Where Analytical Rigor Meets Creative Problem-Solving
Travis Belton is a commercial real estate advisor and business speaker based in Atlanta, serving clients nationwide. As a tenant representation specialist with T. Dallas Smith & Company, he advises organizations on lease negotiations, site selection, expansions, relocations, and long-term real estate strategy.
He also speaks to leadership teams and industry audiences on strategy, decision-making, and communication in high-stakes business environments.
​The Path To Commercial Real Estate
Travis' career reflects an uncommon combination: analytical discipline, creative thinking, and performance under pressure.
After achieving significant success as the second-highest producer at a major law firm—closing nearly $2 million in new business—he transitioned fully into commercial real estate advisory work, bringing with him a unique perspective shaped by corporate environments, creative industries, and high-stakes negotiation.
This multidisciplinary background informs every advisory engagement: the ability to analyze complex financial structures, communicate effectively across diverse audiences, and solve problems that traditional approaches miss.
The Creative Advisor Standard
Every client engagement is guided by six principles
Integrity in Every Transaction
Your interests come first. No exceptions.
Clear, Direct Communication
No jargon. No confusion. You always know where you stand
Data-Informed
Strategy
Market intelligence, financial analysis, and strategic thinking drive every recommendation.
Creative Problem-Solving
The best deal isn't always the obvious one. I find solutions others miss.
Client Advocacy
I represent you, not the landlord. That clarity matters.
Long-Term Partnership Mindset
This isn't transactional. Your success is the goal.
RECOGNITION & AFFILIATIONS
2024 Alvin B. Cates Award – Most Impactful Deal of the Year
Atlanta Commercial Board of REALTORS
CoreNet Global
Council for Quality Growth
Experience Across Industries
Healthcare: Grady Health System, WellStar Health System
Professional Services: Law firms, consulting firms
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Technology: Microsoft, Airbnb
Creative Industries: Media, entertainment, design
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SPEAKING & THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Travis delivers keynotes, workshops, and panels for corporate audiences, industry conferences, and leadership retreats. His talks focus on the intersection of strategy, creativity, and execution—providing practical frameworks leaders can implement immediately.
His perspective is informed by active advisory work, not theory. Every talk is grounded in real-world experience navigating complex negotiations, managing high stakes decisions, and communicating through uncertainty.
Interested in working together on a commercial real estate project or speaking engagement?
My Story.
GROWING UP
I’m the youngest of five and grew up singing in church in the small rural town of Winnsboro, South Carolina.
My dad was an 18-wheeler truck driver who used to take me on rides to different cities and states with him when he could.
He wasn’t into sports. He used to be into the streets, until he had us kids - then everything became about church. We lost him when I was 16.
Where we lived was truly in the country - there was a cow pasture right across the street from us. Country life lends itself well to creativity. I used to pull all my cousins together and have us make up little productions.
We’d put on plays, kind of like Tyler Perry. Seeing him succeed in entertainment made me feel like I could do that, too. It’s how I got into the world of storytelling - and I could always be counted on for some wild, great story to share.
CHURCH LIFE
Being a Seventh Day Pentecostal kid, everything was about church. Every Saturday we were there. In our church back then, we didn’t celebrate Christmas or have holidays that everyone else did. I found myself in the “weird kid space.”
Who doesn’t celebrate Christmas? And as I mentioned, I sang - but I never wanted to at first. I was made to, like all the other kids. But I ended up doing it so much, I started to love it. I became the best singer in church. A lot of my initial accomplishments in life were through there. Today, I’m a proud worship leader at Eagle’s Nest Church in Roswell.
EDUCATION
Having always been a good student, I graduated in the top 10% of my high school class in ‘09. Went to Coastal Carolina on scholarship. Then went to the Atlanta Institute of Music and Media for Audio Engineering. Currently, I’m interested in another program at Georgia State.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
I started two businesses - and always looking for solid business opportunities. The first was in 2016 when I helped my collegiate age niece build her hair salon - created her logo, helped her with her marketing strategy. Now she’s up to 15K followers on social media and hit over $100K in revenue during the pandemic.
In 2018, I got the amazing opportunity to perform with Keith Urban on a show called Best Cover Ever, produced by Ryan Seacrest and hosted by Ludacris. Keith picked us to fly out to LA for a week and we won!! It’s one of my greatest accomplishments. Our episode had over 1M views.
That success prompted me to start Creative Playground Studios 3 years later. I met a beautiful young lady who’s a Fox 5 ATL journalist, radio host and worked for Isaac Hayes III (Founder of FanBase).
After interviewing me and my group on a radio station, we came together and ultimately founded this multidimensional production studio to help women be more creative. Then I made her my fiancé.
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE CAREER
I’ve also had plenty of corporate experience - becoming the second highest producer at an Atlanta law firm, closing nearly $2M in business. At this firm, we collected on home equity lines of credit - which is what got me into the real estate space. Since then, I’ve become a member of Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors, won the 2024 Alvin B. Cates Award for the Most Impactful Deal and am bringing my clients the power of the nation’s largest African American pure tenant rep firm for office space.
My approach to business is as serious as my approach to music.
Music is a business, too. All of entertainment is, when done right. It’s also a love. Something ingrained in your very DNA. That’s how I feel about the business world. Winning in business sets my very soul on fire.
There’s something about going after that deal and creating unexpected, stellar outcomes that is a high like no other.
For me, the right deals matter - and that means having the right people around me matters so much, too. The right clients, the right team and the right attitudes - all lined up for one thing: to win and win well.
