Heather and Heidi met while working for a small tour operating company located on Cape Cod, MA. in 2011. During that time, Heather was managing the daily operations of the company and Heidi was hired to manage the bookkeeping and finance.

 

During their emailing in the office, they realized they both had the same initials and it became ‘their thing’ to address and sign their emails to each other as HB. This is why the name Hummingbird just felt right. They enjoy being out in nature and what better way to encompass their vision for Hummingbird than with a tiny but mighty species that makes an incredible trek to migrate every year? 

​

Both of them have traveled domestically and internationally to meet with schools, suppliers, and customers. They even took a trip to France together in the chilly months for a dozen or so meetings. Learning how to drive a manual transmission vehicle in the Normandy countryside is not as easy as it sounds. After trying to shift into reverse multiple times, they finally had to ask for help before they rolled into a cranberry bog. 

​

The laughter ensued and they continued their trip down the Normandy coastline to visit Mont St. Michel. On their return to Paris, they walked around sipping a cup of hot mulled wine soaking in the city of lights. 

​

Because the industry was immensely specific, the owners invested a lot of time in their development to make sure they knew how to correctly research, book, and execute custom student tours around the globe. As they both grew in their positions they became invaluable partners in the business. Heidi’s attention to detail and Heather’s experience working with teachers, parents, school administrators, and suppliers enabled them to run the company more efficiently. Being able to count on one another and trust each other helped them increase the number of trips they executed every year. 

Eventually, more employees were hired inside the company and more outside sales and contractors were also recruited as needed. 

​

In 2016, Heather had to leave the company for family health reasons and Heidi took over Heather’s position. During Heather’s time away, she started a website and software automation company that allowed her to work from home. It was during this time that Heather broadened her skill set as a self-employed business entrepreneur. 

​

5 Years later, Heather and Heidi connected over messenger and the opportunity to start their own tour operating company was too good to pass up. They had both suffered financial setbacks during the pandemic. Although it’s risky to start a group travel business in the middle of a pandemic, Heather and Heidi are a great team that compliment each other in business exceptionally. 

​

They know, regardless of what is happening in the world, that people will always get the travel bug, they will always seek out new adventures, go on incredible journeys, and continue to migrate around the globe.