1. LakeMinnetonka OUR COMMUNITY / OUR MAGAZINE
“Instead of planning your
vacations around work,
think about planning work
around your vacations.”
—Jim Bendt, president,
Travel Beyond
Trips of a Lifetime
If a safari’s what you’re wanderlusting after, go to the experts.
&
ARMCHAIR TRAVELERS TEND TO reality in his own life and something he is
DREAM OF FLYING TO FAR-OFF, EXCITING passionate about helping others experience
LOCATIONS; perhaps nothing says exotic as well.
more than “safari,” where the chance to “My mom was from South Africa, and
spot magnificent lions, zebras and giraffes we had many relatives there,” Beal says.
Travel Beyond is in their native habitat awaits. “I’ve spent my whole life traveling to Africa
located at a new
address as of For Craig Beal, CEO and co-owning and really grew up going on safaris with my
January 2010: partner of Travel Beyond (a travel consul- family.” Kenya, Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe
106 Broadway Ave.,
Wayzata; 952.475.9975;
tancy based in Wayzata), safaris have been and Namibia are just a few of the places he
travelbeyond.com more than just a dream; they’ve been a has visited.
LAKEMINNETONKAMAG.COM / MARCH 2010

2. Beal’s parents founded Travel Beyond in 1975 Another company goal is to change people’s
and personally led trips to Africa for many years. perceptions about travel, says Bendt: “Instead of
Beal credits his mother, Audrey, who passed away planning your vacations around work, think about
last year, as the “heart and soul” of the company. planning work around your vacations.”
In 2005, he purchased Travel Beyond, and continues The company is also launching a Travel Trust
to build the worldwide business with the company’s service in partnership with UBS Financial Services,
team of seasoned travel professionals. whereby grandparents and parents can set aside
The primary goal of Travel Beyond, says Beal, money in a trust fund specifically designated to
is to create memorable experiences by offering a provide travel experiences for the young people in
high level of service. Travel Beyond specializes in their lives.
safaris, luxury cruises and rail tours for both leisure “With this option, they can give the enriching
and business travel. Besides helping clients with gift of travel and allow their children or grandchildren
every facet of trip planning – from transportation the opportunity to travel to different parts of the
to accommodations and more – Travel Beyond world,” Beal says.
offers unique programs to help clients plan for He knows whereof he speaks; Beal has had
future travel. many memorable trips throughout his life, but an
“Everyone has a ‘bucket list’ of the places African safari in 2008 with his wife and their two
they want to visit during their lifetime,” says Travel oldest children, then 10 and 12, was definitely a
Beyond president Jim Bendt, a former marketing highlight. “We went to Africa for three weeks, and
and advertising professional who has known Beal they absolutely loved it,” he says.
since their days at Orono Middle School. “However,
most people tend to only plan one trip at a time,
which can sometimes be inefficient, especially if
they want to travel during peak times. With our
Travel Portfolio Management program, we can help
the client look at the ‘big picture’ and plan the trips
they want to take three, five and 10 years down
the road.”
“One of the great things about travel is
the anticipation of the trip,” Beal says. “Knowing
you have several trips planned ahead of time can
not only heighten that sense of anticipation, but
also save time and money.”
And all the Travel Beyond consultants
are infused with the love and excitement for the
places around the world that they have seen first-
hand – Australia, Peru, India, Egypt and Turkey,
just to name a few, as well as numerous European
locations.
“Bob Gaston, one of our consultants, could
draw you an accurate street map of London – that’s
how well he knows the city,” Beal says.
LAKEMINNETONKAMAG.COM / MARCH 2010