Kenyan entrepreneur finds success in America’s travel industry

By Peter Changtoek

peter.changtoek@gmail.com

Nancy Gakere was born in Kenya, but she travelled to the United States of America (USA) to attend college.

She later turned her passion for travel into a thriving travel enterprise.

“This was a business born out of passion. I’ve always loved to travel and inspire others to do the same. I’m passionate about showing people the world. Travel is so much more than movement from one place to another. It makes us better and more compassionate people, and it also helps us appreciate what we have. Like Mark Twain said, ‘Travel is fatal to prejudice’,” she says.

“I’m married, and a mother of three. I’m a CPA by profession, as well as a travelpreneur who turned my travel hobby into a business. I left Kenya in 1990, when I was 17 years old,” says Nancy, who currently lives in the US and runs Fancy Nancy Travels (FNT).

Turning passion into business

The idea of establishing the company came to her in 2020, during Covid-19, when all travel operations were shut down. Over the years, when she travelled and shared her travel experiences on social media, including on her travel blog that she had for a while, people would express interest in travelling with her ‘next time’.

“But travel requires planning in advance, both for time and money. I decided to start curating trips based on my previous travels, with the goal of making travel more accessible, affordable and attainable. The first trip was in August, 2023,” says the entrepreneur.

Nancy with some of her clients in Thailand. Photo/Courtesy

She reveals that she started the business that is based in Los Angeles, USA, with a capital of $10,000. “Fancy Nancy Travels LLC (FNT) is a boutique concierge travel company making travel accessible, affordable and attainable through carefully curated trips that incorporate self-love, friendship, relaxation and rejuvenation,” she says.

Nancy says that she has two employees—an IT/marketing manager and a virtual admin assistant. “The company also works with local guides and other service providers at each destination, with a significant impact on their livelihood,” says her.

She reveals that majority of her clients are Kenyan women living in the US. “They tend to be women who have followed me on social media over time and have been inspired by my travel content. Others are referrals from existing clients, especially when they post about their FNT trips and friends and family are inspired to do the same. I also have a small percentage of clients coming directly from Kenya, as well as some Americans. I’m looking to grow this market share,” says the entrepreneur.

She adds that businesses are heavily regulated and compliance is enforced in the US. However, she says that there are some challenges that she still has to overcome that include scaling up the business so that all trips don’t require her presence. “I have started doing custom trips for clients with their chosen groups in the destinations where I have a solid team on the ground that understands the FNT mission and culture, and that will deliver what the clients sign up for,” says the entrepreneur.

Growth, impact and future plans

The CPA professional also runs an accounting practice during the slow season of her travel business. “They complement each other well,” says Nancy.

She takes her clients to various destinations that include Bali, Greece, Thailand, Singapore, Costa Rica, Dubai, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Maldives and Mexico. She reveals that in 2026 she has added some new destinations to the list that include South Africa, Turkey, Europe (London/Amsterdam/Paris) and Japan.

Nancy with some of her clients in one of their favourite destinations. Photo/Courtesy

For those who would like to venture into such a business, Nancy advises them to make sure that they do it out of passion and not about money. “It’s a labour of love, and on the ground it’s not always as glamorous as seen in the highlight reels. A lot of work and coordination and attention to detail goes into making a trip successful. Also, people management skills and being service oriented is very important.”

She did not dream that one day she would establish her own travel company. “I travelled because I want to see the whole world. The business was a natural progression of me wanting to inspire people to do the same and giving them a roadmap to do so. My trips take the hassle out of planning, so that all my clients have to do is show up! I also have payment plans to make it affordable. I found that there was a need, especially with women, for a safe space to travel with like-minded women, and not having to rely on family and friends whose schedules or finances may not synchronise when they want to go,” says Nancy.

Milestones and expanding the brand

She reveals that more than 200 women have travelled with FNT so far in only three years of business. FNT has a 60 per cent plus repeat client factor, so each trip has at least 60 per cent of clients who have travelled with the travel company before.

Nancy with some of her clients in Costa Rica. Photo/Courtesy

Among the accomplishments that she is proud of is the launching of a travel inspired merchandising line featuring carefully selected items that can be found at https://www.fancynancytravels.com/shop

Another achievement that she has achieved is the launching of FNT Travel Club, which is a game changer. Clients join the club with $100 and pay $100 per month that goes into a travel bank that can be applied to in a future FNT trip. This helps make travelling with FNT more attainable. Those who are interested can join the club here: https://fancynancytravels.squadtrip.com/trip/fnt-travel-club-2026-11967

The entrepreneur says that her future plan is to scale up the business by booking more custom trips to their featured destinations, so that clients can pick when, and who to go with.

: Nancy with some of her clients in Maldives. Photo/Courtesy

In addition, she plans to get the FNT merchandise at major retail stores (this is more of a goal) and to increase the travel club membership.

“We would also like to get more women from my home country Kenya to travel, especially to a country like Bali which has a visa on arrival for Kenyans for only $35. Great for that first passport stamp!”

Those who would like to sign up for Fancy Nancy Travels newsletter can click the short URL link below: [https://shorturl.at/IP8cD]. “They can also reach us via Instagram: @fancynancytravels or via info@fancynancytravels.com or through the company’s website: https://fancynancytravels.com/shopfnt/,” says the entrepreneur.