Lesley-Ann Birley, Founder and Manager

I set up la Concordia to turn my love of travel into a business.  I wanted to be able to offer a totally personalised service where my clients know that I will deal with each of their trips personally and because I know them, they get everything tailored to suit their individual needs.

My passion for travel and remote places started when I took a gap year after university.  It certainly wasn’t a luxurious trip but, I experienced some amazing places, their cultures and people and it left me wanting more.

As a successful financier, I was able to continue my quest to visit as many places as possible, but no longer on a shoestring, and the only dives I encountered were those that required a wetsuit.  My career also taught me the importance of client service and that expecting the best is normal, especially when you’re paying, which is why la Concordia is all about providing the best service.

I’m lucky that over the last 20 years I’ve travelled around the globe.  I have made it my hobby to seek out the best places to stay and things to do; I love finding little gems that haven’t yet been discovered by the masses.

My business started when my travel knowledge, relentless passion to get it right and organising skills came to the attention of friends.  They soon entrusted me to arrange amazing trips for them, from honeymoons to special birthdays.  Word of mouth then brought new clients and so la Concordia was born.