What TravelStore does

TravelStore is an employee-owned, California-headquartered travel agency that has operated continuously since 1975, currently employing 251-500 staff across seven branch offices in Los Angeles, Fresno, Irvine, Palos Verdes, Pasadena, Sacramento, and San Diego. The business operates two core service lines. Corporate Travel Management delivers policy enforcement, advanced reporting, risk management, VIP concierge, and meetings-and-incentives programs for small-to-medium companies, supported by a Corporate Client Portal, toll-free support, and an affiliate relationship with BCD Travel. Vacation Travel Planning serves individual leisure travelers through 129+ expert advisors, producing customized itineraries, honeymoon and destination-wedding arrangements, cruise bookings, and luxury experiences, monetized via an "At Your Service" Vacation Assurance service-fee structure and supplier commissions.

Revenue is generated primarily through transaction commissions from airlines, cruise lines, hotels, and tour operators, supplemented by professional service fees for itinerary planning and corporate account management. Distribution mixes direct (branch, phone, website, social) with channel partners — notably Premier Partner status with Signature Travel Network, which supplies ClientBase Online, microsites, hotel booking engine access, and preferred supplier rates. The 2005 ESOP transition to employee ownership aligns advisor incentives with client outcomes, and the company has expanded into adjacent revenue streams including an Independent Affiliate Program for outside advisors, an AXUS-powered Pocket Travel mobile app, and owned media (Passport Diaries podcast, 1146+-entry Travel Journal blog).

The firm's strategic posture is defensive-insurance on legacy strengths (brand, advisor relationships, ESOP culture) layered with incremental digital content investment and an affiliate-host platform bet. There is no disclosed AI, data, or proprietary technology initiative; competitive differentiation rests on human expertise, network partnerships, and California branch density rather than technology differentiation.

Name

TravelStore

Legal name

TravelStore, Inc.

Website

https://travelstore.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

TravelStore is an employee-owned, California-based travel agency (founded 1975) operating seven branches and serving corporate clients with managed business travel and leisure travelers with customized vacation planning, generating revenue through supplier commissions and service fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corporate and Leisure Travel Agency Services

NAICS

Travel Agencies (56151), Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services (5615)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Online/Hybrid Corporate Travel Agencies (Self-Booking + Support) (THAKACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Leisure & Generalist Retail Travel Agencies (THAKABAA), VIP, Executive & Roadshow Travel Services (THAKAMAK), Itinerary Management & Trip Collaboration Apps (THALAMAE)

Keywords

• Corporate travel management
• Vacation travel planning
• Business travel agency
• Leisure travel services
• Travel management company

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Travel Agency Commissions: TravelStore earns commissions from airlines, cruise lines, hotels, tour operators, and other travel suppliers on bookings made on behalf of clients. Commissions are typically a percentage of the booking value.
2. Service Fees: The company charges service fees for itinerary planning, handling travel arrangements, and ongoing trip management. This includes their 'At Your Service' Vacation Assurance Plan for leisure travelers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

TravelStore is an employee-owned travel agency delivering two core service lines: Corporate Travel Management (managed business travel with policy enforcement, advanced reporting, risk management, and cost-savings programs) and Vacation Travel Planning (personalized leisure itineraries crafted by 129+ expert travel advisors, including VIP concierge, meetings & incentives, and the At Your Service Vacation Assurance Plan). The company distributes services through seven California branch offices, phone/email advisors, and partnerships with Signature Travel Network and BCD Travel.

Product overview

TravelStore is an employee-owned, award-winning travel agency offering two primary service lines: Corporate Travel Management (customized business travel solutions with technology-driven tools, reporting, and risk management) and Vacation Travel Planning (personalized leisure travel through expert consultants). The product portfolio includes the Corporate Client Portal for business travelers, the AXUS Pocket Travel mobile app for consumer itinerary access, TravelStore ClientBase Online CRM for advisors, and an Independent Affiliate Program for independent travel advisors. Additional offerings include VIP Concierge Services, Meetings & Incentives programs, and the At Your Service Vacation Assurance Plan for leisure clients. The company also produces content through its Passport Diaries podcast and TravelStore Travel Blog, serving as a member of Signature Travel Network and affiliate of BCD Travel.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corporate Travel Management
• Vacation Travel Planning
• At Your Service Vacation Assurance Plan
• VIP Concierge Services
• Meetings & Incentives
• Independent Affiliate Program (Host Agency)

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 30% savings through consolidated travel management
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Signature Travel NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTravelStore is a Premier Partner Agency of Signature Travel Network, a prestigious worldwide partnership allowing the company to provide customers unmatched benefits and additional value when traveling. This partnership provides access to exclusive supplier relationships, marketing tools, training programs, and a network of travel advisors.
• BCD TravelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTravelStore is an affiliate of BCD Travel, a global travel management company. This affiliation provides worldwide partnership capabilities, allowing TravelStore to offer comprehensive corporate travel services with global reach while maintaining its independent, employee-owned structure.
• American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTravelStore is a Premium Member of ASTA (American Society of Travel Advisors), the leading trade association for travel advisors in the United States. The company actively participates in ASTA initiatives and its advisors can become ASTA Verified Travel Advisors.
• Cruise Line International Association (CLIA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTravelStore is a member of CLIA (Cruise Line International Association), the world's largest cruise industry trade association, providing access to cruise line partnerships and training resources.
• TravelEx Insurance ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTravelStore partners with TravelEx Insurance Services for travel insurance products, offering customers comprehensive coverage options for trip protection including flight delays, baggage loss, and emergency assistance.
• American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA)coreOthersTravelStore is a Premium Member of ASTA and SoCal ASTA, participating actively in the travel advisor community and industry advocacy.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Travel Leaders Group: Travel Leaders Group is one of the largest US travel agency networks offering both corporate and leisure travel services through franchise and branch locations. It is comparable to TravelStore through its scale, US footprint, and hybrid corporate-and-leisure model, though it operates a broader franchise system.
• KHM Travel Group: KHM Travel Group is a US host travel agency that supports independent travel advisors with supplier access, technology, and commission tools. It is comparable to TravelStore through its independent advisor affiliate program, host-agency model, and emphasis on supplier relationships.
• Tzell Travel Group: Tzell Travel Group is a Signature Travel Network member agency with a corporate and luxury leisure hybrid model. It is comparable to TravelStore in advisor-driven service delivery, Signature partnership, and similar mid-to-large independent agency positioning.
• Protravel International: Protravel International is a luxury travel agency and Signature Travel Network member specializing in high-end leisure and corporate travel. It is comparable to TravelStore through its shared Signature network benefits, advisor-centric model, and emphasis on bespoke luxury experiences.
• Direct Travel: Direct Travel is a US-focused travel management company serving corporate and leisure clients with a hybrid advisor-and-tech model. It is a close peer to TravelStore through its similar dual-segment focus, multi-office footprint, and mid-market corporate orientation.
• World Travel Holdings: World Travel Holdings is a large US travel agency and vacation packaging company offering cruise, leisure, and corporate travel. It is comparable to TravelStore through its vacation planning emphasis, multi-channel distribution, and significant US market presence.
• Frosch: Frosch is a US travel management company offering both corporate travel services and luxury leisure travel planning with a high-touch advisor model. It is one of the most direct comparables to TravelStore given its hybrid corporate-and-leisure focus, advisor-driven service, and Signature Travel Network affiliation.

Broad incumbents

• American Express Global Business Travel: Amex GBT is one of the largest global travel management companies serving enterprise corporate clients. It is comparable to TravelStore on the corporate travel management side, competing for similar accounts but at much greater scale and with broader geographic and technological infrastructure.
• BCD Travel: BCD Travel is a global corporate travel management company and is itself an affiliate partner of TravelStore. It is comparable as a broad incumbent offering the same corporate travel management services at global scale, while TravelStore relies on its affiliate relationship to extend its own reach.

Emerging players

• Navan (formerly TripActions): Navan is a venture-backed corporate travel and expense management platform targeting mid-market and enterprise clients with a tech-first, self-serve-plus-concierge model. It is comparable as an emerging competitor encroaching on TravelStore's corporate travel segment with AI-enabled booking and integrated expense tools.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/tsvacations
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/travelstore
• Instagraminstagram.com/travelstore
• Pinterestpinterest.com/travelstoreinc
• Xx.com/tsvacations

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TravelStore