I can't ask you to just stay here. I said, would you come do it with us? She said, oh, I can't afford. I'm like, oh, well, we'll pay for you.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: And so we did this whole dune buggy thing with our over, over driver.

Speaker B: I love that.

Speaker A: I gotta send you a picture of that too. It's the cutest. Jumping off the, the cars. All three of us, we're jumping off the cars and we've got these slow mo shots. And she gets in the car. She's like, like, my kids are never gonna believe this. And I sent her all the pictures.

Speaker B: I love that. That's. That's what it's all about. That's what it's all about. That's what it's all about.

Speaker A: Yes, yes, yes. It was one of my favorite experiences.

Speaker B: So I love. That sounds like an experience I would love. Yeah. That's just beautiful. That's just. Yeah. Perfect storybook right there.

Speaker A: It really was. Do you have any experience kind of like, not necessarily like that, but that, that you came away. Changed.

Speaker B: Came away. Uh, I'm gonna go back to Iceland. I did, I did this. That was a solo trip. It was definitely much more of like a self reflection, having to, you know, really, you know, see what I want in life, what I want to do. And I did this journey up to a place called Hofsos in. I don't know where it is in Iceland, but like, like, you know, city, state wise, but it's in this place called Hofstas, which is like north Iceland. And, uh, there's this beautiful pool overlooking the forge. And it was so majestic, so peaceful. And I just remember you jumping the pool. There's a whole bunch of people swimming and you're swimming with them. You're just having good conversations. Just I felt the Icelandic or Nordic, like a Viking or something. Right. And it was just, uh, it was an out of body experience and it was one of those things that I'll, I take with me, uh, everywhere I go. And, and you know, I, I guess I try to replicate that. Those like, um, golden moments in trips, I guess. And so, yeah, that's what I would say.

Speaker A: Very good. I love that. Now, um, I, I overdid my questions because I just love talking travel so much. But what question do you have for our next guest?

Speaker B: Where do they see themselves in five years that in which travel has impacted them?

Speaker A: That's like, okay, where do you see yourself in five? How do you see yourself changed within five years? Because of travel?

Speaker B: Because of travel. Right?

Speaker A: Oh, okay. I like, I like that a lot. Excellent. Now, Jelani, you're such a great guy. You're so much fun and you're so, you're so unique. The things that you've done and places you've been. Is there anything else that you'd like to share with us or a question that I didn't ask you?

Speaker B: Uh, no, you covered everything. But I'll leave you with this. Okay. Uh, and it ties into everything you do and everything, uh, that your, your mission is about, uh, whatever your mission is. Uh, there's going to be roadblocks, but never accept no from a person who can't tell you. Yes. So keep going.

Speaker A: I absolutely love that. Thank you, Jelani. And tell everybody where they can connect with you and learn more about your podcast and tune into it starts with

Speaker B: a bunch of links. So pay me in plane tickets is pay meplantics.com. uh, the hotel in Ghana, Cellar Beach Cabins. That's cellotbeachcabins.com you can find me on LinkedIn. Um, and yeah, that's Jelani. Jelani Millard on LinkedIn. And, um, I'm open to having conversations and meeting anybody I can get my hands on.

Speaker A: I love it. And we will put all of that in the show notes, all those links for people. Thank you so much for taking your time and sharing it with us. We really appreciate hearing these grand stories and I'm getting all of these things on my bucket list.

Speaker B: Send me everything about Japan, because you definitely did it. They're going to do a lot more than what I've seen. I can't wait to see it.

Speaker A: I'm totally gonna, totally gonna debrief the whole trip with you. And I'm going to be staying overnight in a temple. And I heard that there, they have, um, these hot springs, but you can only go in there naked. I am not a naked girl. So I'm like, okay. I keep telling my honey, okay, can I. Can I become someone new and do something completely out of my comfort zone and do this? So I'll let everybody know if I

Speaker B: do it naked, new temple or nude beach? You got to pick one.

Speaker A: Oh, my God. All right, Jelani, thank you so much. You have a great day, and thanks for being here.

Speaker B: Be safe now. Yes. Yes.

Speaker A: That's a wrap for today's show. Say yes to taking action and changing the world one yes at a time. And, oh, my friend, will you say yes to review, like, and subscribe? The more yeses you give, the more juicy goodness I can bring to all of you wise pineapples. Cooler.

Speaker B: Cool.