We recently connected with Aja Kinsey and have shared our conversation below.

Aja, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

As an educator I always travel with the intent to learn more about the people, culture, and customs of the places that I am able to explore. These journeys and experiences are what have inspired the creation of Moor Cultured Travel, an endeavor driven by my belief that travel fosters invaluable learning and experiences. Understanding that travel can often become very expensive, my mission is to bridge the gap, empowering and enabling my BIPOC (black indigenous people of color) and travel loving communities to turn their own travel aspirations into reality without breaking the bank. I continue to travel the world and I aspire to help others do the same so they too can see the beauty and learn what a beautiful world there is outside of our everyday lives.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Born and raised in Tri-Cities, WA, I am a proud Moorish American woman whose lifelong passion for travel began early. A transformative “granddaughter” trip where I experienced my first airplane ride and trip to Hawaii in middle school with my late Grandmother opened my eyes to a world beyond my home state. This initial spark fueled extensive domestic adventures across the United States, ultimately empowering me to take my first solo international trip to Jamaica for my 26th birthday. This experience, a stark contrast to my family’s limited international travel growing up, ignited a deeper appreciation for new languages, lifestyles, and cultures. Since then I have explored Jamaica twice, The Dominican Republic, and Colombia, with dreams of reaching the Bahamas one day.

My priority as a travel agency owner is to give my clients an exceptional travel experience. I do more than just book trips. I manage and take care of every detail, booking flights, hotels, activities and more, to save you valuable time and allow you to have a totally stress free experience. Beyond that, I leverage exclusive agency pricing to make your dream trips more affordable. My commitment is to conduct in-depth comprehensive research, helping you explore and enjoy everything you desire while staying comfortably within your financial budget.

What truly sets my travel agency apart is my unwavering passion for bringing your dream experiences to life. Nothing brings me more joy than knowing my clients have an incredible, effortless travel experience. I firmly believe travel should be easy and stress-free, which is why I pour my heart into handling every detail. For me, it’s not about the money; it’s the positive experiences and glowing reviews from my clients – and especially those cherished photos from their adventures – that are my ultimate reward and motivation to consistently go above and beyond.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

For my business, social media has proven to be my most effective source for new clients. In today’s digital world, people turn to social platforms for nearly everything. I’ve found this to be true personally: when I’m planning a trip to a new destination, social media is my first stop for information, often even before looking at flights or accommodations. It’s an invaluable resource for understanding local languages, potential natural disasters, available activities, and critically, as a BIPOC solo female traveler, any safety concerns. Recognizing this trend, I decided to focus my client acquisition efforts where I personally find information, and it has been incredibly successful, as many others share this habit.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I’ve always seen myself as resilient, but it wasn’t until I launched my travel agency that I truly understood the depth of my strength. The initial months were a significant struggle; clients were scarce, and even friends and family chose to book their travel elsewhere. It was disheartening to share my passion only to see those closest to me choose competitors. My social media posts went unnoticed, and direct messages often received no reply. Thoughts like, ‘If my own circle won’t support me, why would anyone else?’ crept in. I wanted to quit, but travel is truly my passion so I refused to let discouragement win.

At a pivotal moment, I decided to become my own biggest advocate. I started booking my personal trips through my own agency. This shifted everything, especially during my ‘cousins trip’ to the Dominican Republic. I poured my energy into creating and sharing content daily, showcasing the incredible experiences I was having. That’s when things changed. People saw my adventures and began asking how they could create similar experiences and if I would help them. This journey taught me a vital lesson: resilience often means being your own number one fan, even when those closest to you don’t initially support your vision. Since that trip, I’ve had the immense pleasure of planning numerous group, family, and solo trips. Regardless of external support, I’ve learned to back myself, relentlessly pursuing my dreams, and that has forged me into a stronger, more resilient business owner and individual.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://moorculturedtravel.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moorculturedtravel/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561312121625
• Other: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/moorculturedtravelagency