Growing up with a global perspective can reshape your worldview. That was true for Krystal Aziz, whose father’s career with Continental and later United Airlines meant frequent flights and exposure to diverse cultures from a young age. Yet even with a passion for travel and a degree in marketing from Sam Houston State University, Aziz never imagined she’d build a technology platform that could disrupt the travel industry.
But that’s where she is today. As vice president of operations for Trazel, a new customer relationship management (CRM) tool poised to transform how travel agents work, Aziz is channeling her entrepreneurial spirit into simplifying travel booking — and, in the process, helping create a more accessible future for advisors worldwide.
From Frequent Flyer To Rising Executive
Growing up in New York, Aziz embraced her father’s passion for exploring the world. “We flew worldwide, immersing ourselves into many different cultures — an experience that showed me firsthand how travel can unite people,” she recalled.
After graduation, she planned to enter the oil and gas industry. Fate intervened when Tim Evans, owner of Modern Travelworks, a full-service company specializing in destination weddings and group trips, and now CEO of Trazel, offered her a chance to pivot into the travel industry — a match for her business savvy and adventurous spirit.
“I found myself in the travel industry by chance,” she explained about her beginnings at Modern Travelworks. She quickly rose through the ranks, taking on roles as a travel advisor and director of operations, and ultimately spearheading Trazel’s development and beta launch.
Building Trazel: Closing the Travel Tech Gap
Trazel emerged to tackle a persistent industry problem: fragmented technology. “If you’re looking to quote something, you likely need three or four systems open at all times,” Aziz explained. Launched in beta in January 2025, Trazel consolidates quoting, booking, accounting and more into one platform.
Aziz dedicated two and a half years to shaping Trazel into a comprehensive CRM tailored for travel advisors — conceptualizing features, testing workflows and fine-tuning the interface to meet advisors’ needs. “Trazel is designed so advisors can manage every aspect of their business seamlessly, without needing to rely on multiple platforms,” she explained. Her vision? To establish Trazel as the leading CRM for the travel industry.
Mastering the Art of Multitasking
Aziz's accomplishments extend beyond her role at Modern Travelworks. While leading the agency’s transition to remote work in 2020, she demonstrated her ability to manage large-scale organizational changes. Then, in 2022, she took on the challenge of juggling the complex projects that come with building a new tech company.
“I time-blocked everything,” she said. “When building Trazel, we started our meetings early in the morning, so I could switch to my advisor responsibilities afterward. I’m hyper-organized, and I use tools like Google Docs and Trello to make sure everyone knows what needs to be done. Especially in a team collaboration, I’m not a one-man-show. When I’m hyper-organized, my team can be organized, too.”
Her core advice for advisors is straightforward: “Get really good at what you’re currently doing before you add more,” she said. “You don’t want service to suffer because you took on too many responsibilities.”
Looking Ahead: A Curiosity-Fueled Future
As Trazel grows, Aziz envisions building a peer-to-peer mentorship platform — an “incubator-type environment” in which advisors can solve the industry’s biggest hurdles. It fits her commitment to supporting underrepresented voices and fostering a collaborative community.
Her entrepreneurial drive may eventually lead her beyond Trazel. She’s already eyeing private aviation. “I love to fly, so it makes sense,” she said, adding she has no plans to abandon Trazel’s evolution; she thrives on tackling multiple challenges at once.
Don’t Lose Sight of Your ‘Why’
Aziz’s guiding principle is simple: “Don’t lose sight of your why.” That focus has carried her through unexpected detours, uncertainty and the daunting task of building a product from scratch. By staying grounded in her purpose — connecting people with the world — she’s crafted a path driven by both passion and innovation.
As the travel industry evolves, Aziz stands out as a force determined to reshape how advisors work and how travelers experience the globe. She’s forging her own path — and lighting the way for the next generation of travel innovators in the process.
Originally appeared in the Spring 2025 issue of The Compass magazine
Shannon Simcox
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