The Team

• 

  Simon Whittle

  Managing Director

  Simon is our Managing Director here at Distant Journeys and has over 21 years of experience in the industry. He founded the company with our other directors, Andrew and Richard, in 2014.

  Having first visited nearly 20 years ago, Simon’s favourite destination to travel to is Australia, thanks to its fantastic outdoor lifestyle, quality food and drink, and friendly people. On his days off, Simon enjoys long walks with his family and when not watching his children play sports, he enjoys playing a round of golf.

  What Simon says about working for Distant Journeys –
  

  “I take great pride in reading through customer questionnaires and realising we’ve played a part in creating a holiday of a lifetime”.
• 

  Andrew Laycock

  Director

  Andrew is one of our Directors at Distant Journeys, establishing the company in 2014 with our other Directors, Simon and Richard. Having over 35 years of travel industry experience, working for Journeys of Distinction and Go Touring, being Managing Director there for 20 years, Andrew has brought a wealth of experience to Distant Journeys.

  New Zealand and South Africa feature as Andrew’s favourite touring destinations, as spectacular landscapes are close to his heart. Andrew is a big family man and often enjoys taking long walks on the beach with his family and their dog Busta. When the chance arises, he jumps at the chance to play a round of golf.

  What Andrew says about working for Distant Journeys –

  “I think we’re a great company to work for with exciting tours to some very special destinations. We have a small enthusiastic team, and the office has a great positive feel”.
• 

  Richard Hanson

  Director

  Richard founded Distant Journeys in 2014 with other directors Simon and Andrew, having a wealth of experience spanning well over two decades, starting in the travel industry working as a resort representative in Ibiza. Today, Richard continues his travels overseas to long haul destinations, researching and fine-tuning the wonderful destinations Distant Journeys feature.

  Richard is a keen boater and enjoys many family holidays sailing around the stunning bays and beaches of Mallorca in the summer months with his wife and children. When not travelling the world, Richard spends quality time with his family and friends in his home town of Southport, enjoying walks with his beloved black Labrador Archie.

  What Richard says about working for Distant Journeys –

  “Whilst we all possess a wide variety of experiences and skill sets, we all share one huge passion and that is travel. When you love your job and get a buzz sharing your own travel experiences with others it never feels like work!”.
• 

  Lee Patterson

  Head of Operations

  Lee is our Head of Operations, and has worked for Distant Journeys since 2014 and has over 20 years’ experience in the travel industry under his belt. While working as an overseas representative, Lee lived in Egypt, and has since been back multiple times. The culture, people, and food are what entices Lee back year after year, and of course the scuba diving too! When at home, Lee loves to watch movies, spend time with his wife and daughter, watching the football, and pumping iron at the gym. Scuba diving is close to Lee’s heart, but he won’t go anywhere in the UK, it’s too cold!

  What Lee says about working for Distant Journeys –

  “Working at Distant Journeys truly feels like a family. Everyone is close with each other, meaning lots of laughs are shared, and the team offer support to each other to ensure that everyone gives their best”.
• 

  Kayley Fernandes

  Head of Marketing

  Kayley joined the Distant Journeys team recently as Head of Marketing, bringing with her over 15 years of experience. Kayley’s love for travel was kick-started whilst backpacking across Thailand, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand, and after this she was fortunate enough to see more of the world during her professional life too, working for tour operators and hoteliers.

  Favourite trip? Flying Business Class with Emirates and staying with Four Seasons in Johannesburg and then Dubai was a particular highlight. Kayley says: “I loved Jo’Burg, especially Neighbourgoods market, packed full of incredible local food stalls. Their outdoor terrace also offers a great view of the city, and the locals were just kicking back, drinking wine and eating their favourite foods in the South African sunshine, heaven”. Kayley’s husband is of Portuguese descent and they regularly holiday there with their two boys. Kayley is most happy building sandcastles on Burgau beach (Burgau is a little fishing village on the Algarve) before enjoying some grilled sardines and chilled Vinho Verde.

  What Kayley says about working for Distant Journeys –

  “The team here have been so welcoming. Their knowledge of the destinations we sell is remarkable and I’m really enjoying getting to know my colleagues and our customers and what drives them. I can’t wait to help develop things even further”.

   
• 

  Liz Reddy

  Head of Product

  Liz has worked at Distant Journeys since July of 2018, with over 30 years of experience working in the travel industry, with the past 20 years working in product development. Travelling is a big part of Liz’s job, travelling  to new destinations to find the right itinerary fit to allow the best experience for our customers. Liz says picking her favourite place to travel is too hard! Her favourite city is Rome whilst loving Asia for the culture and food. New Zealand & Australia are also very special places.  At home, Liz enjoys walking her dog Hector with her partner Wayne,  weekends away in her new campervan, spending time at her allotment and making a homemade curry.

  What Liz says about working for Distant Journeys –

  “It’s a small friendly team that feels like family, and is made up of people who are not only passionate and knowledgeable about the countries we sell, but they also have a great ethos and commitment to delivering an outstanding customer experience.
• 

  Julia Kidd

  Head of Sales & Organisational Development

  Julia joined the team in May 2023 as Head of Sales & Product Development, focusing on employee development, recruitment and onboarding.

  Her favourite places to visit are South Africa, having lived there for two years, and Yunnan Province in China after spending 4 years as an expat in the country. Julia is also a big fan of Lapland: “Visiting Santa Claus at home, deep in the forest after searching for 3 days on huskies, reindeer sleighs and skidoos. It was quite possibly the most magical moment as a parent seeing my kids’ faces and I’ll admit, even I believed!”

  In her spare time Julia loves to travel, spend time with her family, walk her Double Doodle Marnie, and even enjoy a game or two of Badminton!

  What Julia says about working for Distant Journeys –

  “In the past eight working days I’ve experienced a company that has a positive working culture and ethos. The team is professional, happy and committed and that’s a fantastic starting point for any business!”
• 

  Alex Helsby-Glass

  Senior Reservations Consultant

  Alex has been working in the travel industry for over 30 years, and has been with Distant Journeys since we began in 2015. Alex specialises in all of the destinations on offer, as well as all of our stopovers. India is her favourite place to visit due to the historical and spiritual experiences available throughout the country paired with an eclectic mix of sights, sounds, and smells. In her free time, you can find Alex at the cinema watching Sci-Fi movies, or walking round the local reservoirs with her friends.

  What Alex says about working for Distant Journeys –

  “Being part of a small team is really important as we are all friends, so it makes for a great working atmosphere. I also feel very privileged that I’m able to assist our clients with their holidays of a lifetime to our wonderful destinations”.
• 

  Sarah Rimmer

  Senior Reservations Consultant

  Sarah has been working in the travel industry for over 16 years, and joined the Distant Journeys team in January of 2015. When travelling, wherever Sarah is in the world is always her favourite place, although a recent trip to Dubrovnik filled with warm sunshine, history, friendly people, and great food and wine was a memorable experience. Sarah is also a fan of travel documentaries, and credits Michael Palin’s Around the World in Eighty Days series for igniting her love of travel.  At home with her partner and cats, she loves solving cryptic crosswords and anything that exercises her mind, although we can’t say the same for her taste in TV…

  What Sarah says about working for Distant Journeys –

  “I love talking to our customers about our wonderful escorted tours. Helping them book what is often their holiday of a lifetime is an exciting experience, and I love to share that excitement with our customers”.
• 

  Jenny Stafford

  Reservations Consultant

  Jenny is one of our Reservations Consultant’s and has been at Distant Journeys since July 2022. Jenny worked as cabin crew for an award-winning international airline for 15 years, so she has experienced the cultures and seen many of the attractions in over 50 countries. Jenny assists our customers through each stage of the booking process to make their dream holiday a reality.

  Jenny loves both India and New York. India for its sensory overload with so much to see, amazing cuisine and friendly people. New York for the fast pace, theatre and nightlife. During her time off she likes hosting, especially when the sun is out. She is a member of a dog walking group. However, she is yet to commit to owning her own dog. She likes exercising and has recently bought a bike which she rides around Southport. Due to her fiancé’s influence, lately she has developed an affinity for Aussie Rules Football!

  What Jenny says about working for Distant Journeys –

  “Distant Journeys is a great place to work, we are a friendly and supportive team and I get great satisfaction from helping our clients make their travel aspirations come true.”
• 

  Leyla Erbay-Richards

  Reservations Consultant

  Leyla works as a Reservation Consultant at Distant Journeys, and has been with us since July of 2019. Having studied Travel and Tourism at college, International Tourism Management at University, and then travelling around the USA and Canada for a year, Leyla has an expansive range of knowledge on all things travel-related. Miami is close to Leyla’s heart, due to the golden beaches and hot weather of the Floridian coastline. In Leyla’s downtime, she enjoys exploring new places, as well as spending time with her puppy Beaney and going on long walks.

  What Leyla says about working for Distant Journeys –

  “I love being able to help our customers plan their dream holidays and being able to learn a little more everyday about all of the great destinations we sell”.
• 

  Vania Rajao

  Reservations Consultant

  Vania is another of our Reservations Consultants and has worked for Distant Journeys since October 2022. Vania helps our customers with any enquiries relating to tours and destinations, while also assisting with bookings and always providing exceptional service!

  Vania has previous experience in the hospitality sector, having worked for a 4-star Deluxe hotel in Mayfair for over 3 years. She started her career as an Office Assistant, working her way up to become Assistant Manager. Vania knows hotel operations inside and out – and believes choosing the right hotel is an essential part of any holiday.

  One of Vania’s favourite destinations to visit is her beloved hometown Porto. She also loves to explore seaside towns, finding remote beaches to relax on and enjoy the calming sounds of the sea. She has recently visited Mallorca and was mesmerised by the beauty of the island. In her spare time, Vania enjoys reading, going for walks, watching the sunset and spending time with friends. She also enjoys finding nice restaurants with incredible food and rooftop views.

  What Vania says about working for Distant Journeys –

  “Distant Journeys has an incredibly supportive and experienced team. Everyday is an exciting journey in itself. I will also have the opportunity to help our customers with booking their dream holiday, which is very rewarding for me.”
• 

  Ellie McVann

  Reservations Consultant

  Ellie joined Distant Journeys in April 2023 as a Reservations Consultant. Having previously worked at Disneyland, Ellie has always enjoyed planning holidays and travelling, which led to her pursuing a career in travel with us, she will be part of our knowledgeable team that assists our customers through each stage of the booking process. 

  Ellie’s favourite place to visit would be Paris. “After living and working there it feels like a home away from home – only more glamorous! One of my favourite things to do in the city is sit by the seine with a picnic, watching the world go by!”

  After a busy day at work, helping our customers plan for their next trip, Ellie enjoys spending time with her friends, taking part in yoga classes and going to the theatre.

  What Ellie says about working for Distant Journeys –

  “I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the team, everyone has been incredibly welcoming and helpful. I also have enjoyed gaining an in-depth knowledge of the many locations we visit and look forward to learning more.”
• 

  Judith Goymer

  Aviation Consultant

  Judith is our Aviation Consultant here at Distant Journeys she is responsible for reservations and ticketing on our airline system. Judith has 42 years of working in the travel industry. She began her career in London Business Travel where she was responsible for the Corporate Travel of many large companies. She relocated to the North with her husband and children 22 years ago and transferred her skills to the Tour Operating Industry.

  Judith loves to cruise in a warm climate and visit different places every day. In her spare time she loves listening to country music, reading, gardening, watching the football, walking and socialising with friends.

  What Judith says about working for Distant Journeys –

  “I enjoy working with a small friendly team who are committed to excellent customer service. Distant Journeys provide a good work-life balance for me.”
• 

  Nicole Hinton

  Operations Consultant

  Nicole is a Reservations and Operations Consultant at Distant Journeys. She kick-started her career in the travel industry with us in August 2018. Nicole’s role is collating passenger’s information and requests to send to our Ground Agents at all destinations. She enjoys travelling around the UK to different campsites in the countryside, enjoying the peace and quiet – and the beautiful views!

  Nicole’s dream destination to visit is Japan due to its beauty and culture. In Nicole’s downtime she enjoys playing a variety of video games against her partner and friends. She also loves to read, do puzzles and crochet.

  What Nicole says about working for Distant Journeys –

  “Even though we’re a small team, ever since I started here they have helped me to grow, both professionally and personally, and continue to do so. Everyone here is friendly, kind and fun, and we all work well together to ensure that our valued customers get the holiday of a lifetime.”
• 

  Milly Byczkowski

  Operations Consultant

  Milly spent 5 years living in Australia before joining Distant Journeys in November of 2019. Although Milly is new to the travel industry, living in Australia for five years has taught her a lot about the country, and she has a huge wealth of knowledge on all things Australia! Milly’s favourite places to visit on holiday are Fiji and the Pacific Islands, where she enjoys the hot weather, relaxed way of life, and friendliness of the locals. When not in work, Milly is very active and enjoys hiking and swimming, although loves to read when relaxing.

  What Milly says about working for Distant Journeys –

  “I enjoy working within a small team. Everyone is friendly and it is a joy to be a part of a great working environment. The job is very rewarding when helping people to plan their dream holidays”.
• 

  Jamie Connor

  Documentation & Administration Assistant

  Jamie is our Documentation & Administration Assitant and has worked at Distant Journeys since May 2022. He is new to the industry but is learning something new every day. His job focus is preparing travel documents for our customers as well as providing necessary travel requirements. Jamie’s favourite place to visit is the Canary Islands due to the scenery and food as well as the vast number of different activities – with his favourite being water sports. In Jamie’s free time he likes to watch football (especially Everton) and occasionally plays football. He enjoys playing video games and spending quality time with his girlfriend, watching Netflix and going on days out.

  What Jamie says about working for Distant Journeys –

  “A small family like team who are hardworking and love having a good laugh. Everyone also has a great work ethic and are committed to providing customers with the holiday of a lifetime.”
• 

  Layla Smith

  Documentation & Administration Assistant

  Layla joined Distant Journeys in December 2022 as Administration and Documentation assistant. Her role requires preparing and producing customer holiday documents, managing the printing and mailing of daily brochure requests, and co-ordinating customer communications.

  In her spare time, Layla enjoys visiting places around the world to experience different cultures and spending time with her friends. Layla’s favourite holiday destination has to be New York City due to the surreal feeling of visiting world-famous attractions.

  What Layla says about working for Distant Journeys –

  “Everyone in the team is friendly and welcoming. Everyone is passionate and ensures they go above and beyond for every customer.”
• 

  Amelia Hanson

  Product Assistant

  Amelia originally joined as our Marketing and Administration Assistant in August 2022, she has since been travelling around Asia and Australia for 3 months and has returned to Distant Journeys as a Product Assistant. Her main job is researching new destinations and developing new itineraries. Amelia’s favourite holiday destination is New York after visiting at Christmas time, the best time of the year! She also enjoyed sightseeing and the restaurants. In her spare time, she likes to socialise with her friends over dinner and wine, binge watch Netflix series and shop till she drops.

  What Amelia says about working for Distant Journeys –

  “I am learning new skills every day, although Distant Journeys is a small team, together we are passionate at delivering our clients a once in a lifetime experience.”
• 

  Jasmine Bracewell

  Marketing Assistant

  Jasmine is a Marketing Assistant and joined Distant Journeys in December 2022. Jasmine loves to travel and spent her gap year working as a Chalet Host in Val D’Isere, France.

  Her role as Content & Social Lead in marketing involves looking after Distant Journeys social media platforms, blog posts, press advertisements and email marketing.

  Jasmine’s favourite destination in Europe has to be Ibiza. She loves the bohemian vibe, the bright blue Mediterranean Sea and the world-famous venues like Café Mambo and Pikes. Out of Europe, she loves the hustle and bustle of New York City. Jasmine spends her free time with family, friends and her dog Bleu. She also loves to hike in the Lake District, go to the gym, and go out for lunch with a spot of shopping!

  What Jasmine says about working for Distant Journeys –

  “Everyone at Distant Journeys has been so welcoming since I started, always keen to help and I get to learn about lots of different countries and cultures, which I really enjoy.”