Agoda turns 21 today! To celebrate, we’re rewinding the clock. We asked our employees to look back at their own 21st year and share a travel adventure they still talk about.
What came back is a collection of stories as diverse and vibrant as Agoda itself. While every journey is different, they all capture a shared spirit: curiosity, courage, and the magic of saying “yes” before you have everything figured out. Read on to see just how far that leap of faith can take you.
Seth Jeremy Hoffman
Corporate Treasurer, Finance
“In July 2010, I was 21, had just finished a life-changing study abroad semester in Sydney, Australia, and decided to spend my internship savings on a solo trip through Southeast Asia. This photo was taken on my very first trip to Thailand, a moment that ended up becoming the beginning of a 15-year international journey.
From starting my career in a Finance Graduate Program in Hong Kong in 2011 to eventually joining Agoda in Bangkok in 2020, I don’t think my 21-year-old self could have imagined that I’d one day return to Thailand to work and build a life here.”
Lalita Kittisrikangwan
Senior Specialist – Event Marketing, Marketing
“At 21, I traded my university textbooks for a spot in the Super Bowl 50 halftime show. I was a second-year student at UC Berkeley, and my Bollywood dance team sent in what felt like a complete shot-in-the-dark audition tape. To our surprise, we were selected as field performers and backup dancers.
For a few weeks, I was living a double life. Skipping classes to rehearse by day and standing on the field at Levi’s Stadium by night. The best part was performing during Coldplay’s set, only to have my idols Beyoncé and Bruno Mars join for a surprise performance. I even got to hold the flag while Lady Gaga sang the national anthem. It reminded me that life can take you on the most unexpected journeys if you just say yes.”
Aaron Ang
Customer Experience Specialist, Customer Experience Group
“This photo was taken during my trip to the USA in 2019, when I was 21 years old. It was my first long-haul flight from Kuala Lumpur to the United States, and I still remember how nervous I was during the visa application process.
It was also my first time driving by myself in the US, from Los Angeles to San Francisco. As a Malaysian, I’m used to driving on the right side in Malaysia, so adapting to left-hand-drive cars in the US was a very new and exciting experience for me. Another unforgettable part of this trip was attending LGBTQ Pride in San Francisco for the first time in my life. The atmosphere was lively, joyful, and eye-opening. It was truly a crazy but amazing experience, and definitely one of the greatest trips of my life.”
Radikha Fairul
Customer Experience Specialist, Customer Experience Group
“At 21, I went to my first-ever concert with money I had saved during university. I remember that feeling so clearly: saving up, feeling rich, and being independent for the first time. And somehow I managed to snap a chaotic selfie with the singer in the background like we were besties. He doesn’t know me, but that’s okay.
That concert ruined my life in the best way. From ‘just one concert,’ I somehow became the kind of person who flies off to Bangkok, Jakarta, and Singapore like I’m on a world tour myself. My younger self made one thing very clear: this was not a phase, it was a lifestyle.”
Woongkyu Jin
Senior Dispute Resolution Specialist, Tech
“After finishing my military service, I traveled to New Zealand. I told my family it was for language study, but honestly, I just wanted to explore the world. It was my first flight, my first trip abroad, and my first time in the Southern Hemisphere, where even the seasons felt completely unfamiliar. I was nervous and excited all at once.
Back in 2008, there were no smartphones, and getting online usually meant finding an internet café, which wasn’t always easy. I booked flights, bus tickets, and sometimes even tours through a local travel agency, and relied heavily on guidebooks. Travel was much less convenient back then, but every part of the journey felt exciting. I quickly fell in love with New Zealand’s landscapes, culture, and the warmth of the people. That first trip changed the direction of my life — it led me to study tourism and eventually brought me to Agoda, where I’ve now been for more than 13 years.”
Jay Miller
Talent Acquisition Partner, People
“At 21, I was clearly not built for the ‘I’ll do it later’ lifestyle. One minute I was chilling, and the next I was halfway across the world walking the Great Wall like I did that kind of thing every Tuesday.
Not going to lie, it was one of those moments where I had to stop and think, ‘Okay… this is actually real.’ I probably should’ve gotten a translator because I was definitely out there nodding like I understood everything. But somewhere along that walk, I decided this was how it starts — knocking out all seven wonders of the world one by one. Just out there collecting passport stamps, good stories, and a few situations I probably had no business being in.”
Razia Syed Reza
Customer Experience Specialist, Customer Experience Group
“My most memorable trip at 21 was my first trip to India, which was especially meaningful to me as someone who is half Indian. It was also my first time taking a flight for a really long journey — one that a car simply couldn’t get me to in a few hours.
At first, all I could think about was my fear of flying. I wasn’t even focused on the destination itself. But once I arrived, that fear started to fade. I realized that overcoming my fear of being on a plane had opened up a whole new world for me. Since then, I’ve felt much more ready for new journeys, and much more confident that I can turn my travel dreams into reality.”
Irin Arayaprayoon
Associate Manager – Strategic Partnerships, Rocket Travel by Agoda
“At 21, I had the opportunity to spend a semester abroad in Norway as an exchange student representing Thammasat University at Norges Handelshøyskole, the Norwegian School of Economics. Looking back, it was one of the most life-changing experiences I’ve ever had.
It was the first time in my life that I traveled across multiple countries in Europe completely on my own. Before that, my parents had always planned and booked every trip for me. That exchange semester became the starting point of my independent travel journey — and eventually part of how I entered the OTA world. Life in Norway wasn’t about luxury or food experiences. It was about nature, adventure, and personal growth: breathing clean air, waking up to beautiful scenery behind my dorm, hiking almost every day, and meeting friends from all over the world. To this day, it remains one of my favorite periods in life. Fun fact: I later found out that my Agoda teammate Xavier Chen from the Singapore office also went on exchange at the same school. Small world!”
Penporn Maneewon
Account Manager, Supply
“At 21, I took my first solo trip abroad through the Work & Travel program in the U.S. It was my first time on a plane, my first time living in a completely new environment, and one of the first moments in my life that pushed me far beyond my comfort zone.
I worked at a theme park in Texas, met people from all over the world, and experienced so many things for the first time — from celebrating new holidays to exploring cities I had only seen in movies. It wasn’t glamorous or easy, but it taught me resilience, courage, and confidence. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, and it reminded me that even if I don’t feel fully ready, I’m still capable of doing brave things.”
Yuyi Pang
Customer Experience Specialist, Customer Experience Group
“I spent my 21st year in Kraków, Poland. One of my favorite memories from that time was celebrating Go Skateboarding Day with friends, with Wawel Royal Castle behind us — such a strong symbol of Polish history.
When I look back at that photo, it reminds me of a time in life that felt full of freedom, discovery, and new experiences. Being 21 in a place so different from home made everything feel a little bigger, a little more exciting, and a lot more memorable.”
Here’s to 21 years of Agoda and the journeys still ahead
Turning 21 is often about firsts: first brave decisions, first adventures, first moments of independence, and first glimpses of the wider world. As Agoda marks 21 years of bridging the world through travel, we’re celebrating that very same spirit in our global team: curiosity, courage, and a love of discovering what’s out there. Here’s to the journeys that shaped us and the many more still to come.
Excited to be part of our journey? Join our team!
