Meet Lisa | Behind The Stay Edit

A Conversation with Lisa

If you’ve been following The Stay Edit for a while, you probably know a lot about the stays we feature.

But not so much about the person behind them.

So, I thought it was time to change that.

From why I left corporate to how I decide which stays make the cut, here’s a little more about the person behind The Stay Edit.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m Lisa, the founder of The Stay Edit.

I’ve always been drawn to beautiful places, thoughtful design and the little details that turn a stay into an experience.

Before starting The Stay Edit, I worked in corporate, but I always knew I wanted to build something of my own. After having my two girls, that feeling became impossible to ignore.

So I created the platform I wished existed – one that made finding beautiful, thoughtful stays feel easier.

Did you always know you wanted to work in travel?

Yes and no.

Travel was always there.

About nine years ago, I started a couple of travel-focused social pages and, looking back, “travel directory” was literally in my bio. I just didn’t realise it at the time.

I never stuck with them long enough for them to become anything, but I think I kept hitting the same wall. I knew I wanted to create something in travel, but I didn’t want to build something based purely on reposting other people’s content. I wanted it to feel more original, more mine. I just hadn’t figured out what that looked like yet.

After having my girls, I spent a lot of time rediscovering what lit me up. I started journaling, did personal development, learnt how to film properly, and gave myself permission to think a little bigger.

Then one night, lying in bed, the name came to me: The Stay Edit.

The next morning, I reached out to a handful of properties and shared my vision.

I haven’t stopped since.

Looking back, the vision was always a curated platform. It just took me nine years to figure out how to build it.

What’s surprised you most about running your own business?

I honestly thought I’d have more time.

The reality is, I have less.

Running your own business doesn’t stop at 5pm. There are always emails to answer, captions to write, ideas to explore and improvements to make.

But despite working more than I ever did in corporate, I’ve never felt more fulfilled.

It also made me realise why none of my previous jobs ever felt quite right.

What does a typical day look like?

No two days are ever exactly the same, which is one of the things I love most.

A typical Tuesday starts with a strategy session before the day becomes a mix of reviewing stays, talking with accommodation owners, planning content, working on the website and answering emails.

The glamorous part is visiting beautiful stays.

The reality is that most days are spent behind a computer making everything happen.

What’s your favourite part of the job?

Without question, visiting the stays.

Meeting passionate owners, hearing the stories behind the properties and experiencing everything they’ve created never gets old.

It’s still my favourite part.

How do you decide which stays make The Stay Edit?

Every stay goes through our curation framework before it’s accepted, but really, what I’m looking for is intention.

Thoughtful styling. An immersive setting. Fresh bread waiting on arrival. A fire already set. The small details that make the whole stay feel intentional.

They’re the things people remember long after their stay, not just how beautiful it looked, but how incredible it felt to be there.

What’s the first thing you notice when you see a stay?

Within seconds, I’ll usually know whether a property draws me in.

Good design isn’t about being expensive. It’s about creating a feeling.

You can generally tell quite quickly when a stay has been thoughtfully styled, when the details have been considered and when there’s real intention behind the experience.

Photography by Anniebeth_travels – at The Sanctuary by Bayside

What’s one travel opinion you’ll defend forever?

Your stay should be better than home.

For me, accommodation isn’t just somewhere you sleep.

It should feel like part of the experience, somewhere that makes you slow down, switch off and remember why you booked the getaway in the first place.

What’s one thing people who know you would say about you?

I’m fussy.

Anyone who knows me would tell you that.

I know exactly what I like, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing.

I’m incredibly particular about details, and I think that’s exactly why The Stay Edit works. The same standards I have for myself are the standards I use when deciding what deserves to be recommended.

What do you hope people come to The Stay Edit for?

Beautiful stays and experiences, obviously.

But more than that, I hope people come here because they trust the curation.

I want The Stay Edit to be the place people go when they are looking for a stay that feels genuinely worth getting away for.

What’s next for The Stay Edit?

We’re only just getting started.

There are a few exciting things happening behind the scenes including a more personal way I’ll be showing up in the content itself.

There’s also a piece of expansion I’m not quite ready to share yet, but it’s the thing I’m most excited about this year.

The goal hasn’t changed though. I want The Stay Edit to be the first place people think of when they’re looking for a stay that’s genuinely worth booking.

And I’m so excited for what’s still to come.