The Why Behind the Journey: Transformational Travel & Leadership with Angie Rice

In this episode of The Inn Crowd, host Jamie Mattingly sits down with Angie Rice, Co-Founder of Boutique Travel Advisors, to unpack what it really means to design transformational luxury travel experiences. From her background in forensic accounting to building a mission-led agency, Angie shares how her team creates one-of-a-kind itineraries that inspire, connect, and give back.

We explore:

• BTA’s unique business model that blends independent and employed advisors

• How travel advisors can scale through mentorship and specialization

• The growing demand for purpose-driven and culturally immersive travel

• Real stories of philanthropic travel that leave a lasting impact

• How Angie is mentoring the next generation and advocating for tech upgrades in the travel industry

Whether you’re a hotelier, travel advisor, or luxury experience creator, this episode is packed with insights on how to grow with intention — and how to make every trip matter.

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🎧 What Listeners Will Learn:

• Why luxury travel is becoming more about transformation than amenities

• The importance of defining the “why” behind every itinerary

• How to build a travel agency that fosters collaboration, not isolation

• Ways to incorporate philanthropy authentically into travel planning

• Strategies BTA used to grow organically before ever investing in ads

• How mentoring diverse learning styles builds stronger, more loyal teams

• The real pain points behind travel tech — and how the industry can evolve

• Why multi-gen travel and villa/yacht experiences are trending

• How giving back on a trip can reshape both the traveler and the destination

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🔗 Links Mentioned in This Episode:

👤 Guest – Angie Rice | Boutique Travel Advisors

• Website: https://www.travelbta.com

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travelbta

• Blog: https://www.travelbta.com/blog

• Email: info@travelbta.com

🎙️ Host – Jamie Mattingly | Duval Street Media

• Podcast Website: https://www.duvalstreetmedia.com

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/duvalstreetmedia

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiemattingly