It’s saturday night, and while most people are winding down for the weekend, Julia Crosby may be fielding calls from clients who’ve just spotted an incredible restaurant in Barcelona or need last-minute changes to their French Riviera itinerary. For Crosby, founder of The International Collective, this is business as usual, and the heart and soul of what she’s built: a boutique travel agency that treats every trip as an investment in a richer life experience for the client.
Through The International Collective, Crosby is carving out something different in the industry. By reimagining the rules for creating truly memorable travel experiences, she’s transforming her lifelong passion for exploration into a business model that prioritizes thoughtfulness, connection and deeply personal experiences over price point alone.
Crosby’s father is an architect, and her mother is an interior designer, which gave her an appreciation for preferences in travel style and design. Growing up, her family traveled frequently, so she developed an early appreciation for adventure. However, a transformative semester abroad in Florence during her undergraduate studies in human physiology changed her perspective on living and traveling well.
While studying the Mediterranean diet in Italy, Crosby had a profound shift in perspective about intentional living, wellness and the art of slowing down. “It taught me that the most meaningful experiences are often the most thoughtfully designed,” she says. Not only did the experience of living abroad change her life, but it also became the cornerstone of her travel design philosophy.
Before launching The International Collective, Crosby spent several years building a career in wellness but kept travel as a constant in her life. She found herself planning trips whenever possible and eventually realized that designing memorable, meaningful travel itineraries brought her the greatest joy and allowed her to help people in a more expansive, meaningful way.
Today, Crosby’s definition of luxury transcends traditional markers such as expense or exclusivity. “At the heart of The International Collective is connection—to place, to people and to self. I believe travel is most powerful when it’s personal. My vision is to create beautifully curated experiences that feel both effortless and meaningful, where every detail reflects the traveler’s style, story and sense of curiosity. I aim to define luxury travel differently, not by price point but by depth of experience,” she says. This philosophy permeates every aspect of The International Collective’s approach, where luxury is measured by thoughtfulness, quality and the countless details that transform a journey from merely memorable to truly unforgettable.
Crosby was a top producer in the industry right out of the gate, which speaks to her sincerity and innate talent for the business. For her clients—many of whom she’s worked with for years—she’s become a trusted advisor and concierge, approaching each engagement as a partnership rather than a transaction.
Crosby’s approach to travel design requires significant investment in personally vetting destinations, properties and partners to ensure that only those meeting the agency’s exacting standards receive her recommendations. The process isn’t simply about selecting destinations; it’s about understanding how each element of a journey feels, flows and aligns with who the traveler truly is. To maintain this level of personalized attention, Crosby only works with a limited number of clients, so every trip gets her team’s full attention.
“We serve as both a trusted travel concierge and a private travel curator—offering highly personalized support tailored to each client’s preferences,” she says. “Whether managing every detail or collaborating on key decisions, we’re here to make travel seamless, intentional and beautifully designed. We work best with clients who value long-term relationships and a refined, design-forward approach to travel.”
For travelers who question the value of working with a travel agent, particularly those accustomed to planning their own trips, Crosby addresses their concerns with a practical analogy. “I can try to do my own taxes every year; I can just start Googling things until I figure it out, but I’d drown in information,” she says. “I could eventually do it, but it’s going to take countless hours and too much stress. I might even make mistakes. It’s a tax professional’s job to know taxes, just as it’s our agency’s job to know travel.”
Even capable travelers often don’t have the time and insider knowledge necessary to create the exceptional journeys they dream of. Through The International Collective’s affiliation with Virtuoso, a respected luxury travel consortium, Crosby and her team bring established personal relationships that can completely transform a trip.
“Say you want to book a great hotel in Rome,” she says. “You can spend days reading reviews and comparing options, but wherever you want to stay, there’s a 99% chance I already know the general manager personally.” Frequently, this network enables her to ensure VIP treatment, room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, hotel credits and other perks at no additional cost to clients. “When you have an advisor booking on your behalf, it’s the same price to you, but you’re getting elevated perks and status,” she explains. “When you check in, your reservation is flagged as a luxury travel partner. You’re not just a number; a professional advisor is representing you.”
The International Collective’s services extend far beyond reservations. Crosby can manage everything from private transfers to dinner reservations and real-time itinerary updates through a custom app. The agency also provides crucial guidance for destinations that might feel intimidating, such as Japan or Africa. For first-time international travelers, Crosby is an experienced guide who can take the mystery and stress out of navigating new languages and cultures when planning a trip.
Of course, some travelers enjoy planning, so Crosby adapts to each client’s preferences. Some want her to manage every detail, while others prefer collaborating and brainstorming about key elements. Though she specializes in international travel, she is adept at booking domestic travel for work and play.
Many of Crosby’s travel recommendations are informed by her own transformative experiences around the globe. Among her most treasured memories are spotting sloth bears in Yala National Park in Sri Lanka, a rare and surreal encounter, and a memorable girls’ trip to Greece, where she explored vineyards and shared countless laughs with friends over exceptional wine. Her family ski trip to Vail with fresh powder, spa treatments and ski lessons represents the kind of multigenerational experience she loves crafting for others.
This year, she’s intrigued by Argentina and its unique combination of world-class wine country, vibrant cities and breathtaking landscapes. Thailand appeals to her for its rare balance of deeply rooted tradition and refined hospitality, making it ideal for clients looking for wellness, culture and tropical beauty. She also has plans to explore Africa and is excited to learn more about the continent’s unique cultures, people and wildlife. “Travel shifts our mindset,” she says. “It invites us to pause, expand and reconnect with ourselves, with others and with the world around us. It’s both a reset and a spark.”
Crosby believes travel is one of the few investments that grows more valuable over time. “The memories we create become integral parts of who we are. These experiences transcend the immediate moment and become lasting elements of personal identity and perspective,” she says.
Through The International Collective, Crosby has created more than a travel agency; she’s established a philosophy and practice that honors travel’s ability to transform, connect and inspire us with personal experiences that resonate long after the journey ends. *
Robin Howard is a freelance writer in Charleston. See more of her work at robinhowardwrites.com.
