World Wide Travel: 40 Years of Travel Planning and Still Going Strong

More than four decades ago, Harvey Kurr was an accountant reading Time Magazine when he came across a potentially lucrative fact: only 20 percent of Americans had used airline travel.

Moreover, unions were pushing for vacation time, and that meant millions of people were making more travel plans than ever before.

World Wide Travel was born. 

Now, all these years later, Kurr's company has undergone some changes – including the addition of his wife Arlene – but Kurr, now in his 70s, says he has not had a down year since opening, despite a myriad of economic and industry changes.

Hingham Patch sat down with the Kurrs recently to talk about their travel agency as part of a weekly business conversation series. Come back every Monday for more interviews.

What did you do before?

Harvey, a Coast Guard veteran from Winthrop, was an accountant for Star Market, which opened several other companies, such as Brigham's. Arlene, originally from Brookline was a stay-at-home mother, raising their two children.

The couple met when their sisters roomed together at Northeastern University.

When did you open?

World Wide Travel originally opened more than 40 years ago at the corner of Hancock and Beach streets in Quincy. The Kurrs opened the Hingham location, at 52 South St., 23 years ago.

What challenges did you face opening the locations?

Back when the Quincy location opened, it was among 10 travel companies in Quincy, Harvey said. That meant a lot of competition, and Harvey had to start from scratch networking since he was not from the area.

When Arlene opened the downtown Hingham location, there were five travel agencies in town. Now World Wide Travel is the only one. 

Why did you pick Hingham?

The Kurrs have lived in Hingham for 41 years. They found a prime location downtown, moving into a new building after the original building on their block burned down. 

Arlene and Harvey also live just five minutes from their storefront.

How many employees do you have?

Today it is just Arlene and Harvey and one other full-time agent. When the Quincy location was still open, they had about half a dozen people working there, mainly to hand-write airline tickets.

The Quincy location closed several years ago, prompted by a change in airline policy. That location focused primarily on commercial business, booking airfares for companies. But the airlines stopped providing commission on those sales. 

How have you adapted to industry changes?

World Wide Travel, and especially the Hingham location, has been focused on crafting vacations for people, so the change in commissions did not hurt the Kurrs as much as those with other agencies.

Computers and the Internet have not overly affected World Wide Travel. Because their agency focuses on customer services that often cannot be found using online booking tools, they have many repeat customers and referrals.

They also have 40 years of travel experience, both working as agents and traveling themselves. 

"We are well traveled," Arlene said. "It we haven't been there we have a resource."

World Wide Travel offers group bookings, cruises and domestic and international travel packages.

What are the most popular destinations?

Today people often use the Internet for domestic trips to visit relatives, and instead turn to agencies like World Wide Travel for international or exotic travel, Arlene said. 

Arlene's favorite destination, and a favorite among customers, is Italy. Religious groups will often book trips to Rome or Israel, Harvey said. Also popular are Hawaii, Asia, Alaska and South America.

Where do your customers come from?

They are primarily from the South Shore, and many Quincy customers have transitioned to the Hingham location.

What's your favorite part of the job?

"I like working with people," Arlene said. "I get excited when they are planning a trip."

Harvey added that 99 percent of people come into World Wide Travel with a smile on their face, happy to be going on vacation, and that is infectious.

If there was one thing you could change in town to help small businesses, what would it be?

The Kurrs said they cannot think of any complaints during their years in business in Hingham when it comes to rules and regulations. In fact, the town and the civic organizations have been very helpful. They like their area, with its varied, locally-owned shops and restaurants.

"It has a uniqueness," Arlene said.

If you would like to be featured in our weekly Business Conversations article, email joseph.markman@patch.com.