diff --git a/HELLO.md b/HELLO.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ba24c45
--- /dev/null
+++ b/HELLO.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+Hello and welcome to the Trips repository!
+
+We are glad you are here. This project uses standard git workflows and follows the conventions already in the codebase.
+
+If you are just getting started, begin by reading the README and browsing the main modules to understand the structure.