Quick Facts:
Name: Ananda
Surname: Heyl
Age: 45
Location: Netherlands
Role: Head of Brand
Company: Expat Explore
Get to know the people behind the leaders of some of the travel industry’s top innovative companies. Ananda Heyl, Brand Head of Expat Explore, takes us through her journey into the industry. We discover some of her favourite places, and the things that excite her about the future of travel, Expat Explore, and all of its parent and sister brands.
Expat Explore is a tour operator with a twist. Hosting over 80 tours to the top destinations worldwide, Expat Explore’s mission is to make travel possible for everyone. By offering affordable guided group tours, passengers can expect incredible value for money, but more importantly, expect to have life-enriching experiences as they do so. Less worries, more memories! Let’s see what Ananda has to say.
Looking back since you started until now, what are you most excited to have seen remain intact?
It warms my heart to see our co-founders Jakes and Carl, still leading with the same passion, humility and positivity with which they have been for the last 20 years. Also, the fact that colleagues are still considered friends and customers still form part of the family is something I am extremely proud of
And what changes have made you most excited about the future?
I’m excited about the fact that our incredibly dynamic leadership teams are constantly coming up with creative business concepts that will continue to support the existing brands within our family of brands. The fact that TourCademy will be launched soon will ensure that we have a consistent flow of qualified tour leaders coming through our doors and a social media platform like PlugPlug will enable us to share our amazing tours far and wide.
What excites you about the future of the company?
Expat Explore has outgrown its startup mentality, and whilst “starting up” usually means being a bit more agile and flexible, “growing up” means being able to make better decisions. Being in the tour operator business for over 20 years means we truly understand our customers and why they come back year after year. We can constantly tap into creating meaningful experiences for our customers.
Has any previous career experience helped you in the travel industry?
Believe it or not, I was a teacher before this. This has really helped me work with a workforce a lot younger than myself. I love listening to some of the crazy ideas of our younger employees as they often come up with the most creative solutions to problems.
Why does travel strike such a harmonious chord with you?
I know for many people travel is all about marvelling at amazing architecture, learning about history, and eating fantastic, or sometimes even weird, food. Whilst I appreciate all of that, I love the connection it brings. This is why I specifically love that I get to work in group tour travel.
Could you recommend 3 destinations everyone has to see?
As a born and bred South African, Cape Town will forever be a city that I will recommend to absolutely everyone. It truly offers everything to everyone. Weather, adventure, culture, food, crafts, theatre, sport. It is an amazing place.
Venice will always be high on my list of destinations I could go back to again and again. Whenever I am blessed enough to be there, I always try to take just a little minute to look at the Rialto bridge and remind myself how lucky I am to work in the travel industry.
The third is not a city but a whole country. Egypt is also an incredible destination. Friendly people, good food (if you know where to go) and so many discoveries are still being made there year after year. I just love it there.
What makes the leadership team here so different?
We laugh a lot. We don't take ourselves too seriously and we luckily manage to put our egos on the back seat when it matters.
How do your core values align with the company’s?
We have 5 core values, but it can really be summarised as: “This is a great place to work, help us make it even greater.” Most people here have a true desire to produce meaningful work, and as a result of this, they last in this ever-changing and fast-paced environment.
How, in your experience, has working in the industry changed in the last decade?
Technology has made a big difference. Travellers are a little more savvy and specific about the experiences they want. Many travellers are able to DIY in travel, but the one thing that technology can’t bring is the human connection we so often crave. This is why operators like Expat Explore will always have their place, especially in the digital world.
Where do you see the travel industry in the next decade?
With people having so much access to information now, I believe international travel will thrive for years to come. Influencers will play a big role in shaping trends and we may see the big thriving tourist spots like Paris and Rome maybe starting to take a bit of a backseat to lesser-known destinations that will start their time in the spotlight soon.
What most excites you about where the company is right now?
It excited me that we have only started scratching the surface of the possibilities at our fingertips. Our co-founders are big dreamers, and their support team are big do-ers, so we will see tremendous growth in the business very soon.
For more about Expat Explore, including Ananda’s incredible staff, an exciting array of single and multi-country tours, and an aspirational blog, check out the Expat Explore website.
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