Fallsnewspress.com - Planning vacation for others a holiday for clan

by Ellin Walsh

Reporter

Cuyahoga Falls -- Who knew a quick stop at a local travel agency would become a one-way ticket toward becoming a tourism industry icon?

But that's exactly what happened to Mary Jo Nichol and her late husband, Bill. Half a century ago, Mary Jo recalls, Bill, a railroad buff, decided to browse inside a travel agency at the corner of Chestnut Boulevard and State Road.

"Frank Bailey owned the business back then," Mary Jo recalls, "and my husband went in to ask a few questions. By the time the conversation ended, Frank told Bill, 'There's one thing wrong here -- We're standing on the wrong sides of the counter! You obviously know more about travel than I do.'"

Within six months, the Nichols had purchased The Holiday House Travel Bureau and the business is marking its 50th anniversary this year.

During the last five decades, the firm has moved two doors down from its original location to expand, but its employees have never strayed from the philosophy of its founders. That's because the business, which was grounded in family from the day the Nichols acquired it, remains that way. Bill died 16 years ago and today Mary Jo leaves the day-to-day operations of the firm to her daughters, Pam Nichol-Miller and Billie Nichol-Minninger. A third daughter, Jennie, used to work at the travel agency before she became a stay-at-home mom and Mary Jo's grandson, Beau Miller, is a regular fixture there.

"I took Pam on her first cruise at the tender age of 2," Mary Jo reports, "so you might say she was raised on travel -- they [the Nichols' four daughters] all were."

Asked the secret to Holiday House's longevity, Pam says, "My dad never placed emphasis on monetary goals. He cared about people and he passed that on to us. It shows through in business when you genuinely care about your customers -- that's why most of our clients become friends."

Pam says the Internet has provided a means to reach a segment of the population Holiday House might not otherwise. With international travel, especially, Pam says agents can often find deals customers can't locate themselves. She also says customers might save more money using a travel agent than they would making arrangements themselves via the Internet.

"Often times a thumb nail picture and a few sentences about a hotel isn't enough information to book a vacation that you're spending a lot of money on," Billie says, adding, "When people come to us, we can make a recommendation based upon first-hand knowledge. If I spend your money like it's mine, you'll come back to me to book your next trip."

Beau says it's not unusual for his mother or aunt to run into the office at 11:30 on a Saturday night, to arrange a special perk for clients.

"It's just what we do," Pam says, adding, "We're proud to carry on our parent's legacy. Once you've been bitten by the travel bug, it's hard to imagine staying put."

For more information, call Holiday House at 330-923-1456 or stop by at 1666 State Road. You also may e-mail: billie@holidayhousetravel.com.

E-mail: ewalsh@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3908