Smaller agencies join Montrose Travel

Karen S. Kim

MONTROSE -- Five independent travel agencies spent the past week

moving in with Montrose Travel in light of the economic difficulties that

have battered the industry in recent months.

“It just seemed natural to go with them at this time,” said Karen

Dhillon, a co-owner of Canyon Country-based American Internet Services.

“They’re the type of agency that would be able to make it through all

this turmoil that the airlines and all the travel agencies are going

through. They’re a very stable agency, and that’s the kind you want to be

on board with.”

Montrose Travel business is now down by only 9%, owner Joe McClure

reported. Between Sept. 11 and Sept. 14, business was down 83%, McClure

said.

And with five new travel agencies joining forces with Montrose Travel,

McClure said he expects a mutual benefit for both partners.

“When these companies move in, it has nothing to do with ‘Big Bad

Montrose Travel’ swallowing up the little guys,” McClure said.

“It really is in both of our interests,” he said. “We need them just

as much as we’d like to think they need us.”

Montrose Travel has received widespread media attention, including

mention in this month’s Time Magazine, since the Sept. 11 attacks.

In the last week, American Internet Services, Glendale’s Maxi Travel,

Sever and Sever Travel in Pasadena, Carol Whalen Travel and Russell

Soloway Travel have moved in with Montrose Travel. And McClure is in

discussions with 11 more agencies, he said. Carol Whalen and Russell

Soloway are independent contractors who used to work with Montrose-based

Archer Travel.

Montrose Travel will absorb the new agencies’ expenses and then take a

portion of the commissions they generate.

“It works out beautifully for everybody,” McClure said. “In 100% of

cases so far, each one of these arrangements has allowed these agencies

to make more money than they were earning on their own.”

McClure has been marketing this program for seven years, but said

recent events have kept the phones busy with interested agencies. The

travel industry was hit with a 60% reduction of airline commissions on

Aug. 17.

McClure is expecting more businesses to sign on with Montrose Travel

in the coming weeks. Montrose Travel is preparing its vacant,

14,000-square-foot property on the 2300 block of Honolulu Avenue for

occupancy to encourage more businesses to move in.