To travel widely is often to collect memories of places. For Hannah Mills OBE , those places happen to be viewed largely from the water. With more than two decades of international competition, she has experienced some of the world's most celebrated coastlines not as a visitor but as an athlete, reading their winds, currents and conditions with remarkable precision. In doing so, she has come to appreciate a simple truth: the places that give us extraordinary experiences deserve our care in return.

Today, as Strategist for Emirates GBR SailGP Team, Mills spends her days making split-second decisions aboard some of the fastest racing boats on the planet. When an F50 catamaran rises onto its hydrofoils and approaches speeds in excess of 100 km/h, she describes the sensation as being "like flying across the water". Yet behind the spectacle lies a world of constant communication and instinctive decision-making. Success depends on an athlete's ability to understand and respond to the environment around them.  

That relationship with the natural world has been forged across some of sailing's most iconic venues. Among the memories that remain closest to her are the London 2012 Olympic Games in Weymouth and Portland, where she won silver in front of a passionate home crowd, and Rio 2016, where she achieved her ambition to become Olympic champion. Together, those moments were defining milestones in a career built on excellence, resilience, and a lasting connection to the sea. 

Years spent travelling the world have also shaped her understanding of hospitality. Living out of a suitcase for much of the year has taught her that the most memorable destinations offer more than luxury amenities. What makes somewhere feel genuinely welcoming, she believes, is a sense of calm, authenticity and seamless support, allowing people to focus fully on the purpose of their journey, whether they are competing, exploring or simply reconnecting with their surroundings. 

It is a philosophy that resonates strongly with Jumeirah. Across the brand’s portfolio, hospitality is viewed not simply as a service but as a way of helping guests form a meaningful connection with places. The experience of a destination extends beyond the walls of a hotel to encompass its coastline, culture, community, and natural environment. Such a connection inevitably raises a question: what responsibility comes with enjoying these places?
For Mills, the answer emerged gradually over years spent on the water. During Olympic campaigns and training programmes across Europe, Asia and beyond, she witnessed growing volumes of single-use plastics and waste in marine environments - something she encountered across multiple coastlines and continents. 

The experience marked a turning point. The ocean had always been both playground and sanctuary, but seeing evidence of human impact changed her relationship with it. What had once been a connection rooted in competition evolved into one of stewardship, inspiring the launch of the ‘Big Plastic Pledge’ which resulted in over 3000 people joining the initiative, and her advocacy for reducing single-use plastics across global sport. 

That belief in stewardship is also reflected in SailGP itself. Unlike traditional offshore sailing, the championship brings racing into the heart of major coastal cities, from Sydney Harbour and San Francisco Bay to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Each venue serves as both racecourse and destination, creating a powerful connection between sport, people and place. 

It is also what makes Jumeirah's partnership with the Emirates GBR SailGP Team especially compelling. Both organisations share a longstanding relationship with the ocean. One welcomes guests to some of the world's most celebrated coastal destinations; the other showcases the skill, innovation and teamwork required to navigate those waters at the highest level. Together, they reflect a belief that exceptional experiences and responsible stewardship should go hand in hand. 

Mills believes that everyone who benefits from a place carries a duty of care towards it. Whether through reducing waste, embracing cleaner energy, or supporting restoration projects, meaningful progress is often the result of hundreds of small actions. The principle is not unlike elite sport, where marginal gains accumulated over time ultimately determine success. Businesses, she argues, can apply the same discipline to understanding and reducing their environmental impact through transparency, accountability, and continual improvement.  

Looking ahead, Mills hopes future generations will continue to experience thriving coastlines, healthy oceans and vibrant marine ecosystems. Achieving that future will require a collective shift in how society values nature, recognising it not simply as a resource but as something intrinsically worthy of protection.

For someone whose career has been defined by reading the subtle signals of wind and water, the lesson is clear. The health of the places we treasure cannot be taken for granted. Whether through sport, travel or hospitality, our role is not simply to enjoy extraordinary destinations, but to ensure they continue to inspire those who come after us.