Avenue Two Travel is turning 35: Travel Weekly

Jamie Biesiada

This calendar year marks the 35th in small business for Avenue Two Vacation, based in Bryn Mawr, Pa. The agency has arrive a very long way in individuals 4 a long time, with a 33% boost in workforce customers so significantly this 12 months, but stays a relatives procedure at its main.

Avenue Two’s tale begins with Debbie and Craig Bush. Today, Debbie is the president and founder of the agency, while her husband, Craig, is its CFO. Their son, Josh, is CEO.

When Debbie and Craig were 1st married, Josh claimed, they traveled thoroughly. After Josh was born, mates and relatives constantly asked for Debbie’s assistance about travel. She determined to change that guidance into a vocation and went to operate for Park Avenue Vacation in Swarthmore, Pa.

Josh Bush, CEO of Avenue Two Travel. Image Credit score: Courtesy of Avenue Two Travel

Following Debbie labored as an agent for all around a few decades, she and Craig approached the proprietor and acquired Park Avenue Vacation in 1987.

Whilst Craig did payroll on the weekends, Debbie “was the consummate salesperson,” Josh stated, and she helmed the company. Meanwhile, Josh grew up in the company, but made a decision to embark on a career in shopper finance for a number of a long time.

For the duration of that time, Josh reported, “The business enterprise adjusted. It changed from staying the local vacation agency serving a neighborhood neighborhood to a lot extra upscale.” 

Park Avenue Travel joined API Vacation Consultants, the precursor to Virtuoso, and enmeshed alone firmly in the luxury place.

Meanwhile, Josh began doing the job in business and expenditure genuine estate.

“The outings that I’m having are domestic and checking into the Doubletree and acquiring my warm chocolate chip cookies — which is my notion of what an amenity was,” he recalled. But Debbie and Craig were off to South Africa and Machu Picchu and the like.

The elder Bushes commenced chatting about long run planning in all over 2006. At the urging of Virtuoso, they resolved to converse to Josh about getting more than the business the company experienced four advisors at that issue, including Debbie.

Building some changes

Seeking to reclaim the sort of journey he remembered accomplishing as a boy or girl and spurred by some strategically put photograph albums of Debbie and Craig’s adventures, Josh claimed certainly.

“They introduced me on in get to improve the enterprise to be in a position to make it sustainable, so that we could give a livelihood for other individuals,” Josh explained.

The agency started onboarding workers and unbiased contractors (ICs). They worked to come across the correct blend and refine the business Josh was named CEO in 2014, and the agency moved from Park Avenue to a larger sized room and rebranded to Avenue Two Vacation.

“That is genuinely exactly where the progress strategy began,” he mentioned.

The company went from 25 to 50 employees and ICs — and stored rising. Going into the pandemic, its headcount was close to 93. And its focus was distinct: Avenue Two would be a host agency, but also carry a harmony of corporate organization.

“We had gotten really superior on the value proposition, on what it is that we present an impartial contractor,” Josh reported. “We genuinely see them as our very own, inside clientele.”

Navigating the pandemic

Then, the pandemic took place. Avenue Two was privileged in that its workplace lease was up in Could 2020. The company did not renew it and saved pretty a bit in actual estate costs. Josh claimed Avenue Two entirely embraced heading digital and stayed in constant interaction with its workers and ICs.

“It was completely bizarre, but by finding rid of the physical space, it truly brought our crew nearer with each other,” he claimed.

In the previous two many years, Avenue Two has realized very a little bit of expansion. Today, the company stands at 70 ICs and 65 employees. In simple fact, Virtuoso identified Avenue Two’s company society with the Virtuoso Culture Award in 2021.

Josh claimed Avenue Two is focused on supporting ICs by having away the friction of providing journey and permitting them do what they do greatest: storytelling with customers. For instance, Avenue Two gives marketing assist and a comprehensive-provider air department. 

“We’ve put a great deal of packages in spot in get to make the job of the independent contractor easier, speedier, far better, as well as allowing for them to reinvest and redeposit a good deal of their difficult-earned income into growing and increasing their organizations,” he mentioned.

Sustainable future

Moving forward, Josh has his vision firmly set on sustainability and what the agency community can do to move the needle (primarily when most purchasers aren’t inquiring for sustainable travel).

Avenue Two is operating with consulting agency Sustainable Wanderlust, which focuses on the luxury travel sector. The company has also commenced the system of becoming B-Corp licensed, which establishes interest in social accountability as a company priority. In reality, Bush said, the agency is on target to be the 1st U.S.-centered company to achieve that certification.

Avenue Two has also implemented a schooling method for advisors to have significant, nonjudgmental and nonpolitical discussions with consumers about sustainability.

The company just lately held its 1st The Collective event at the Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia, offering advisors a probability to meet, community and connect with each other and suppliers.

Things continue to look vibrant, as properly. Gross sales figures are “way beyond” pre-pandemic numbers suitable now, Josh explained, and Avenue Two’s product looks to be doing work for the two its staff members and its ICs.

“It can be a fabulous time to be in the small business, and quite frankly, I think that we deserve it,” Josh reported. “We have all absent as a result of some really, seriously challenging instances. But all those who have been in a position to persevere, and which is certainly our group, are now reaping the rewards of it, and we are on a expansion trajectory as a final result of it.”