STAY & ESCAPE KELLY DONOVAN’S VISION FOR REDEFINING LUXURY TRAVEL
STAY & ESCAPE Kelly Donovan’s Vision for Redefining Luxury Travel
As November transitions into December, the city’s energy shifts with the season. The end-of-year hustle is in full swing, with professionals navigating busy schedules, braving the chill, and enduring packed commutes. The familiar rhythm of crowded tube rides and jampacked calendars leaves little room to pause, but it also highlights a growing desire: the need to escape, recharge, and indulge in something extraordinary.
This is where Kelly Donovan comes in. The founder of Stay & Escape, Donovan has built a reputation as the go-to expert in luxury travel. Since launching the business at just 22, she has redefined what it means to curate exclusive, indulgent experiences for clients seeking an escape from the everyday.
The idea for her business came to her as she was holidaying in an Italian Airbnb and admiring the glamour of her surroundings, yet couldn’t help comparing them with what was on offer back in Blighty.
Donovan recalls: “I thought, I swear we don’t have homes of this sort of style back home,” adding: “I always wanted to have
my own company, and I’ve been very passionate about property for as long as I can remember, and interior design, and I just had the inspiration to start this company, as I travel a lot myself.”
This was her first foray into the market. She struck gold with her first clients, one of whom was Lucy Choi, niece of upscale shoe designer Jimmy Choo. Donovan also had a business partner 15 years her senior, who guided her in the technical side of running a business.
Passion was what Donovan brought to the enterprise. She had a very clear vision of how she wanted her holiday homes to be managed, and right from the beginning insisted on personally supervising every last detail of her business. She would visit properties before each booking, making the beds herself, training the cleaners, making sure everything was ship-shape and finished to the highest standard. She knew her reputation was on the line with every booking and, as a new entrant to the market, that she had to work that little bit harder to gain the respect of her peers.
Kelly Donovan
STAY & ESCAPE HOSPITALITY
“I was really hands on,” Donovan recalls.
With seven years’ experience serving outstanding homes to the London market, Donovan’s focus has now expanded internationally, cultivating a portfolio of hand-picked worldwide properties to delight even the most discerning of travellers. Stay & Escape’s bespoke travel concierge service caters to inspired travelers seeking exclusive, hard-to-find accommodations that define luxury and comfort.
Donovan has meticulously cultivated a portfolio of hand-picked properties, from opulent villas in sun-soaked destinations to cosy chalets in worldclass ski resorts. Each property is chosen to delight even the most discerning clients, ensuring an unparalleled travel experience tailored to individual tastes and desires.
But Stay & Escape’s offering goes far beyond accommodation. The travel concierge service is built to craft every aspect of a journey into something extraordinary:
Accommodation: Handpicked properties, perfectly suited to you. From hidden gems to untouched, exclusive spots, Stay & Escape’s portfolio ensures you’ll find the ideal match for your getaway.
Experiences: Whether it’s an in-home private chef, a curated day trip, or a bespoke itinerary, every moment is effortlessly crafted to transform your travels into unforgettable memories.
Transportation: Because every journey starts with the right connection, Stay & Escape tailors private transport services to your trip, allowing your vacation to begin the moment you step out of your front door.
With an unwavering commitment to excellence and a sharp eye for detail, Donovan and her team continue to redefine the standards of luxury travel, creating seamless, inspired escapes that leave her clients longing for more.
“I don’t believe there are any requests we can’t meet,” she says.Stay & Escape is a boutique travel service where nothing is
too much trouble. Last minute demands for private chefs and chauffeurs don’t faze Donovan. She wants her clients to enjoy the most indulgent experience possible.
“I want to have homes, beautiful homes that we’ve approved, that really are well managed across the whole world and I want to help people plan the best trips,” she comments.
To that end she is determined to ensure her specialist travel team is part of the same seamless experience as the homes themselves.
“I want to save people the time of scrolling through every platform,“ Donovan says, adding: “I want people to just come to us, send us a quick message, and we find them the ideal home.”
The jewel in the crown of her London homes is The Stables, a large, atmospheric and central property, set within a quiet private courtyard in an urban oasis of peace and tranquillity. As its name suggests, the imposing space was once dedicated to keeping horses.
These days it is an upscale urban space for affluent travellers, reflective of the high standards Stay & Escape pursue worldwide. Its bare brick walls and soaring 22 feet ceilings make it a perfect venue for entertaining. The property comes with a dining area complete with projector, as well as a dedicated living space set with luxuriant sofas upholstered in ivory; ideal for refined relaxation. Italian wood furniture features throughout and Picasso prints adorn the walls.
It’s unquestionably Donovan’s favourite and a property that she feels particularly appeals to design-conscious clients who value discretion and privacy.
That’s something provided by The Stables, which is not only beautiful and spacious, but allows clients to have a fully bespoke experience, in which they can cook if they want or have a private chef if they prefer. It’s a completely individual experience that cannot be replicated in a hotel.
STAY & ESCAPE HOSPITALITY
Donovan says “For us, it’s so much more than a business. We’re really focused on creating experiences for our guests and creating comfort with our homes as well.”
She adds: “We have larger homes. But this one, there’s something about it that I just think is so unique.”
Now firmly settled in her chosen field, Donovan is keen for Stay & Escape to keep its focus on the finest properties worldwide and become a well-known brand denoting excellence in its sector.
She says: “I want to establish the brand, so it becomes a little bit more of a household name in terms of travel.”
That will mean bringing more people on board, a prospect she anticipates with relish.
Donovan remarks: “I want to expand my team, because my team is very important to me, and it’s so much fun having a team.”
A team of people dedicated to providing the most luxurious stays in the most glamorous locations in the world. This is the last word in escapism and truly is the stuff of dreams.
www.stayandescape.com
