History of MontroseTravel

"Helping people travel. One at a time."

"Yes We Can!"

In business since 1956, we will be here tomorrow to back up our promises of today.

After building their disposable hospital supply business, Disposable Research Industries (DRI), into an industry leader, Joe McClure Sr. and his beautiful wife Leora retired in February of 1972. Quickly growing tired of retirement, they purchased the local Montrose Travel Agency six months later. Together, they grew the little business by cultivating personal relationships through superior customer service and offering quality products at fair prices.

By 1989, Montrose Travel had 14 employees and was selling nearly $6 million dollars of travel annually with a customer base that had extended from their local neighborhood to serving all of Southern California. International tours, discounted cruises and Hawaii packages were the mainstay of the product line.

In 1990 Joe McClure III (MBA), his wife Julie (CPA), and his sister Andi (MBA) purchased Montrose Travel. By August of 1991, the roof had been taken off of the headquarters location at 2343 Honolulu Avenue and a second floor was added to accommodate rapid growth. The staff, our Associates, grew steadily throughout the recession of the early 90's and the Gulf War. Our product line expanded with the addition of exclusive discounted vacation packages and airfares. Our customer base became worldwide.

In July of 1994, the company was out of room again. We purchased our second building at 2355 Honolulu Avenue and moved our Commercial / Business Travel Division.

In 1996 we started AIR4LESS (which later became AIR4LESS.com) and purchased our wholesale company, Sportours from Sport Chalet.

Out of room again, we purchased our third building at 2335 Honolulu Avenue, which now houses our Accounting Department and a number of our Independent Contractors.

Throughout the 1990's, we focused on growing our Independent Contractor network that now includes more than 50 companies and individuals. In 1998, we further expanded our Independent Contractor reach by opening La Canada Flintridge Travel, which now operates as a branch office in La Canada, California.

Also in 1998 our Leisure / Vacation Division addressed the niche market of Honeymoons / Anniversaries / Romantic Getaways and organized staff to specialize in the needs of these types of vacations.

Out of room once again, we closed escrow on our fourth building at 2349 Honolulu Avenue in November, 1999, and added an additional 14,000 feet with which to grow.

In January, 2001 Montrose Travel's Honeymoon Department was split from our Leisure Division and became its own, and our fifth, operating division within the company.

In January of 2003, we further split out our Air / Car / Hotel group that primarily handles credit card loyalty programs from our Leisure Division and created our sixth operating division.

Proudly funding growth solely out of profits and positive cash flow, Montrose Travel has never had any debt on its balance sheet and continues to remain one of the financially healthiest Travel Management Companies in the United States.

Now, firmly established as one of the Top 50 Travel Management Companies nationwide, we represent $100 + million in gross sales. We have come a long way since 1990 and now have six operating divisions (Business Travel, Vacation Travel, Honeymoon / Anniversary / Romantic Getaway Travel, Group / Meeting / Incentive Travel, Air / Car / Hotel and Independent Contractor Network) housed in nearly 40,000 square feet of four self-owned buildings.

We are extremely proud of our growth and our continued commitment to our customer base. Clearly, as pinpointed in our mission statement, "Helping people travel. One at a time.", our top priority is to provide quality service and unsurpassed value to your association members.

In this dynamic industry, Montrose Travel is a respected leader in all aspects of travel management. On the leading edge of rapidly evolving technology, we possess the capacity, experience, caring and proven capability to provide you with a total travel management program for handling all aspects of travel on a national and international basis.

Although 2001, 2002 and 2003 were very trying years for the travel industry in general with the industry declining 11% and airlines losing billions of dollars, Montrose Travel was one of the few travel companies in the United States that was able to buck the trend and posted 11% compounded growth, a feat of which we are quite proud and happened to earn us nationwide recognition as a travel industry trendsetter. We have grown every year since.