Millennial on Guinness World Record-Breaking Quest visits Dominica

De Pecol plants a tree at Secret Bay
De Pecol plants a tree at Secret Bay

Twenty-six-year-old globe-trotter Cassandra De Pecol made a recent two-day stop in Dominica, along her Guinness World Record-setting Expedition that includes stopovers in 196 countries. Dubbed “The Peaceful Traveler’s Journey”, the goal of Expedition 196 is the promotion of Peace through Tourism by unearthing the beauty of every nation and its people – and sharing this with the world.

During her visit, Ms. De Pecol met with the Minister for Tourism and Urban Renewal, Hon. Robert Tonge and presented him with the Credo of the Peaceful Traveler on behalf of International Institute of Peace Through Tourism (IIPT), for which she is an ambassador. While on island she was hosted by Secret Bay, the eco-luxe resort, located on Dominica’s northwest coast, where she updated her followers with photos and videos from her villa and around the property.

“With the Internet and the borderless communication that it provides, we’re connected to each other perhaps more than we’ve ever been; and I believe that this presents a unique opportunity to my generation to change and unite the world,” says the Los Angeles native.

As part of her tour, she hopes to demonstrate that her generation can create positive, peaceful relations with all countries, in part through the environmental, cultural and socioeconomic of sustainable tourism.

“Tourism is one of the only industries in the world that has seen constant growth over the past 25 years with over 1 billion people traveling in 2014”, states De Pecol.

“By traveling and meeting others and being accepting of different cultures, traditions and beliefs we can break down the barriers of mistrust and suspicion and really start a drive to a better and more humane world where people just simply enjoy and embrace the differences amongst us”, she added

DePecol is also an Ambassador for Skål International, the world’s largest not-for-profit multi-discipline travel and tourism organization. Along her various stops, she also collects water samples from the ocean for the Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation project (adventurescience.org), which are sent to US to be tested for Microplastics.

At Secret Bay, she symbolically planted a bay leaf tree (Laurus nobilis) on property. The versatile plant (used as food seasoning, essential oils, fragrant tea) was used by the ancient Greeks as a symbol of victory. The symbolic planting of the bay leaf tree at Secret Bay is an indication that the hotel’s management believes in its mission to promote environmental sustainability through best practices and education. Just last month, Condé Nast Johansens named Secret Bay Best Green Hotel 2016 in the Caribbean & Pacific. Set on approximately 4 acres of land and situated on a cliff-top overlooking the Caribbean Sea, the multiple-award-winning resort is unique in its diversity, with two swimming beaches, the Cario River, a spectacular sea cave and two distinct micro-climates. The property’s six secluded villas and bungalows are nestled serenely within the canopy of Dominica’s lush rainforest, offering exceptional comforts alongside the simplicity of nature.

Secret Bay is also one of just two hotels in the Caribbean to receive the Andrew Harper’s Grand Award for 2015, and in December of that year, Secret Bay was named the Small Caribbean Hotel of the Year in the Caribbean Journal Caribbean Travel Awards.

Follow Ms. DePecol’s journey online at www.expedition196.com and in social media: Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. She is also capturing the trip in a documentary.

De Pecol presents the Credo of the Peaceful Traveler to Tourism Minister Robert Tonge
De Pecol presents the Credo of the Peaceful Traveler to Tourism Minister Robert Tonge

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14 Comments

  1. bubbleboyrismality
    January 19, 2016

    FBI comes in all forms, shapes and sizes.

    • anonymous2
      January 19, 2016

      Try the CIA.

    • Do More, Judge Less
      March 12, 2016

      We don’t see you attempting to make a difference in this world, now do we?

  2. Concerned citizen
    January 19, 2016

    I can’t believe the ignorant comments on here, it’s like we all read the same story, but some came away missing the whole point of her trip. SMH.

  3. martha
    January 19, 2016

    to promote our natural country

  4. anonymous2
    January 19, 2016

    I wonder who is sponsoring her trip because it is not cheap to travel and you have to have money. Sounds like a promotional tour in one respect, however,. she also takes water samples of the ocean on places that she visits to be analyzed for plastic pollution and probably other things. I wouldn’t be surprised if the UN was involved in some way and she is acting like an innocent front. The whole thing seems rather weird to me. Along with the publicity that she is getting and the presenting of a piece of paper to the tourism minister.

    • Guest
      March 12, 2016

      Prime example of someone who doesn’t take the time to educate themselves before judging others. If you’d look at her website, you’d find out all of the answers to your silly little concerns; http://www.expedition196.com is her website. AIG, Air New Zealand, Clif Bar, Avianca are all but a few of her major sponsors. She meets with university students as a Keynote Speaker discussing Responsible Tourism and holding an open discussion. She collects water samples to send to a non-profit in the states called Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation (adventurescience(dot)org).

      Educate yourself before you judge others, Mister.

    • Do More, Judge Less
      March 12, 2016

      If you’d educate yourself by visiting her website, you’d see that she has an array of C-level sponsors that took her 1.5 years to obtain, including Avianca, Air New Zealand, AIG, Clif Bar, to name a few. She’s collecting water samples to send to a non-profit in the states called Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation, look it up on Google, if you know how. Prime example of someone who fails to educate themselves on a topic before being quick to judge. I pray for you, Mister.

  5. Shameless
    January 18, 2016

    Roby Garson get a nicer/ more cool looking glasses. A wrap around black frame with prescription lenses will do you good too. That old school ting you wearing makes you look too old partner. Just and FYI. Looking forward to the new look..Mr. Cool Tourism Minister.

    Assertive, Never Aggressive! :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

  6. BEB
    January 18, 2016

    What have we Dominicans got to benefit from her visit?

    • Face the Facts
      January 18, 2016

      Please do not inform us that you did not comprehend the reason for her trip around the world to 196 countries.
      It is quite clear. Promoting and encouraging Love, Harmony, Peace and Unity among people of the world.
      God knows Dominica and other parts of the world are in dire need of a lot of these. We must also pray for them.
      Re-read what she stated including the previous article that DNO posted.

    • stocky
      January 19, 2016

      fap material

      • El Chapo ᵛᵉʳᶦᶠᶦᵉᵈ✓
        January 19, 2016

        Lmao can’t believe DNO didn’t block the comment “Fap material” but you right tho :mrgreen:

    • Nac Vibes
      January 19, 2016

      There goes the lazy greedy part of our population, if we do get nofing we do want nofing.

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