Smell the coffee beans

to watch nature, and it was one of the best things I've ever done. Just like you all reading this note, I have achieved some big things in my life, but this was different. It wasn't for my career or recognition; there was no money to be made at the top. It was just for me. I am sharing this story with you because I think I forgot how important it is to lose yourself just to find yourself, and in most cases, you have to go somewhere you've never been before to do it. I rediscovered myself 1,717 meters up a volcano in Bali.

A dear friend once shared an analogy with me. She said when you've been in a perfume store for too long, you must stop and refresh your nostrils to continue enjoying the experience, and I hope this has inspired you to go out and smell some coffee beans.

It's 2 am, and a silver, stick shift MVP with manual car windows is waiting outside to take us on a two-hour journey to Mount Batur, an active volcano at the centre of two concentric calderas northwest of Mount Agung on the island of Bali, Indonesia. We start to lose the reflections from the brightly lit tourist streets as we get closer to Bangli Regency. The air is cooler, and the sky is darker. Apart from the little creatures hiding in the darkness and the light chatter inside the mountain trek pick-up point, the atmosphere is entirely free from noise of any kind. We reach the bottom of the mountain with a flashlight and nothing else; then we begin the climb. The pathway is not cleared, paved, or built for ease or comfort, and the higher you climb, the more gruesome it gets. It starts getting lighter outside, which means we are almost there. We reached the peak just

I reignited my appetite for food and found a new love and appreciation for people and life. You could say I had my eat, pray, love moment in beautiful Bali, but unlike Julia Roberts, my trip didn't end with Javier Bardem (unfortunately). I've come back with a deep appreciation for the simpler things in life, the things that we most definitely take for granted sometimes, like getting lost, the art of nothingness, simple, delicious, street-style food, dressing down, letting your hair down, wearing flip flops, getting sunburned, and looking for mountains to climb. Being around people that don't require much to make them happy made me very happy.

This May issue is packed with some incredible stories. We tell you how a freestyle skier became a senior member of global hospitality giant Accor, speak to a woman who decided to go out on her own and start a business after years of service in the industry; talk to a phenomenal chef who will blow your mind with his philosophies and his food and so much more - I hope you enjoy.

SEYMONE L MOODLEY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF seymone@bncpublishing.net

Seymone Leigh Moodley seymonemoodley

Hilton Announces Doubletree By

HILTON HOTEL IN JEDDAH

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced the signing of a management agreement for a new hotel in Jeddah. The hotel is owned by AlAhli REIT Fund (1), a listed investment fund managed by SNB Capital. Hilton expects to grow its portfolio in Saudi Arabia to more than 75 hotels across multiple award-winning brands in the next few years.

“Saudi Arabia represents a significant opportunity for Hilton to grow its portfolio. With the announcement of this DoubleTree by Hilton property in an exceptional location, we look forward to further expanding our full-service footprint across the country,” said Carlos Khneisser, Vice President, Development, Middle East & Africa, Hilton. “Our partnership with the SNB Capital reaffirms Hilton’s desire to work with great partners and our strong commitment to the private sector.”

A brand debut in Jeddah, DoubleTree by Hilton Jeddah Al Andalus Mall will open in 2024, following an extensive renovation programme that will see significant upgrades to both guest rooms, restaurants, recreation facilities and more. The hotel will offer guests 164 contemporary guest rooms and serviced apartments, two unique food and beverage experiences, state-of-the-art fitness offerings including a gym and an outdoor pool, and seven meetings and events spaces.