Hi, my name is Roopam Goyal. This is my story on my I love traveling and Google!
When I was a little girl, my father would take us through the length and breadth of India, from mountain to beaches, cities to villages, temples to institutions in summer, spring and winters. Each year was different, special, intriguing and left me longing for more. I was fascinated with what I saw and loved everything about it. It brought us closer as a family. I have very loving memories of all the fun times we had.
(Places visited: Andaman & Nicobar, Kolkatta, Puri, Bhubaneshwar, Bodh Gaya, Rameswaram, Kanyakumari, Kerala, Mysore, Coorg, Rajasthan, Delhi, Darjeeling, Sikkim and many more).
10 year ago, when I was organizing a 3-day college trip to Goa along with a few friends, I thought it would be a cakewalk. But managing a class of 60 teenagers with distinct personalities was a task. “It looked so easy back then, it can’t be this difficult” – I wondered why. We hired a tour operator and the trip turned out to be a nightmare. I realized that I failed to see the meticulous planning of my father behind each trip, ensuring that we had a wonderful experience. In an era where information was a scarcity, we never had issues with dirty linen or poor quality of food. Safety was paramount.
4 years ago, after a life-changing event, battling with depression, I completely surrendered myself to traveling and planned a trip to chase Northern Lights in Norway. It was a difficult itinerary to plan, primarily due to extreme weather and budget constraints. Also, it was my first Europe trip. In fact, my first international trip! In the absence of my father’s wisdom, Google had been a savior then (and continue to do so now). I researched a lot, read facts and figures on google, followed by people’s views on it. Creating lists and plotting locations on a google map to see if it made sense to add a place to my itinerary at targeted costs. It was an enriching experience in its own. Result: We successfully experienced Northern lights, not once but twice.
Post this successful trip, a rejuvenated me decided to continue with her travel shenanigans. However, it was also time to give back. I have been curating itineraries for family and friends ever since then. My experience of traveling with people of all age groups, solo/group travels, elements on seasons/festivals, budget to high-end vacations coupled with Google Maps, Reviews, Lists, and searches have led to the creation of beautiful memories. It has been an amazing amalgamation of online and offline work which has gone into curating these itineraries. That’s the idea too, I guess. Helping the lesser fortunate ones and making it accessible for all! 
Cut to the present, I have done a lot of work on employee experiences. This has deeply impacted me, and I now have a better understanding of "Experience”. It’s a world of customized experiences. Often, it’s a mismatch of expectations which leads to a bad experience. Costs, Choices, Consistency, and Experience are relative in nature. I keep this in mind while reviewing places and answer questions accordingly. Also, It is amazing to receive an acknowledgment of my reviews and heart-warming to know that organizations have acted on the feedback shared. Whether it’s a single like on a photo or reaching a 1000 view on a photo – it’s a gratifying experience which inspires me to do more.
I love traveling! I love Google! “It is a love based on giving and receiving as well as having and sharing. - Joey**”**