What Kushner & Associates does

Kushner & Associates (legal entity: Custom Tours, LLC) is a privately held transportation management firm founded in 1969 and headquartered in Calabasas, California, specializing in the design and execution of large-scale convention and event shuttle systems across 30+ US cities and select Canadian markets. The firm serves associations, corporate meeting planners, government clients, athletic organizations, and academic institutions, handling 40+ convention shuttles per year for events ranging from 2,000 to 70,000 attendees. Core services include city-wide convention shuttles, VIP/executive transportation, group airport transfers, park & ride systems, and an advertising/sponsorship program that helps clients monetize their shuttle fleets.

The firm operates on a custom, quote-based professional services model: each transportation system is designed around the client's housing blocks, event schedule, service frequency, distance and traffic patterns, using proprietary shuttle-design software and operational procedures developed internally since the firm's founding. Kushner does not own or operate its own fleet; instead it manages contracted motorcoach and minicoach capacity through dedicated on-site operations managers assigned per event. The go-to-market is sales-led and event-driven, driven by a Director of Sales & Marketing, a dedicated Account Executive, and an extensive referral network built around partnerships with ASAE, PCMA, MCCA, and more than ten regional convention and visitor bureaus.

The business is bootstrapped and founder-controlled, with Susan Kushner serving as CEO since 1986. The firm holds Green Ride Global's Green Preferred Supplier List certification and is an approved transportation vendor for the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center and Hynes Convention Center. With 11-50 employees and no external funding, Kushner & Associates is a small, highly specialized professional services firm whose competitive position rests on 55+ years of operational expertise, proprietary logistics tooling, and deep institutional relationships in the association and convention industry.

Name

Kushner & Associates

Legal name

Custom Tours, LLC.

Website

https://kushnershuttles.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kushner & Associates is a Calabasas-based, privately held transportation management firm founded in 1969 that designs and executes custom large-scale convention and event shuttle systems for associations, corporations, and government clients across 30+ US cities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Calabasas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Convention & Event Transportation Services: Core revenue stream from designing, planning, and executing large-scale transportation systems for conventions, conferences, and events. Services include shuttle systems between convention centers and hotels, airport transfers, VIP transportation, and park & ride services. Custom-designed based on unique needs of each organization with individualized turn-key service.
2. Advertising & Sponsorship Programs: Revenue-producing advertising and sponsorship programs for clients including large scale full color decals, company logo on cloth headrest covers, hotel lobby signs, shuttle flyers, and video infomercials on equipped motorcoaches. Goal is to provide positive ROI and possibly profit on transportation systems for client organizations.
3. Per Capita Airport Transfers: As part of convention shuttle packages, provides per capita airport transfers on last day of convention. Tickets sold directly to attendees with price point determined by city, distance from airport, etc. Staff sells tickets on-site.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Kushner & Associates is a transportation management firm that designs, plans, and operates custom shuttle and ground transportation systems for conventions, conferences, trade shows, and large events. Its core offering is city-wide convention shuttle service, supported by VIP/executive transportation, group airport transfers, park & ride systems, and revenue-producing advertising and sponsorship programs. All services are custom-quoted and turnkey-managed, with on-site staff, operations managers, and proprietary planning software.

Product overview

Kushner & Associates is a full service transportation management firm offering a unified suite of shuttle and ground transportation services for large-scale events and conventions. The core offering consists of City-Wide Convention Shuttle services, complemented by VIP/Executive Transportation, Group Airport Transportation, and Park & Ride services. The company also provides Advertising & Sponsorship programs for revenue generation and operates a Green Initiatives sustainability program. All services are supported by proprietary software and technologies developed in-house since 1969, with custom-designed transportation plans tailored to each organization's specific needs and budget.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• City-Wide Convention Shuttle Core turnkey shuttle service that transports attendees between convention centers, hotels, and event venues, custom-designed to each event's housing packages, schedule, frequency needs, distance, travel times, and traffic patterns. Built for conventions, conferences, and trade shows with 2,000-70,000 attendees.
• VIP/Executive Transportation Premium ground transportation for VIPs and executives, including individual airport transfers via towncar, limousine, SUV, or luxury vehicles; group airport transfers via executive van or minicoach; standby vehicles; and transfers to special events with flight verification and customized dispatching.
• Group Airport Transportation Private airport shuttle system for large groups, including flight data analysis, vehicle and staff scheduling, on-site dispatching, customized signage, and per capita airport transfers on the last day of convention sold directly to attendees.
• Park & Ride Park & Ride and Fixed-Route shuttle systems for events, including dedicated operations managers, accurate budgets, appropriate vehicle sizing, advance logistical planning, contingency planning, professional on-site staff, radios, signage, and gratuities.
• Advertising & Sponsorship Revenue-producing advertising and sponsorship programs for clients, including large-scale full-color decals, company logos on cloth headrest covers, hotel lobby signs, shuttle flyers, and video infomercials on equipped motorcoaches, designed to deliver positive ROI and possibly profit on the transportation system.
• Green Initiatives Environmental sustainability program for the shuttle bus fleet, including Detroit Series 60 engines with catalytic converters and exhaust gas recirculation, ultra low sulfur diesel and bio-diesel (B5) fuel, 12-speed transmissions for improved fuel mileage, and carbon-offset donations through Green Ride Global.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40+ convention shuttles handled per year across US and Canadian cities
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional and minor.

• ASAE (American Society of Association Executives)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial affiliation and partnership with ASAE. Kushner staff interact with ASAE leadership and members, providing transportation services for ASAE events and conferences.
• PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional affiliation with PCMA, the leading platform for business events strategists. Partnership provides access to meeting planners and convention professionals.
• MCCA (Massachusetts Convention Center Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerApproved transportation vendor for Boston Convention & Exhibition Center and Hynes Convention Center. Long-standing relationship as preferred vendor for Boston convention facilities.
• Destination DCregionalGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Washington DC's official convention and tourism organization for events in the Washington DC area.
• San Francisco TravelregionalGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner for San Francisco tourism and convention services, providing transportation for events in the San Francisco area.
• VisitorlandoregionalGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Orlando's visitor and tourism organization for events in the Orlando area.
• ESCA (ESCA Alliance)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMember of ESCA Alliance, connecting with convention and meeting professionals.
• Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB)regionalGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Atlanta's convention and visitors bureau for events in Atlanta.
• Visit DallasregionalGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau for events in Dallas.
• Los Angeles TourismregionalGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Los Angeles tourism organization for events in the Los Angeles area.
• New Orleans Convention Center BureauregionalGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with New Orleans CVB for events in New Orleans.
• Visit Music City (Nashville)regionalGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Nashville's tourism organization for events in Music City.
• Green Ride Global (GRG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecipient Organization of Green Ride Global's Green Preferred Supplier List (GPSL). Partnership focused on environmental sustainability and carbon-offset programs for event transportation.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• CharterUP: Digital marketplace for booking charter buses and shuttles. Represents the technology-enabled model that could disrupt traditional operators like Kushner by offering instant booking, dynamic pricing, and fleet transparency to event planners.
• BusBank: Charter bus marketplace specializing in group transportation for events, conferences, and corporate travel. Directly comparable to Kushner's group airport and convention transfer services with a digital-first booking approach.
• GoGoCharter: Online charter bus booking platform connecting event organizers with motorcoach operators. Provides transparent pricing and digital workflow that traditional shuttle management firms like Kushner do not offer natively.

Direct peers

• Carey International: Executive and group ground transportation provider serving corporate and association events nationwide. Comparable to Kushner's VIP/Executive Transportation and group airport transfer services with similar customer base.
• EmpireCLS Worldwide Chauffeured Services: Premium chauffeured transportation company serving corporate events, roadshows, and meetings. Comparable to Kushner on the executive/VIP transportation segment with overlapping association and corporate clients.
• Mears Transportation: Major U.S. ground transportation and charter bus operator serving conventions, theme parks (Orlando), and corporate events. Directly comparable to Kushner in providing shuttle and charter services for large-scale conventions and meetings.
• Reston Limousine: Regional chauffeured and shuttle transportation company serving corporate events, weddings, and meetings in the Mid-Atlantic. Comparable to Kushner on group airport transfers and corporate event transportation with similar fleet mix.

Broad incumbents

• Freeman: Largest U.S. event experiences company providing full-service event production including logistics, audio-visual, and on-site services. Serves many of the same large association and trade show clients as Kushner, though at much broader scope.
• GES (Global Experience Specialists): Large global event and exhibition services provider offering logistics, freight, and on-site services for trade shows. While broader in scope than Kushner, GES overlaps in convention support services and competes for the same trade show and association customers.
• Hosts Global (hostsdmc.com): Destination Management Company (DMC) network providing ground transportation, tours, and event logistics for meetings and incentives. Overlaps with Kushner on convention ground transportation and works with the same association and corporate event planners.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kushnershuttles

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Kushner & Associates