An all-women collective of luxury travel advisors has shared plans to preserve its “communal” ethos, after growing larger than it “could have ever imagined.”

Travel Sisterhood, which was founded by Nadine Brady in 2023, now comprises 76 members – having grown from an original WhatsApp group of just 15. 

Today, the club has evolved into a global network of elite female advisors, complete with a curated calendar of events, webinars, and retreats. 

While there is no official cap on membership, Travel Sisterhood’s ‘Inner Circle’ – the cohort responsible for organising meet-ups and vetting applicants – vowed on Monday to protect the group's intimate nature following a surge of interest. 

Speaking at the collective’s first-ever summit at the Hyatt Regency London, The Churchill, Rebecca Puttock assured members that the club will always be “discerning” when accepting new advisors. 

“We never want this community to be taken for granted, so we do our due diligence to make sure that every agent is the right fit,” the Wanderlux founder said. “We want people who give and take, but of course, this can be hard to tell on an application.”

Puttock detailed a rigorous vetting process that includes investigation into applicant backgrounds, securing reputable referrals, and conducting direct interviews. 

Beyond a “comprehensive understanding of the industry,” candidates are expected to support their fellow members by offering insights and sharing knowledge. A total commitment to their luxury travel business, which must be at least three years old, is also required. 

While Travel Sisterhood has “turned down quite a few” applicants, the group encourages agents to re-apply once they meet the specific criteria. 

“The [vetting] process has evolved over the past three years and it’s being constantly refined,” Puttock noted. “We’ve made mistakes. It’s very rare that somebody might slip through the net and cause a kerfuffle, but when it has happened, we try to deal with it as professionally as possible.”

The Inner Circle is also carefully monitoring its expansion to ensure it doesn’t lose sight of its original goal. “Where the cracks start to show gives us an indication that something is not working,” explained Puttock. 

This cautious sentiment was echoed by fellow Inner Circle member Nat Stacey, who emphasised: “It’s a community, not a dictatorship. We would always listen to the members if they said it became too overwhelming.”

Brady admitted that while she “never expected” Travel Sisterhood to “reach this number,” she’s now keen to increase its international presence. The club already hosts a select few members outside of the UK, including Bella Vita Travels founder Meghan McCaffrey-Guerra. 

The Italy-based advisor hailed Travel Sisterhood for fostering “collaboration” among “likeminded women,” admitting she had previously felt “very disconnected” from her industry peers. 

“It also opened up a new world to me and showed me how to deal with other markets and cultures,” McCaffrey-Guerra added. “It taught me what a global experience of travel really is.”

Another benefit of membership is access to real-time information, says Mary Steadman. “The sisterhood gives you instant, trusted answers about what’s actually happening in the destination,” the Lura Lifestyle founder said. “For me, it’s better than watching anything on the news right now.”

Brady agreed, praising the wealth of destination and property knowledge across the collective: “I can ask the most obscure question and 9 out of 10 times, it will be answered. Bloody hell, it’s amazing.”

‘Feminine energy’ will continue to be a cornerstone of Travel Sisterhood’s identity, which revolves around uplifting women in a society that too often pits them against one another.

“As women, we’re taught we have to fight for a place at the table, especially at C-suite level,” Puttock said. “People get competitive and fight with other women, which creates toxicity. But Travel Sisterhood has unleashed this capacity for all of us to have that seat at the table. We're no longer in competition – we’re collaborating, and we are so powerful together.”