The Passport Hotel, Nasher Miles, and Rippl bring creators together for a sharing circle on trust and genuine recommendations in Goa

Sometimes the best ideas are not born inside conference halls. They begin over breakfast tables, long conversations, and shared experiences that bring people together.

That was the spirit behind a specially curated creator staycation in Goa, where The Passport Hotel, India's first cocktail-forward hotel, Nasher Miles, and Rippl came together to mark the launch of The Passport Hotel's Mini Bar. More than a celebration, the staycation created space for a conversation that today's internet rarely makes time for.

As part of the experience, Rippl hosted its very first Sharing Circle, led by Malini Agarwal, luxury content creator Rij Eappen, and Rippl co-founders Smriti Dubey and Shikhar Vaidya.

The question that changed the room

Instead of beginning with introductions based on follower count, niche, or profession, Agarwal asked every creator in the room a simple question.

"Tell us one thing about yourself that Instagram doesn't tell the world."

The room immediately transformed. People who spend their lives creating content started talking about the parts of themselves that rarely make it to social media. Some shared that they love dancing but rarely post dance videos because those videos do not earn them money or followers. Others spoke about hobbies, passions, and interests that algorithms tend to ignore.

One by one, everyone arrived at the same realization: social media often knows what people create, but not necessarily who they are.

Agarwal opened the Sharing Circle with a thought that anchored the evening. "Not every influencer is an impactor. An impactor is someone who has an opinion. Someone who genuinely recommends things because they believe in them."

The gap between reviews and recommendations

That thought naturally led the discussion to one of the biggest questions creators face today: can genuine recommendations still exist on the internet?

Creators spoke openly about how paid collaborations become a priority because they pay the bills. As a result, the products, cafes, restaurants, books, music, travel destinations, and experiences they genuinely love often go unspoken publicly. Not because they do not matter, but simply because there is never enough time or the right place for them.

Dubey, one of the co-founders of Rippl, shared a personal story that captures why Rippl exists.

She spoke about searching for highly absorbent pet training pads for her dogs, Simba and Mojo. She browsed marketplaces and scrolled through countless product listings. Every product claims to be the best. Nothing felt trustworthy.

Eventually, she posted a question in a local pet foster community in Thane, asking fellow pet parents what they actually used. Within minutes, people started recommending one particular brand. She ordered it. It worked exactly as promised.

"There were reviews everywhere," she said. "What I was actually looking for was a recommendation. Reviews tell you what strangers think. Recommendations tell you what people you trust genuinely use."

Vaidya, the other co-founder of Rippl, added another layer to the discussion. Every day, millions of people rely on anonymous reviews before making a purchase. What if, instead, people could discover products, restaurants, travel destinations, and experiences through people they already know or through those who genuinely share similar interests? That, according to him, is where the future of discovery is headed.

Eappen offered a perspective that resonated across the room: creators should be able to monetize without constantly producing new content. The internet already holds thousands of authentic reels, shorts, and videos made over the years. Those pieces of content should continue to create value. Rippl allows creators to tag products, places, and experiences they genuinely recommend across their existing Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, enabling them to earn from content they have already made.

Rippl for Tribe: Recommendations as living profiles

As every answer came in during a Recommendation Rapid Fire activity, where creators shared their favorite music, travel destination, comfort food, café, and more, Vaidya simultaneously created a live Tribe Rippl, adding every recommendation in real time.

Within minutes, the room had its own collective Rippl built from the personalities and recommendations of everyone present.

The Passport Hotel and Nasher Miles also had their own Rippl profiles, with QR codes placed across the Sharing Circle. As creators scanned them, both brands automatically became part of their personal Rippls. Recommendations were no longer just conversations. They had become living profiles that could be discovered, shared, and revisited.

The sharing circle was also attended by Kajal Kothari, Tanuj Virwani, Samidha Singh, Karishma Rawat, Sonyaa Ayodhya, Richa Pradhan, Gaurvishka Dhing, Sara Kukreja, Ayushi Chouksey, Nibedita Pal, and Sanaya Pithawala.

Beyond the circle

The experience continued well beyond the Sharing Circle itself. The group visited Kesar Bagh, a restored heritage bungalow turned Awadhi dining destination by Chef Azan Qureshi. The next morning began with a breakfast hosted by Clovia, where creators explored the collection and recommended the brand on their Rippls.

The staycation continued with visits to Bastian Riviera, Stoned Pig, Drop Dead Sexy, The Passport Hotel's Mini Bar launch, and Iris by Rait, where creators, founders, entrepreneurs, and hospitality leaders came together around the idea of authentic recommendations.

Every place they genuinely enjoyed became part of their Rippl.

By the end of the staycation, the group had not only created content but also documented experiences they truly believed were worth sharing. The conclusion was simple and shared: recommendation is becoming the internet's newest form of trust.

Rippl is now live on Android, iOS, and the web. Anyone can create their own Rippl free of cost, showcase everything they genuinely love, discover like-minded people, and earn through authentic recommendations.

Android: Link

iOS: Link

Web: Link

Instagram: Link