Our Story

Our Story

Why Work With Us?

Driven by passion and a genuine love for what we do, Wanderlust BDC is invested in making your business a resounding success. Through a range of curated, customised business solutions that focus on growing your profit margins and increasing your bottom line, we help your brand break through glass ceilings and reach its full potential. We don't do average. We do exceptional. In everything we do.

What Makes Us Different


Whether it's representation companies doing the bare minimum or consultation companies providing solutions which sound wonderful on paper but in reality are not executable, the world of business development, representation and sales is often a minefield. Rest assured that Wanderlust BDC is different in every way! 


We apply modern business solutions based on old-fashioned ethics. Not only are we a global tourism representation company with our roots firmly placed in Africa, we are also deeply passionate about business development and digital marketing strategies. We invest a considerable amount of time in understanding your commercial drivers, but most importantly, the passion that fuels it - the WHY if you like. Our true value comes to the fore as we are unemotionally looking from the outside in and then apply these learnings by filtering out the noise and clutter, identifying opportunities and formulating the most informed and cost effective strategy.


The goal is not only the achievement of short- and medium-term successes but ensuring that sound business principles are in place to build from and sustainably expand your commercial reach. This helps your business reach its true potential. From a sales perspective we facilitate market introductions and will position your product with the best rates and trading terms to the most relevant sales audience. From a marketing perspective we provide end to end digital strategies, but with the key difference that we understand how they are all intrinsically one. We hold ourselves accountable by scrutinising every bit of analytics to ensure your website, newsletter and social media platforms work towards one common goal – increase sales. 

 

Whether you need to reposition your company with a new commercial strategy, increase sales with face to face sales representation, make sense of all your social media or start with a complete new website with an end to end digital marketing strategy. We have the experience, we have done it before, we can do it again.


Because your profit is our passion


What Makes Us Different


Whether it's representation companies doing the bare minimum or consultation companies providing solutions which sound wonderful on paper but in reality are not executable, the world of business development, representation and sales is often a minefield. Rest assured that Wanderlust BDC is different in every way! 


We apply modern business solutions based on old-fashioned ethics. Not only are we a global tourism representation company with our roots firmly placed in Africa, we are also deeply passionate about business development and digital marketing strategies. We invest a considerable amount of time in understanding your commercial drivers, but most importantly, the passion that fuels it - the WHY if you like. Our true value comes to the fore as we are unemotionally looking from the outside in and then apply these learnings by filtering out the noise and clutter, identifying opportunities and formulating the most informed and cost effective strategy.


The goal is not only the achievement of short- and medium-term successes but ensuring that sound business principles are in place to build from and sustainably expand your commercial reach. This helps your business reach its true potential. From a sales perspective we facilitate market introductions and will position your product with the best rates and trading terms to the most relevant sales audience. From a marketing perspective we provide end to end digital strategies, but with the key difference that we understand how they are all intrinsically one. We hold ourselves accountable by scrutinising every bit of analytics to ensure your website, newsletter and social media platforms work towards one common goal – increase sales. 

 

Whether you need to reposition your company with a new commercial strategy, increase sales with face to face sales representation, make sense of all your social media or start with a complete new website with an end to end digital marketing strategy. We have the experience, we have done it before, we can do it again.


Because your profit is our passion


Our Crew

Edwin Steyn – Managing Director


After more than two decades in the international luxury tourism industry, Eddie established Wanderlust business development and consulting in 2019. Ed spent most of his career in various management roles at &Beyond - an award-winning, luxury experiential travel company operating in Africa, Asia and South America. In a career spanning close to 17 years with &Beyond he earned his stripes starting from the very bottom in the front office. He was Group Front Office, Retail and Financial Manager at the age of 22, Group Prepayment Manager, later Operations Manager and General Manager at various luxury lodges. He ended up as the Group Sales Manager for regions including Africa, Europe, the United Kingdom, Asia and Australasia.


The bright lights of Dubai flickered and he was appointed as the Global Sales Director for a boutique international start-up group where he headed up the establishment and implementation of the commercial strategy as part of a project to expand their business interests to Africa. Focusing on East Africa, he also spent a few years as the Sales and Marketing Director for Mbali Mbali lodges and camps as part of a larger rebranding and re-positioning project. And finally in 2019 he decided to use his colourful journey through the luxury tourism industry to launch Wanderlust to truly explore his passion for commercial solutions.


Ti-ani Steyn – Digital Marketing Director


Ti-ani has devoted more than 25 years to sales and marketing within some of the most prestigious local and international corporate organisations.

Her career to date has been a progression of sales roles and brand management at several major fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies like Clover, Philip Morris, Nestle and most recently Diageo. Leading retail account strategies with the likes of Shoprite/Checkers, Spar, Makro, Woolworths and Pick & Pay, through a team of key account managers and various other support personnel is where she spent most of her career.


Her passion is connecting the dots, initially between companies and customers and now, brands and consumers. She has a keen interest in smaller business formats where she can make an immediate difference especially because most smaller businesses rely heavily or completely on digital marketing as the only platform to reach consumers or users.


Sonia van Niekerk - Sales Manager


Sonia's journey with Wanderlust feels serendipitous – Edwin first employed Sonia at &Beyond back in 2016, and after each following their own path, fate has brought them together again a decade later for what promises to be a truly exciting new adventure.


She has more than 25 years of travel and tourism experience, along with a genuine love for people and places. Her career has taken her around the world, including a decade spent living and working in the UK and Dubai. During this time, she honed her skills as a travel consultant before representing a portfolio of bespoke properties and lodges.


After her two children were born in Dubai, life led her back home to South Africa. Now happily based in Cape Town, Sonia has spent the past several years working with a collection of boutique guest houses, lodges, and independent hotels across Southern Africa.


Passionate and energetic in all she does, Sonia thrives on building meaningful partnerships, developing new business, and driving growth through smart strategy and collaboration.


Sonia van Niekerk - Sales Manager


Sonia's journey with Wanderlust feels serendipitous – Edwin first employed Sonia at &Beyond back in 2016, and after each following their own path, fate has brought them together again a decade later for what promises to be a truly exciting new adventure.


She has more than 25 years of travel and tourism experience, along with a genuine love for people and places. Her career has taken her around the world, including a decade spent living and working in the UK and Dubai. During this time, she honed her skills as a travel consultant before representing a portfolio of bespoke properties and lodges.


After her two children were born in Dubai, life led her back home to South Africa. Now happily based in Cape Town, Sonia has spent the past several years working with a collection of boutique guest houses, lodges, and independent hotels across Southern Africa.


Passionate and energetic in all she does, Sonia thrives on building meaningful partnerships, developing new business, and driving growth through smart strategy and collaboration.