Meet the team

Our team is made up of true travel experts who think outside the box. With deep industry relationships and years of firsthand experience, we don't just plan trips.

We create experiences you can't book anywhere else, from behind-the-scenes access to the Churchill War Rooms to a private island escape.

Alysia Hopper Steffes

Alysia Hopper Steffes, founder of Hopper Travels

Owner

Languages: English, French, Spanish, Italian, "Legal-ese"

Growing up on the east coast, my summers were mostly spent outdoors, whether in the hills of Vermont or navigating the hot sands of summer beaches along the coast. The rest of the year, I often found myself exploring the City (Manhattan) on foot or daydreaming about visiting faraway places—if I wasn't on the back of a horse, that is!

By the time I was a junior in high school, I knew I wanted to study overseas; so I embarked on a year-long exchange program to Rennes, France. It was the first of many such experiences living abroad, each allowing me to hone my language skills in French, Italian, and Spanish. For most of my life, I have loved experiencing other cultures while exploring the places they call home. From the food, to the art, to the unexpected delights that almost always occur on a well-planned trip, traveling is my passion.

In short, I have been traveling for a long time and I can't remember a time when I wasn't a travel enthusiast. However, it was planning our own family trip to London when my kids were little that inspired me to fully embrace this passion, leave my legal career behind, and create Hopper Travels. I wanted to help other families experience the joys of travel as I had.

"In many ways, I have become a personal shopper for all things travel—knowing what can make the greatest, most unique experiences with access to some of the best resources in the world." – Alysia

The Hopper Travels team
Jennifer Gotzmer

Jennifer Gotzmer

Senior Executive Coordinator

Languages: English, "Legal-ese" When Jennifer joined Hopper Travels, she knew she found the perfect team and career. As a child, her annual family ski vacations to Colorado instilled in her a love for spending time together traveling with family and friends—something she brings to her role when planning the ultimate vacations for clients. In fact, one of her favorite things is hearing about how much they enjoyed their trips after they returned, so that she can research new and different opportunities to fulfill their dreams and make their next trips even more special. Personally, Jennifer’s favorite reason to travel is to meet new people and experience new and different cultures. When planning her own trips, they almost inevitably involve a beach and preferably some Prosecco and good cuisine! “I enjoy that so many are return clients looking for new and different travels, trusting us to plan for them again.” – Jennifer

Molly Moore

Molly Moore

Administrative Coordinator

Languages: English After traveling with her sisters throughout Europe during college, Molly knew that she wanted to see more! This passion grew when she and her husband, an active service member, were stationed in various locations throughout the world for over six years, including Germany and South Korea. Since permanently returning to the US, she and her family have enjoyed exploring both coasts, and look forward to many more vacations to come. One of her favorite aspects of traveling is trying out new and different food and making new friends—a trait she carries over into the relationships she builds with her clients at Hopper Travels. “I love that I get to work with families who want to experience the ultimate vacation; but I also love that I get to work in the office with George—Hopper Travels’ resident golden retriever!” – Molly

Stacey Loehr Mertens

Stacey Loehr Mertens

Executive Travel Coordinator

My love of travel came later in life. Our family didn't travel much growing up, but once I had kids, my parents decided to gift experiences. Creating memories to last a lifetime and sharing our most precious commodity, our time together, became a much-anticipated surprise. My passion for travel has grown over the years. Much like my life experiences, my travel experiences have taught me so many things. I love the freedom traveling gives me to learn about the culture, but also about me. Today, if I am not traveling to Arizona to see my adult children, I enjoy wellness travel, cruising, the mountains, and Ireland. I've worn many professional hats in my life, however joining the Hopper Travels team has been a great new adventure in my journey. "I love to share the excitement of a new vacation with our HT clients. Knowing that I can help them create a memory they can carry with them to me is worth everything." - Stacey

George

George

Hopper Travels Mascot

George loves working with all of the Hopper Travels team, especially when they are so willing to bring him treats and kiss his nose. He also loves a good belly rub, but his favorite thing is simply being in the room where all the happy travel planning happens. “Woof, woof woof… woof!” – George

Accolades

  • A-List

    Travel & Leisure

    2025, 2026

  • Top Producer

    Avenue Two Travel

    2024

  • Top Producer

    Avenue Two Travel

    2023

  • Top Producer - Griffin

    Brownell

    2018, 2019

  • Top Producer - 1887 Club

    Brownell

    2014, 2015, 2016, 2017

  • Top Producer

    Park Hyatt Hotels

    2016, 2019

  • Top Producer

    The Ritz-Carlton Hotels

    2017

  • Top Producer

    Four Seasons Hotels

    2014, 2015, 2016

  • Top Producer

    Four Seasons Hotels

    2014, 2015, 2016

  • Rising Star

    Virtuoso

    2009

  • Secrets Revealed Specialist

    British Virgin Islands

    2018