A new initiative to support solo women travellers has been created under the Not Just Travel umbrella.
No Stopping Her has been developed by experienced lone traveller Katrina Lowes (right) and travel agent Gilly Bachelor to educate, support and inspire women to experience solo travel.
The start-up aims to create a supportive community designed to support, educate and inspire women to take solo trips with the backing of a newly-established Facebook group plus regular face-to-face and online events.
The first webinar will take place on January 28 at 6pm, where Lowes will share guidance and insights on what to consider when taking a first solo trip.
All travel bookings are managed through www.gillybachelortravelexpert.co.uk and are protected by Abta and/or Atol.
Clients have access to a travel app that provides their itinerary, travel documents, real-time updates, a chat feature for ongoing communication and a 24/7 emergency contact number.
Solo female travellers can access extra services, such as:
- A dedicated arrival contact service, which offers peace of mind by ensuring someone is aware of their location within 24 hours of arrival, eliminating the need to depend on family or friends.
- A video meeting to stay connected or a virtual dinner date for those experiencing solo dining for the first time.
Co-founder Bachelor said: “Many women I’ve met have delayed their travel dreams, waiting for companions whose schedules never align.
“I understand how intimidating that first solo trip can be. Since hosting an event for solo travellers in 2019, I’ve seen the long journey some take to gather the courage to take their first solo trip. My mission is to support and inspire more women to take the leap.
“As part of Not Just Travel, we have access to over 300 suppliers. Some like Just You are dedicated to serving solo travellers; however, across these suppliers there are numerous more options for solo travellers such as group tours, beach holidays and cruises.”
Fellow co-founder Lowes brings more three decades of solo travel expertise to No Stopping Her, with her experiences in both professional and personal travels across the world instrumental in shaping the company’s mission.
She said: “Women are often the key decision-makers in travel planning, yet solo female travellers can find themselves overlooked. Our aim is to change that.
“In my years as a global marketing leader, I’ve supported many colleagues and friends as they take their first solo trips. Solo travel is transformative, and I want to support women in finding their own travel confidence”.
The partnership between the duo dates back more than 25 years to their time at BT.
Lowes added: “Gilly encouraged me to consider solo travel options I hadn’t thought of, like cruises. She genuinely listened to my concerns and provided incredible support, ensuring I felt confident every step of the way. This inspired the idea for No Stopping Her”.
Bachelor said: “When Katrina approached me with her idea, I was excited. I had already noticed a gap in the support and inspiration available for solo female travellers. Together, we knew we could fill this space”.