Brunswick’s KHM Travel cruises into second decade with grand reopening event

BRUNSWICK, Ohio — As one of the fastest-growing businesses in Medina County, perhaps the greatest curiosity of Brunswick-based KHM Travel is how few people have figured out what the company actually does.

“We have been in beautiful Brunswick for almost 15 years and nobody knows what we do,” KHM Vice President of Sales Jeff Cox laughed.

“Our company helps people start up their own home-based travel businesses. We’ve done that for more than 5,000 (travel agents) across the U.S.”

KHM Training and Development Coordinator Tim Smith added that, in its 14th year, KHM is doing more than $200 million a year in sales.

The Sept. 26 celebration of KHM’s June 10 move to its new 50 Pearl Road location welcomed the community and local and state elected officials, including Brunswick Mayor Ron Falconi; State Rep. Steve Hambley; representatives from the offices of Ohio Congressmen Bob Gibbs and Anthony Gonzalez and state Sen. Larry Obhof; Medina County Recorder Joe Salzgeber; Medina County Clerk of Courts Dave Wadsworth; Brunswick City Councilman Joe Delsanter; and Brunswick Hills Township Trustees John Witthuhn and Mike Esber.

“I think it’s gorgeous,” Esber said of the new location. “I think this is great for the community, and I’ll be booking my next trip from here.”

According to Cox, KHM is more in the business of booking career dreams than cruises. Oftentimes, Cox said, the general public is unaware of the current travel business boom and how lucrative a career as a travel agent can be.

“Travel is 10 percent of the world’s gross domestic product,” he said. “Thanks to the Baby Boomers, we are in a golden era and there is a bright future for us. People think (travel booking) and go, ‘it’s simple, I’ll get online.’ But when you’re trying to schedule a tour of Eastern Europe — rides, flights — you need someone by your side.”

KHM Senior Vice President of Operations Lisa Findura said KHM boats more than 70 in-house employees and provides upstart and established agents with the education, technology and social media tools, live events and webinars to “empower agents to be successful small businesses.”

Company President and CEO Rick Zimmerman said KHM has been blessed to be a part of the Brunswick community and is excited to continue to invest in — and give back to — the city and Medina County.

Zimmerman added a couple of mightily ambitious company goals to his personal to-do list in the coming years, as well.

“We have 64 people on our team in this building and 10 around the country,” he said. “I’d like that to be 100 team members. We have been ranked number 26 (nationally) and Expedia is number one. I’d like to think, what if?”

In a proclamation to KHM, one of several the company received at the grand reopening, Hambley reminded attendees of the impact that the travel industry, and a company like KHM, already has on the community.

“Travel teaches tolerance — it has an effect on people,” he said. “And it also can be fun. There is the old saying that I’d rather see a place than hear about it 1,000 times.”

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