Two Travel Counsellors have launched a new agency after noticing a ‘gap’ in the market for female-only and LGBTQ+ travel.
Founded by Suvira Riza and Megan O’Leary, Voyage-Her specialises in holidays for women and LGBTQ+ clients looking for meaningful, safe experiences.
The aim of the business is to provide an alternative to mainstream LGBTQ+ travel, which often revolves around night clubbing, resort takeovers and pink cruises.
“The majority of community-focused travel product is directed at gay men,” O’Leary, who is a TTG LGBT+ Ambassador, told TTG.
“Voyage-Her gives us a platform to empower our sapphic and trans sisters – as well as our allies travelling solo or on girls trips – to see the world with confidence.”
Travel Counsellor Suvira Riza says she hopes Voyage-Her will give female and LGBTQ+ clients confidence to travel more confidently
Despite being just three months old, Voyage-Her has already accumulated a portfolio of clients.
Since launching in March, Riza and O’Leary have booked a lesbian couple on a romantic getaway to Malta, two widowed women on a fly-drive holiday to Norway, and a mother-daughter duo on a trip to Sorrento.
The two friends, who live just 15 minutes from each other, are also finding business on the golf course.
“We started going to weekly ladies’ golf lessons last year, and that’s how we really got to know each other,” Riza said. “We’ve ended up getting good clients from there!”
Riza and O’Leary, who are both members of the LGBTQ+ community, are also keen to highlight destinations that are welcoming to sapphic and trans people.
They especially recommend Spain, Greece and Malta, having had positive experiences in these countries themselves, as well as Canada and Japan. They are also meeting with tourism boards, such as Visit Miami, to help expand their LGBTQ+ offerings to queer women.
Megan O'Leary, an LGBT+ Travel Ambassador, has worked in travel for more than 10 years
“Inclusive travel isn’t one-size fits all,” Riza explained. “It's not all about the nightlife scene, pink cruises or male-centred parties. Not everyone is looking for that.”
Though Voyage-Her doesn’t promote countries that are unsafe for LGBTQ+ travellers, it will always facilitate trips – where possible – for clients seeking to visit these destinations.
They’ve already organised for a trans person to reunite with family in the UAE, and are keen to help customers who want to explore further. “We know everyone will have their own boundaries and limits, but for those that still want to travel to these destinations, we want to arm them with the knowledge and support to make a decision right for their own safety.”
Riza has also acquired firsthand knowledge on how to navigate certain countries safely, having visited both St Lucia and Dubai whilst in a same-sex relationship.
“We want to let people know it’s doable, and to give them an extra layer of protection and security,” she said. “We want to help people go off the beaten track, and to have our support the entire time.”
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