

Today we’d like to introduce you to JoAnne Weeks.
Hi JoAnne, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have always loved to travel and have been to every continent but Antarctica. There are so many wonderful places in this world to visit, but if you twisted my arm, I do love the Mediterranean. This is my 25th year in the travel industry, spending the first half as a cruise specialist (I have cruised more than 100 times) and expanding that to river cruises, all-inclusive packages, and domestic and worldwide custom journeys. Now I spend much of my time managing a team of talented professionals. I’ve worked my way up in the business, starting in support (grunt work), then to sales, and advancing to the Acendas Travel Vacation Division Director position today. I did not necessarily go looking for a career in travel. I was an agency client, and a conversation led to a job offer. The profession suits me because I like to travel, and I enjoy helping people by designing trips and vacations that create lifetime memories, be it a destination wedding, honeymoon, family trip to Disneyworld, anniversary cruise, or extended family reunion. Nothing warms my heart like hearing my clients tell me about their trip. The bright eyes, big smiles, and excitement in their voice is wonderful validation for me.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Life by the yard is hard, but by the inch is a cinch. That is how I view things. There have been some daunting times in travel. I focus on the task and do not get too worked up about the future. You TRY to control only the controllable. That is not to say the uncontrollable does not create some sleepless nights! The recent pandemic might be my most unique and difficult challenge. The industry has never faced a prolonged cap on travel as it had in 2020-2021. That was compounded by the unknown. Even though we were not booking travel, we were extremely busy with rebooking and refunding purchases. It was a difficult time for our staff and clients because we had to tell them they could not take that trip of a lifetime, and we weren’t sure when they could travel again. Other than that, Mother Nature often proves to be a big challenge. She presents us with awesome beauty, but she can also unleash her fury through hurricanes, tornados, snowstorms, heat waves, etc. Then there is the unplanned. Things happen. Luggage gets lost, flights are delayed, and people get sick. Our job is to do our best to help people deal with those issues without difficulty and additional expense. I have been blessed to have great clients over the years. They make an investment of time and money to travel. There are rare instances when things go wrong beyond our control. Our philosophy is to value the relationship and do our best to address issues in a satisfactory manner.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Acendas Travel will be 40 years old in October 2022, beginning as a corporate travel company and adding vacation and meeting/incentive travel offerings. Headquartered in the Kansas City suburb of Mission, Kan., it has steadily grown by acquiring multiple agencies in Minneapolis, St. Louis, and Sioux Falls. Based on revenues, it ranks as a top 50 travel agency. In 2018, it became a partially owned subsidiary of BCD Travel – the world’s third-largest travel purchaser. By building lasting client relationships, the agency has been oft-recognized in corporate and vacation circles for its excellence. In 2020, Acendas Travel was selected by the Kansas City Business Journal as one of 11 Champions of Business. In 2021, LuxLIfe Magazine named Acendas the nation’s top Travel Technology Company, while the KCBJ named Acendas VP/Finance one of 16 CFOs of the Year. On the corporate travel side of the business, Acendas has gained a reputation for being a leader in developing and implementing travel technology.
Regarding vacation travel, we focus on premium and luxury travel experiences. While lasting relationships with our clients are paramount, it is also important for our vendors, media, suppliers, etc. Those strong relationships help us advocate for our clients. Agencies use the term “full-service,” but that truly is the essence of Acendas Travel. We are more than a provider of airline tickets, hotel rooms, and rental cars. For the vacation traveler, we have been to the places people are going. For the business, we are a partner with a strategic focus. We are invested in the success of our clients through strategic planning, data and analysis, and review. That has proven to be successful, with a 98 percent retention rate.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I had a wonderful and eventful childhood. My claim to fame came in high school as I was selected to dance on Dick Clark’s television show, American Bandstand. Later, I turned my passion for roller skating into the hobby of roller derby. And yes, it can be physical!
Contact Info:
- Website: Acendas.com and AcendasVacations.com
- Instagram: @acendasvacations
- Facebook: @acendasvacations
- Linkedin: @acendastravel
- Twitter: @acendastravel
- Youtube: @acendastravel