Attending the EHL Open Innovation Summit We met with a group of people in Lausanne who are interested in promoting the use of sustainable energy. Sarah MarquisNational Geographic Explorer to discuss the future of traveling and what makes it meaningful. In our conversation she spoke about the importance and value of emotional connections, the immeasurable value of walking and how true travel isn’t about technology. It’s about being in the moment, feeling the world and experiencing it.
What technology or innovation will you say has the greatest impact on travel and tourism in the next five to ten years?
The real impact, in my opinion, will not be from technology outside. It will come from within—the experience itself. When I travel, I am looking for a boutique experience, a deep connection with locals and something human. I want to be in the best café, drinking the local drink and feeling the air. I also want to hear the language and watch the life go by. Travel should be all about diversity and emotion. This is what makes travel magical. It’s not about moving from one location to another. Living, breathing and experiencing a world different is what it’s all about. We must encourage and protect this kind of experience.
What would be required to actually heal the system, and not just compensate for our environmental impact?
We have been approaching this wrongly. We all want to appear green, but often we don’t take the necessary steps to live in harmony with our planet. As an explorer and survivalist, I have a lot of experience. I have survived by hunting and gathering food. I’ve also chosen to stop taking things from nature. In Australia, on one of my expeditions, I found a canyon that had only three fish swimming in a pond. I was hungry, and had lost five kilos, but I decided not to eat the fish. The moment I saw it changed me. That moment changed me. As humans, we must raise our consciousness. We will know exactly what to do when that occurs. It won’t be about checking boxes. Harmony and awareness will be the focus.
You’ve been to places that most people only dream about. What ethical ways can others experience these fragile eco-systems?
Yes, it begins with walking. Walking is our human speed. Walking is the human speed. We experience the world more deeply when we walk and we disturb the environment less. Over the past 25 years, I’ve learned to appreciate this. You can also work with the locals. In Mongolia, a Mongolian took me in as a member of his family. This was an authentic experience. Participating indigenous people results in more authentic, meaningful, and respectful travel. Travel takes time. Travel takes time.
Do you think that virtual or enhanced experiences, such as VR, can substitute for or prepare us to experience nature in its real state?
No. There is no digital experience of the natural world for me. It’s not an experience. This is just a preview. I live between two worlds—one where I wear nearly the same clothes every day, and one where I am out in the wild, not washing for three months, living off the land. You become a part of the land when you’re out in nature, unmapped and breathing it. This is the only way to truly experience nature. Our bodies are full of senses. Our core is the heart. Experience happens there. We can’t feel it on a screen. Instagram, iPhones, VR—they show us something, but they do not let us live it.
What is the best way to describe a place?
Yes. It isn’t just about the location. What you feel is what matters. In Italy I was at a coffee shop in a train station in the early morning hours. The best espresso I ever had was in a paper-cup. The moment was more important than the coffee. It was an experience. The smell, the taste, the tiredness, the place—it all came together. This is travel. You don’t think of experiences, you live them.
Then, there’s the EHL Open Innovation Summit 2025
This interview was conducted at the EHL Open Innovation Summit, in Lausanne. Hospitality Net participated as an official media partner.
Open innovation was used to explore the futures of travel, hospitality and food. It was special because of the variety of formats, people and ideas. It wasn’t just about technology or talks. The event was not just about tech or talks.
Key Figures
- 385 participants
- More than 20 countries are represented by 48 speakers and contributors
- 7 Innovation Challenges Collectively Addressed
- 45 sessions
- 25 student volunteers
- 15 F&B startups letting us taste the future
- 1.5 days of learning, connection and co-creation
Key insights from the Summit
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1. The new benchmark for hospitality innovations
The summit established a new standard, weaving AI, sustainability, regeneration and human connection together. This showed that innovation in luxury, hospitality and food must be holistic and human-centric. Participants repeatedly stressed the need to move beyond efficiency into meaningful transformation. -
From knowledge sharing to real-time cocreation
The summit was more than just a series or talks. It was a space for activation – a lab in which diverse minds came together to tackle pressing issues, ranging from circular luxury, regenerative tourism, and AI to enhance guest experience. This was a display of collective intelligence. -
Collaboration as a catalyst for system change
Open Innovation became a relationship-based practice, not a trendy buzzword. Everyone was invited to participate, co-create and connect dots. This included students, panelists, global explorers and startup founders. Participants reported that they were able to experience true collaboration, regardless of their age, background, or industry. -
The power of presence – hearts, minds and hands
Participants embraced the notion that innovation wasn’t just about technology and metrics. It was also about the embodied experience of slowing down in order to accelerate, and nurturing a sustainable mindset. -
The future is “AND” – not “either/or”
The message is clear: we need to stop choosing between extremes. The future is tech and human, healthy and delicious, profitable, yet impactful. The “integration mind-set” has already influenced how educators, leaders, and startups are changing their strategies. -
The beginning of long-term movements
Participants described the summit’s launch as the beginning of something bigger, a platform to experiment, learn, and build alliances. The EHL Innovation Hub has been recognized as not only an academic powerhouse but also as a catalyst for regenerative innovations across hospitality, service food and travel.
