Providing Unmatched Expertise to Enhance the Travel Experience
Acendas Travel opened its doors October 21, 1982 as a full-service travel agency operating as All About Travel in Kansas City. It features products and services for corporate travel programs, leisure travel experiences, and support for meeting and incentive travel activities.
We’ve built our success on a foundation of relationship building, outstanding customer service, and the latest technological innovation to enhance the travel experience
In January 2012, the company changed its name to Acendas Travel, a derivation of Latin and Greek words meaning “to lift” and “to serve.” It aligned with the company’s mission to lift the lives of individuals and the performance of companies by providing high-quality service
Global Partnerships Strengthen Value Proposition
Several strategic decisions have propelled Acendas Travel to the elite of travel companies. First, it entered into a joint venture relationship with world leader BCD Travel in 2001 to support corporate travel programming. The move allowed Acendas Travel to utilize BCD Travel’s technology platform and international offices, and offer travel discounts to clients thanks to BCD’s purchasing power. In 2017, Acendas Travel became a wholly-owned subsidiary of BCD Travel.
The Acendas Travel Vacation Division is a member of the Signature Travel Network and focuses on premium and luxury travel services. The relationship affords Acendas Travel vacation clients a diversity of travel opportunities and outstanding values through significant purchasing power. Members of the network include some of the country’s top leisure travel agencies and most respected travel providers.
Going from Good to Great
In the early 2000s, Acendas Travel began to apply the principles of the book, Good to Great by Jim Collins, to the management of the company. Concepts such as “getting the right people on the bus and in the right seats” / “confront the brutal facts” / “a culture of discipline” were key in elevating company performance. The development of its hedgehog concept: “creating lasting client relationships” crystalized what Acendas Travel could be best at. That is manifested in an extremely high client retention rate for corporate clients, and strong repeat and referrals for vacation custome
Giving Back to Our Communities
From the beginning, one of our core beliefs is helping to improve the lives of others in our communities. We do this by giving back through donations and sponsorships, volunteering, and participating in local events. Activities are driven and coordinated by a cross-functional, cross-located group of team members known as Team Acendas. This group meets monthly to identify opportunities and activities, schedule them as appropriate, and then enlists team members to participate.
The following are some of our community activities:
- Corporate Partner of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City. In addition to providing funds to the organization as part of the general sponsorship, the company participates in the Summer Bowl for Kids Sake event, where teams and participants engage in fundraising. Also, we conduct an annual clothing drive to benefit the organization.
- Don Bosco Center. Acendas engages in numerous activities to support the Center. We organize raffles and contests to generate funds that go directly to the Center for the residents’ Christmas gifts. In December, Acendas receives Christmas Wish Lists from Center residents, and we purchase items on the list.
- The Big Slick. Perhaps Kansas City’s premier philanthropic event, Acendas Travel VP of Corporate Relations Kathy Sudeikis, plays a key role and is engaged in year-round activities to bring the event to fruition. In addition to Kathy’s involvement, various staff members have participated in a support role throughout the years.
- We participate in the staff payroll deduction for United Way.
- Alzheimer’s Association. We sponsor a team to participate in the annual KC Walk for Alzheimer’s.
- We support our staff who participate and support the activities of numerous organizations.
Recognition Worth Mentioning
- President Brent Blake, Ingram’s Magazine Top 250 - 2024, 2023, 2022, 2019, 2018
- Kansas City Business Journal Fast 50 - 2024
- Ingram's Magazine Fastest 100 Growing Companies
- LuxLife Magazine, 2024 Most Client-Focused Travel Company
- Ingram's Magazine, 2024 President-of-the-Year, President Brent Blake
- Ingram's Magazine Top 100 Privately Held Companies (2023)
- Member - Kansas City Business Journal Hall of Champions
- Kansas City Business Journal Champions of Business - 2008, 2020, 2022
- Vice President/Finance Shelly Guenther 2021 Kansas City Business Journal CFO of the Year
- Lux Life Magazine 2021 Best Full Service Travel Technology Company
- Nominated for 2021 Travel Vendor of the Year by Wed KC
- Vacation Travel Advisor Kathy Sudekis A-List honoree Travel + Leisure Magazine (multi-year)
- Vacation Travel Advisors Kim Shannon, Carol Nichols, Justine Sjurseth, Colleen Campanella named Trendsetters by Luxury Travel Advisor Magazine
- Runner-up, Best Travel Agency, The Pitch "Best of KC" Contest 2022
- Ingram’s Magazine 2012 Small Business Award
- Regular Ranking among Kansas City Business Journal’s Top 100 Public Companies.