About
The Aim of a Hinoki signature journey is to:
01.
Help you release stress and reach higher levels of creative thinking
02.
Reconnect you to your senses and the natural world
03.
Support communities in the destinations we visit through experiences that contribute to the preservation of their culture and land
What is Hinoki?
Hinoki is a Japanese cypress tree. It has been traditionally used to build items that are meant to last. Though Hinoki wood is expensive to buy, it is free for everyone to enjoy in the forest, where its comforting scent soothes your mind. We love this metaphor of well-being in nature.
WORDS FROM OUR TRAVELERS
WORDS FROM OUR TRAVELERS
WORDS FROM OUR TRAVELERS
The Team
Bethany Betzler
Bethany believes in the importance of going offline and discovering the wild places around us and within us.
Bethany created Hinoki because she had a first-hand experience of the transformative role of travel. After the death of her father, she had an intuitive urge to visit Bhutan. She followed her intuition, and it changed her life in nearly every way.
After, she began overseeing international partnerships and experience design for MyBhutan, a Bhutanese travel company. She completed the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s Sustainable Tourism Training Program in 2019. Bethany has consulted private companies in Thailand on community-based tourism, and given presentations on the subject in Vietnam and the US. Prior to working in travel, she worked as a cultural event and media producer, coach to small businesses, and as a community development consultant. In addition to her professional work, she completed digital wellness training in 2020, and has over 20 years of experience in movement, mindfulness, and well-being practices.
Alongside a team of bright collaborators across the globe, we create travel experiences for the contemplative traveler. Our team is made of scientists, wellness leaders, and artists/designers, each with a passion for exploration and creativity. We harmonize our efforts to bring you an uncommon moment in space and time.
Advisory team:
Dr. Hiroki Kotabe
Neuroscientist
Dr. Kotabe holds a dual Ph.D. in cognitive and behavioral sciences from the University of Chicago and the Center for Decision Research at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. From 2014-2017 he was a doctoral researcher in the Environmental Neuroscience Laboratory at the University of Chicago Department of Psychology. He is also an alumnus of Columbia University, where he was a full-time researcher at the Center for Decision Sciences at Columbia Business School. Dr. Kotabe designed our personal assessment system, to assess how a trip may impact your nervous system and ability to pursue higher levels of creative thinking.
Jesse Lewis
Biologist & Conservation Advisor
Jesse is a conservation biologist, experiential educator and travel guide. His passion for the natural world and love of exploration have taken him to over 40 countries on 6 continents and led to a wealth of career experiences. He’s led field studies and lectured for environmental programs worldwide and managed conservation and restoration projects for a number of nonprofits. Jesse has also worked as a guide in the ecotourism industry, consulted tourism councils on sustainability strategy and created storytelling content for adventure travel publications. He holds dual Masters in Conservation Biology from the University of Michigan, USA and in International Sustainable Tourism Management from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. Jesse leads Hinoki’s sustainability practices and commitment to conservation, in addition to designing experiences in several destinations.
MEGHAN GODIN
Experience Curator
Meghan is an Experience Curator working with hotels, developers, and independent brands. She loves to create and propose new visions and meaning through her work.
Her work is to create spaces, experiences, and products that inspire connection and self-discovery; to encompass all the senses that influence the guest experience.
Meghan studied at Parsons, The New School for Design, and spent most of her early years in NYC, working for brands such as Christian Dior and Warby Parker on product development, design, and brand experience. Her greatest passion is discovery—of things, people, materials, and the stories associated with them.
Meghan is currently working with Hinoki to design travel experiences in New Mexico and provides design and programming guidance for our special events and community-building among clients.
Jean Paolo Ty
Photographer
Paolo Ty is a photographer and filmmaker based in Singapore. His practice revolves around crafting social impact stories and capturing the quiet reflective moments of travel.
You can find more of his work at www.jeanpaoloty.com and www.parabole.co
Lexie Hadley
Designer
Lexie Hadley is the founder and lead designer for ThaiFolk, a boutique design studio providing brand identity, print collateral and website design for creative brands. She focuses on strategic design with a minimal approach to help brands find clarity and confidence in what they do whilst supporting them to achieve their goals.
You can find more of her work at www.thaifolkstudio.com
