I’m Steve, Founder of Chosen Atlas based in Manchester, UK
Chosen Atlas is a travel design studio for LGBTQ couples and small groups who want their trips to reflect how they actually live.
My clients have full, busy lives. They care about where they stay, what they eat, and how a place feels.
Nobody wants to be rushed, managed, or folded into someone else’s idea of what a “great trip” looks like.
That means when I design travel, I’m obsessed about thoughtful pacing, cultural depth, and experiences that feel natural rather than forced.
Why I do this
Before Chosen Atlas, I spent 10 years working as a flight attendant, travelling extensively and seeing first-hand how different destinations feel on the ground, not just how they’re marketed.
Alongside that, my background as a senior project manager means I approach travel differently. I think in terms of structure, flow, and experience. I consider contingencies and unexpected circumstances together with safety as a top priority.
I realised most travel advice wasn’t designed for people like me or the people I now work with. It was either too generic, too low end, rushed, or ridiculously elitist.
Chosen Atlas came from that gap.
My approach to travel design
Most travel planning services focuses on logistics, I focus on experience.
A well-designed journey doesn’t rush you from place to place. It gives you time to settle into a destination, to notice it, and to enjoy it properly whilst considering things many planners overlook:
• where conversations happen naturally
• where the best meals actually are
• how a place feels at different times of day
• whether you’ll feel comfortable there, whatever you are celebrating
Because the right journey isn’t just about where you go, it’s about how it feels to be there.
Who I work with
Most of the people I work with are used to making considered decisions in their day-to-day lives, especially in their work, their homes, and how they spend their time.
They approach travel in the same way. When it's time to mark something, they want it done properly. A big birthday, anniversary or a trip with the friends who've earned it. Something they've been promising themselves for years.
They’re looking for depth, atmosphere, and a trip that fits the occasion, not a generic template. They love coming back with stories that feel personal, considered, and worth sharing. Not the same trip everyone else has taken, but one that reflects why they went in the first place.
Chosen Atlas isn’t about ticking off destinations
It’s about creating space for connection and curiosity. You get those experiences that stay with you long after you’ve returned home.
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