Based in Johannesburg

Melissa Ridley

It's Nice To Meet You

Business Travel, Personally Managed

I am Melissa, but most of my clients call me Mel. Based in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg, I partner with businesses that want their corporate travel to feel organised, supported and effortless.

With more than 25 years of experience in the travel industry, I understand that every trip has a purpose: a key meeting, an important conference, a client visit or time with your regional team. My role is to take care of the logistics behind the scenes, so your travellers can focus on the work that matters, knowing they are in safe, capable hands.

Why Partner With Me?
Business travel should run smoothly in the background, not add stress to everyone’s day. When you work with me, your company benefits from:

One dedicated Travel Counsellor who knows your people and preferences
Fast, flexible support when plans change at short notice
Thoughtful, cost‑aware itineraries that respect your budget and policies
Strong duty of care, with someone keeping an eye on the details
Just as with my leisure travellers, I bring personal attention, calm problem‑solving and meticulous planning to every corporate journey.

How I Support Your Business Travel:
Every organisation is different, so I shape my support around the way your business travels.

This can include:
Flights with sensible routes and connection times
Well‑located hotels that balance comfort, convenience and budget
Car hire and reliable private transfers
Group, conference and incentive travel
Hands‑on help with delays, changes and disruptions
Think of me as your trusted travel partner, here to design and manage the trips your team needs to take, with the same care I put into a tailor‑made holiday.

Why Choose A Dedicated Travel Counsellor
Online tools can book a ticket. A dedicated Travel Counsellor looks after your travellers and your business from start to finish.

Over time, I learn your regular routes, preferred airlines, traveller needs and company requirements. Each new trip becomes quicker to arrange, more consistent in quality and far less stressful when the unexpected happens.

The result is:
Less admin for your PA or office manager
Less uncertainty and frustration for your travellers
More confidence that someone is watching over every booking

What My Corporate Clients Say
I am proud to partner with businesses that value reliability, efficiency and genuine personal service. Their feedback reflects the same themes I hear from my leisure clients: feeling looked after, supported and understood.

These stories reflect my commitment to exceptional care and attention to detail on every journey.

Let’s Talk About Your Business Travel

Whether you arrange travel for a few key people or a growing team, I would love to explore how I can make things smoother for you.

Share a little about your current travel needs and challenges, and I will personally respond with ideas on how we can simplify, streamline and enhance your business travel.

Based in Johannesburg’s northern suburbs, I support corporate clients across South Africa and beyond, with the same personal care and attention I give to every holiday I design.

signature

Contact Me

Whatever your business needs I'm here to help you, so please get in touch with me and I can get things started:

Find me on social

Message me

Please send me your travel requirements and I will do my best to help you

By completing and sending this form you agree to our privacy policy and the representative you selected will get in contact with you, by e-mail or telephone to discuss your requirements and to also receive booking documentation and relevant travel updates from Travel Counsellors. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Please tick to confirm you are happy to continue
Message sent successfully Message sending error

My corporate testimonials

Sent by Pia Iversen

All I can say is 10 out 10...

Sent by Phillippus Du Plessis

Melissa is extremely helpful. Thank you very much

Sent by Fiona Surmava

Thank you so much for everything you do for us! It truly means a lot, and your support is always appreciated. I absolutely will refer you

Sent by Lova Andriarimalala

Thank you so much for your help during my travels. It was well organised and I would definitely refer you.

Sent by John Muire

Melissa has been extremely helpful with our travel arrangements, nothing being too much trouble even when we were back and forth with our plans. She was always friendly, very responsive and made great suggestions during our communications. We will certainly contact her for assistance with our future travel plans.

Sent by Peter-James Smit

Very satisfied with the service and on the ball!!

Sent by Arthur Kighovi

I like your efficiency and the fact that you are always there when needed. Keep it up!

Sent by Adam Maungwa

Prompt and eager to help at all the times.

Sent by Riona Rampath

Mel is always calm and so very helpful. She ensures that the client is happy at the end of the conversation on what they want. She has good suggestions based on little information on what we are looking for. 10/10 from me! :) Thank you, Mel for all your assistance in all my bookings.

Sent by Claire Hitchman

Melissa is a pleasure to deal with and always goes above and beyond the get us the best suited deal. I would highly recommend her services.

Sent by Craig Young

Mel is our travel agent and her response times for business travel is above average. Thank you for your support.

Sent by Claire Hitchman

Melissa is a pleasure to work with and meets our travel needs with great proficiency and professionalism.

Sent by Revati Baboolal

Super star 10 out 10 :)

Sent by Jaco De Jager

10 out of 10 :)

Sent by Petra Paton

I am extremely grateful for the excellent service, prompt responses, going the extra mile!

Sent by Craig Young

I'm delighted with my positive experience with Mel, our travel agent. We appreciate her dedicated support. And resolving any of our travel needs especially last minute and complicated issues with business travel. Business Development Manager - AFR-IX telecom

Sent by Kevin Mitchell

Melissa Ridley is an absolute pleasure to work with and goes way above and beyond any travel agent I have ever worked with. We have a lot of complicated travel requirements and Mel is always on hand to assist with this. Kevin Mitchell MD Expanding Branding

Sent by Riona Rampath

I appreciate all Melissa's assistance. I would have never felt more supported with someone else, and we have used other Travel Agents before.

Sent by Candice Camacho

Melissa Ridley, the JNB agent, has been an absolute lifesaver! I'm tremendously grateful for her exceptional service as a travel agent with Travel Counsellors SA JNB. She stands out as the best travel agent I've ever collaborated with, consistently going above and beyond, being accessible for assistance in every circumstance, and providing continuous encouragement throughout. A heartfelt thank you to Melissa Ridley for their truly remarkable service.

Sent by Francois Zinserling

Melissa assisted at short notice to set up some difficult travel arrangements. On top of that some changes were required midway through the trip which she promptly assisted with, even after normal business hours. 10/10 would recommend.

Sent by Stephen Dube

Melissa I am SO impressed with your service, you do an amazing job and I would HIGHLY recommend you to anyone!!

Sent by Riona Rampath

10 out of 10... Thank you so much. Your service is impeccable!

Sent by Marianne Pretorius

Thank you for your quick and professional service

Sent by Claire Hendrikz

Mel is a pleasure to work with and super efficient!

Sent by Craig Young

10 out 10 Mel is just awesome. I recently booked an important customer to fly to South Africa from Malawi and it included a full package with airport transfers to Sun City. She made this a Smooth process and easy to book -taking away any stress I had!

Sent by Karen Dos Santos

Melissa gives helpful information and gives fast feedback on enquireis will definatley continue to use her services for our business and actually leisure travel

Sent by Claire Hendrikz

Mel is amazing, she is always available to help to her best ability and always prepared to go above and beyond. I feel like the company's travel plans are in highly capable hands and I am extremely confident in her planning!

Sent by Laurelle Venter

I am so grateful for Mel - thank you for making such a huge difference to my work

Sent by Craig Young

Melissa Ridley is absolutely brilliant. I tasked her to organise me flights, car hire, a hotel and a boardroom in Lusaka. She arranged it all like a Star! Not one hiccup!

Sent by Natalie Major

10/10 Mel was great! Giving us her personal attention over a weekend and then topping off her service with affordable pricing on the flights we required, I will most defiantly be using her again!

Sent by Johanna Nieuwoudt

Excellent service Thanks Melissa

Sent by Michelle Mogo

Melissa is a fantastic, friendly and super-efficient travel professional with an excellent response rate. Great travel app. Highly recommended! 10/10

Sent by Hendus Venter

Melissa made our business her business. It's all personal. Proud by association. Try her out she is highly recommended!

Sent by Craig Young

I had to make urgent changes to my flights to get back from Harare to see my sons first swimming gala. Mel reacted quickly and booked me the next flight out. She also went the extra mile to check me in to the flight and got me a exit row seat. Just brilliant personal service. Great to have someone like Mel looking after me when I am travelling.....

Sent by Fiona Surmava

Don't know how we would cope without her!

Sent by Hendus Venter

Super service, Melissa Ridley Travel Counsellor, South Africa. Highly recommended to all. Very knowledgeable, professional and always available and in touch. The fact you offer a Travel app with all documents digital, a bonus in these paper crazy times! Keep it up.

Sent by Craig Young

I recently starting using Melissa from Travel Counsellors for my business travel. Melissa was absolutely amazing! She completed all my bookings within my budget. She went out of her way to arrange a meeting room in Port Elizabeth whilst facing challenges that the Nelson Mandela Bay Hotels were all facing because of the COVID challenges. I required a late check-in & she personally called the hotel to advise them. She made herself available at any time of my trip to assist me, even after hours! Brilliant service Mel! I will definitely continue to use your services. Thank you again.