When you’ve explored 55 countries yourself, you don’t just book trips. You design adventures with real stories behind them.
Steph Heyden is the creative force behind Hey Escapes, a London-based travel business built on tailor-made adventures and culturally rich experiences. She doesn’t just send people on holiday. She sends them to places she knows, loves, and understands from the ground up.
What makes Steph different? She’s walked the streets. She’s tasted the food. She’s navigated the transport systems and found the hidden gems that guidebooks miss. That kind of knowledge doesn’t come from a brochure. It comes from showing up, exploring, and falling in love with the world over and over again.
And now, she’s sharing all of it with her clients.
Travel Niche & Style
Steph specialises in tailor-made adventures for travellers who want more than a tick-box itinerary. Her clients are curious, culturally engaged, and looking for experiences that stay with them long after they’ve unpacked.
With 55 countries under her belt, Steph brings first-hand experience to every conversation. She’s not guessing what Vietnam feels like or what Japan offers. She knows. And that makes all the difference when a client is trying to decide between two destinations or wondering if a particular region is right for their family.
Her approach is personal, thoughtful, and rooted in real insight. She offers recommendations you can trust because they come from someone who’s been there, done that, and wants you to love it as much as she did.
The JLT Journey So Far
Steph joined JLT in August 2024 with zero travel industry experience. Just passion, curiosity, and a love for exploration.
Fast forward to today, and she’s hit £180,000 in sales. Pretty remarkable progress for her first year.
This month alone, she celebrated a huge milestone: her two highest-value bookings came through in the same week. Both took time, care, and plenty of back-and-forth to get the itineraries just right. But when they finally landed? That felt like proof that slow, thoughtful work pays off.
Her next goal? £300,000 by the end of 2025. And knowing Steph’s momentum, we’re backing her all the way.
Memorable Booking Moment
One of Steph’s most memorable bookings was a trip to Vietnam, a destination she personally adores.
It was one of her first bookings. The kind that makes you nervous and excited all at once. But more than that, it reminded her exactly why she wanted to become a travel agent in the first place: to share her knowledge, inspire enriching travel, and encourage people to explore incredible places.
When her clients returned, buzzing with the same excitement she’d felt when she first discovered Vietnam, something clicked. That’s the magic, isn’t it? When your love for a place becomes someone else’s unforgettable memory.
It wasn’t just a booking. It was a full-circle moment. And those are the ones that keep you going.
Words of Wisdom
One thing that surprised Steph when she started? How many travel companies are out there. There are so many options, and they all offer something slightly different. She’s still learning which ones suit her client base best, but she loves the discovery process.
What she didn’t expect to love so much? The community. Especially for someone entering the industry with no background, the support has been everything. She’s met other agents in similar positions, and they’ve all helped each other grow. That kind of camaraderie makes the hard days easier and the wins even sweeter.
Her favourite tool? Supplier webinars. They’ve been a huge turning point for learning the ropes and staying connected.
And if you’re heading off on your own adventure, Steph has some practical wisdom to share:
- Break your big notes so you have smaller local currency for tips and markets
- Take a lightweight power bank (charged!) so you always have backup
- Download offline maps from Maps.me in case connectivity fails
- Always pack tissues and hand sanitiser. Trust her on this one.
Oh, and her dream destination to explore next is Japan, we have a feeling that’s going to be one incredible trip!
We’re so excited to watch this journey unfold. Steph’s only been with us for just over a year, and she’s already building something incredible. Here’s to what’s next, Steph. Keep showing up. Keep building. We’re always cheering you on!
