Our Godfather is Nepalese

The title is not a mistake. Let me explain.

​Beyond Dracula has a godfather, and he is Nepalese.

As part of the series of gratitude emails that mark our 10 years anniversary, I want to share this special story with you.

Me and my business partners had a simple idea: put Romania on the map of bespoke travel one trip at a time. 

We didn’t know how to do this and for the first few years, we didn’t know if this idea will work. 

Everyone told us we were crazy. Luckily we are and we did not believe them.

After starting the company and getting certified, we figured we have to attend the World Travel Market (WTM) in London and see what happens there.

I researched small companies which seemed to have a similar profile to what we thought we want to become and once there, we each went to speak to some of them.

I got the lucky draw and went to the Nepalese stand looking for someone from Dharma Adventures.

Pawan greeted me and sat with me, open to answer my questions. 

I must have looked pretty clueless (that’s because I was) because I asked how he worked, how he got business, where were the clients from, etc. 

As I was taking notes, I remember him saying that he comes to WTM to help Nepal get more visible but that he doesn’t get any business from there. When I asked where does he get business from, he told me one word: PURE.

That moment changed everything for us and I don’t think I’d be sending you this email had I not had that chat with Pawan and had we not gotten into PURE (more on that next month). 

This happened 10 years ago and even now, for whatever question, Pawan picks up the phone and takes time to talk to me. 

Pawan, thank you for everything. I wish you could get in return ten fold the generosity and kindness that you’ve shown us in these 10 years.

I don’t know who you have to thank for today, but if this inspired you, wait no more and send that text or email to say Thank you. I’ll be back in a few weeks with another gratitude email because, as you can tell by now, building a business from the ground up is never a one woman show.

Raluca

PS: Not sure if you caught this last week, but this short video is doing so well. Romania in less than 90 seconds. Watch it if you didn’t already.