A Legacy of Travel. A Life of Meaningful Journeys.
At Trips & Ships Luxury Travel, our story spans generations—rooted in passion, built on experience, and driven by a desire to create transformative journeys that become part of your life's legacy.
From Humble Beginnings to Global Luxury Travel Leaders
At Trips & Ships Luxury Travel, our legacy isn't just about destinations—it's about relationships, vision, and curating journeys that transform lives. For nearly four decades, we've helped travelers experience the world in ways that are personal, seamless, and unforgettable.
Humble Beginnings
D. Kent Draper left his corporate career at Sperry Univac to pursue a life of travel. He joined June Morris, founder of Morris Travel, as she expanded into Northern Utah. At just 14 years old, his daughter Angela Hughes joined the business, starting by filing brochures and delivering tickets.
Morris Air pioneered the first e-ticket system, eventually selling to Southwest Airlines for $120 million.
Corporate Growth & Academic Foundations
Morris Travel expanded rapidly, acquiring five agencies across Utah. Kent was appointed Vice President of Marketing. Angela mastered the Apollo reservation system and became an adjunct professor at BYU, teaching travel and tourism.
Teaching at BYU gave me a chance to pay it forward—travel is about connection and cultural understanding.
Trips Inc. Is Born
When airline commission cuts changed the industry, Kent and Angela founded Trips Inc., a boutique cruise and tour agency. At a time when over 70% of U.S. travel agencies closed, they chose to innovate.
Stay small enough to care but big enough to deliver experiences people couldn't get anywhere else.
Growth & Giving Back
The early 2000s brought growth and new challenges. Through the family nonprofit, Color My World, the Hughes family led humanitarian trips to Nicaragua, Guatemala, Peru, India, Nepal, and Costa Rica.
Traveling with purpose taught me that the world is smaller than we think.
Leadership Transition
Angela expanded into international luxury travel, building relationships across Europe, Asia, and Africa. When Kent's health declined in 2016, she took over fully, modernizing the brand while honoring his legacy.
Modernizing while honoring a four-decade legacy of excellence.
Reinvention During Crisis
Angela rebranded as Trips & Ships Luxury Travel and launched Luxury Travel University during COVID-19. By September, she was in Tanzania relaunching the safari market, traveling to nearly 30 countries between 2020-2022.
The Serengeti brought complete peace to my soul during a turbulent time in our lives.
A Personal Loss
D. Kent Draper passed away after a courageous battle with dementia. His legacy lives on in every relationship, every curated journey, and every advisor Angela mentors today.
A legacy that continues in every journey we create.
Recognition & Growth
Angela Hughes was named Luxury Travel Influencer of the Year by Travel Leaders Network. Having traveled to over 115 countries, Trips & Ships grew to 140 advisors, becoming one of the fastest-growing boutique luxury host agencies.
Travel is about people—not just places. Our mission is to transform lives.
In Her Own Words
"I had a front-row seat to the rise of Morris Air and watched innovation happen in real time. It taught me early on to never be afraid to disrupt the status quo."— Angela Hughes
"I remember flipping through photos of my dad at the Eiffel Tower and in Mexico. We traveled in first class, dressed up, back when travel was truly glamorous."— Angela Hughes
"At the end of the day, travel is about people—not just places. Our mission is to connect clients to the world in a way that transforms them."— Angela Hughes
2026 and Beyond: A Vision for Growth
Today, Trips & Ships Luxury Travel is entering its next chapter. Our mission ahead:
Expand nationally by partnering with elite independent travel advisors
Deepen relationships with Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton Yacht, Explora Journeys, Silversea
Scale Luxury Travel University, building the next generation of leaders
Lead in small ship cruising, private safaris, and multigenerational legacy trips
Embrace AI-powered services while maintaining human connection
Our Promise
At Trips & Ships Luxury Travel, we don't just plan trips—we create transformative experiences that become part of your life's legacy. Every journey is custom-crafted, built on decades of expertise, and designed to change the way you see the world—and how the world sees you.
Recognition & Achievements
2024 Recognition
Luxury Travel Influencer of the Year by Travel Leaders Network
Global Expertise
115+ countries visited, building personal relationships worldwide
Growing Team
140 elite advisors in one of the fastest-growing boutique agencies
Join Our Legacy of Luxury Travel
Let us design your next adventure—with the expertise, precision, and personal care that come from a lifetime in luxury travel.