Five Star Travel • Round Rock

Five Star Travel • Round Rock

By Kelsey Wilkinson Friday, 05 June 2009

There is more to vacationing than lying on the beach and ordering room service. Carl Anderson, owner of Five Star Travel in Round Rock, prides himself on managing all of those less-glamorous, but very crucial traveling tasks such as booking transportation, discovering new resorts and researching travel insurance.

Anderson developed a love for travel from his father who worked in the airline business. He grew up in an environment that supported the quest for adventure and it inspired Anderson to open his own travel business in 1991 in his then-home, Boston. Fourteen years later, in search of a warmer climate, Anderson moved his family and the business to Round Rock.

“We researched a lot of cities and the Austin area always came out on top,” Anderson said. “Round Rock has good people, good schools and is really supportive of local business.”

He remembers not knowing anyone in Round Rock when he first moved, and he said he had no business contacts. Anderson attributes the community’s many opportunities for networking and its friendly environment to his success.

The business initially operated under the name Anderson Vacations, a title he selected to pay tribute to his travel-inspiring parents. However, as clients began requesting more upscale services, Anderson began guiding people to more luxurious destinations and changed the name to Five Star Travel to better reflect his clients’ needs. But that should not imply that Anderson does not plan value vacations.

“I think it’s all about value when it comes to vacationing,” he said. “I want to get people the best value for their dollar, that five-star hotel at a three-star price.”

Operating a home-based business allows Anderson to concentrate more on his clients than managing a storefront, he said. When he first started the business, he decided that he wanted his business to be good, not big. Anderson started small and gathered his clients based primarily on referrals. Now he plans 200 to 300 vacations a year, but being in the travel business, he faces some significant and unique challenges.

“Usually travel is one of the first industries to feel the impact of a crisis,” he said.

Anderson said after 9-11, the travel industry saw a significant downturn, and the current economic recession affects his business, too. Most recently, the fear of a Swine Flu pandemic hindered people’s travel plans. But Anderson said his business is able to survive because of his loyal clients.

One benefit of working with Five Star Travel is Anderson’s ability to offer his personal experiences as a tool for his clients.

“Personal experience gives me the training I need to be a destination specialist,” he said. “I am an avid learner and I constantly train to learn the ins and outs of different locations.”

Anderson tries to take two trips a year with his two daughters and wife, Linda, who helps with the marketing and sales aspect of the business.

“But, you know, if you are doing something you love, you never work a day in your life,” Anderson said.

Fabulous fundraising

Carl Anderson wanted to give back to the community in the best way he knew how, through travel. He established two ways that travelers can vacation, while also contributing to a nonprofit cause.

Individual travel Five Star Travel returns a small portion of profits to the vacationer’s nonprofit organization of choice.

Group travel Five Star Travel works with existing group incentive programs offered by many cruise lines and resorts and ensures that a healthy portion of group costs is routed back to a nonprofit organization.

Five Star Travel

716-0900, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , www.five-startravel.com