Hidden Gems: Meet Kelsie Pearson of The Girls Trip Co.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsie Pearson.

Hi Kelsie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
In 2023, I was a Sophomore Nursing major at Samford University and had absolutely no clue what I was supposed to do with my life. I finally decided I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life in a hospital and dropped out mid-semester.

A few months later, I was complaining to my aunt about how I didn’t have other young women to travel with. Solo travel is expensive and I craved those female friendships. She said to me “you can’t be the only girl that feels like this,” and that’s when it hit me: I really am not the only girl that feels like this. I started doing my research and found lots of group travel companies that were co-ed, or stayed in hostels, or focused on the outdoors, etc, but I couldn’t find many that were “boujee on a budget” for girls that wanted to travel comfortably at a mid-range price. There was a gap in the market and I decided to dive right into filling it.

My company’s original name was Sisterhood of the Traveling 20s. Looking back it was WAY too long and too niche, but there’s still fond memories for me with it. The very first trip I ever launched was “Belgium + Paris” to see the European Christmas markets in December 2023. With no funding, it took me 4 months of what felt like pulling teeth to get just three girls to sign up, and those three girls who took that leap of faith mean the world to me. I spent $700 of my own money on that trip to keep prices low. By the second trip (Italy in March 2024) I was breaking even, and by the third trip (Greece in June 2024) I had a group of eight girls and was profitable with great margins.

In August of 2024, I had transferred to the University of Georgia and began getting involved in their Entrepreneurship Program. The resources there are a large part of why I am where I am today. The professors poured into me through classes, directed studies, getting me an office space, and getting me into accelerator and incubator programs. I pitched my company in pitch competitions as well as to the UGA student led venture fund, the Kickstart Fund. Through these opportunities, I was able to earn $26,500 in equity-free and debt-free funding. This was huge because it allowed me to start running paid ads on social media and afford important services like an accountant, contract lawyers, and even make my first hire. I was naturally great at the travel planning, but needed the mentorship to learn the business side of the operation.

My Senior year of college, I rebranded to “The Girls Trip Co.” and was pulling in over $300k in annual revenue as a full-time college student. I just graduated on December 11th and have 35 trips currently planned for 2026. 14 of those trips are already released on our website and full. The company is projected to do over half a million in revenue in 2026. This growth has allowed me to pursue The Girls Trip Co. as my full-time career and I love what I do every day!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Oh gosh no. I’ve faced everything from being threatened with a lawsuit to contractors breaking their contracts. And those are just the non-travel related issues. When I have a trip abroad I am on call 24/7. Most trips run smoothly and I don’t hear anything except a few updates, but some can get unlucky. As I’m typing this, the Louvre Museum’s workers are on strike and I have girls who are supposed to visit there tomorrow. I’ve handled cancelled flights due to snowstorms in NYC, 55 degrees plus rain on a sailboat in the Greek Islands, private transfers that didn’t show up, getting verbally assaulted by a tour operator in Ireland, girls getting on the wrong train in Paris, and more. These instances while definitely not fun, are what makes my service so worth it. Myself and my team handle these problems on the backend to keep girls traveling smoothly so they don’t have to lift a finger themselves when problems occur in a country that’s unfamiliar to them.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Girls Trip Co. ?
The Girls Trip Co. is a peer-led small-group travel service that allows women ages 20-35 to safely see the world while making new girl friends. We handle everything, so all girls have to do is sign-up, book a flight, and show up for the trip of a lifetime. We have hosted trips on four continents with girls from the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Germany, and France. Our trips are for the women who don’t want to stay in hostels and are traveling more for the culture than the party scene. Our groups range from 6-10 girls who stay in hotels, bed and breakfasts, or Airbnbs. They visit the touristy attractions while also participating in unique experiences such as cooking classes, wine tours, dog sledding, flamenco lessons, tile painting classes, surf lessons, and so much more. The groups are led by fellow women ages 21-35 whom we call “Ambassadors”. Our Ambassadors have extensive travel experience and run the itinerary for the girls. They make sure the experience is smooth and help cultivate the bonds between the girls. I’ve designed these trips so they prioritize safety, friendship, and comfort for all those involved. Out of 180+ attendees so far, over 60 girls have chosen us to venture outside of their home country for the very first time!

What was your favorite childhood memory?
My very first trip abroad was to London, England with my family. I was really into horses as an eleven year old, so when we visited Buckingham Palace I had my face pressed to the glass that looked into the royal stables. I guess a staff member must have seen me, because the next thing I know, a man with a funny accent was asking if I wanted to meet the royal horses. My answer was an enthusiastic yes and my, skeptical, family was brought inside for what was truly a private tour of Buckingham Palaces’ royal stables. It was one of those experiences that eleven year old me didn’t comprehend the specialness of, but as I look back it reminds me of the good in people and to always stay curious about new things. I’ve been hooked on travel since that trip and have been to 19 countries at the age of 22.

Pricing:

• Domestic Trips: $1k to $1.8k depending on the length.
• International Trips: $2.2k to $2.9k.
• Included: Accommodation, listed activities, transportation, and private airport transfers.
• Not Included: Meals or Flights

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thegirlstripco.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegirlstripco/

Image Credits
Rachel Joost
Elena Monroe
Kelsie Pearson