Travel Agencies Find Success in Not Acting Like, Well, Travel Agencies

There's an exciting new world of possibilities for travel agencies, including those that throw most traditional agency practices out the window. Two that made this year's Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S., Indagare Travel and Audley Travel U.S., embrace business models that bear little resemblance to that of most other agencies. While agencies typically hire generalists who handle all of a client's travel needs to various destinations, these companies take a far more specialized approach. They also do not work with independent contractors, preferring a team atmosphere among staffers who work primarily in-house. They also eschew off-the-shelf travel products, designing their own highly customized itineraries instead. This approach may not be right for everyone, but it does illustrate new ways to find business success, par