Spears Travel History:

In 1952, the late Bill Kelley quit his job as District Sales Manager for Trans World Airlines and moved to a small town in Oklahoma called Bartlesville. He then opened Kelley World Travel in the lobby of Burlingame Hotel in the downtown area. In 1955 Mr. Kelley expanded his business and hired Charlene Spears as a travel agent and administrative assistant. Early on he moved the business to the 4th floor of the Price Tower, which had been designed for the Price Pipeline Company by world renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. In 1958, Bill Kelley decided that he had enough of small town America, and that the travel agency would never amount to much, so he just decided to close the doors. However, Charlene Spears had decided that she loved the business and was convinced that it could be successful with hard work and determination, so Charlene and her husband, Chuck Spears, who at that time was working for Cities Service Oil Company, purchased the agency.
 
In 1958 Kelley World Travel became Spears World Travel Service. The agency was shortly thereafter moved back to the Burlingame Hotel and was located in the lobby area. The agency consisted of 1 desk, 1 file cabinet, 2 phones, Charlene, and NO computers! Soon the travel agency began to grow and the first employees were hired. In 1961, Chuck decided to quit his job and go into the travel business full time. Over the next few years the business began to grow, and in 1966 they moved the agency into the Professional Building at 5th and Keeler.

The company that started with 1 desk and 2 phones in the Burlingame Hotel has now grown to many associates and independent contractors with two locations and continues to grow in both corporate and leisure sales! Some of their specialties include: luxury travel, astronomy groups, and sports groups. Both sons, Gary and Greg, are also serving in the business and are running the day-to-day operations.

Currently Spears Travel is associated with Travel Leaders Franchise Group. One of the industry's fastest-growing and robust networks of travel agents.

Many years ago, the Spears family dedicated their business to God, and continues to ask for His guidance in directing the business. Our mission is to be: The company associates want to work for and clients want to work with.

In 2018 Spears celebrated 60 years of service in Northeastern Oklahoma. 

Spears Travel Mission Statement:

"Spears Travel / Travel Leaders strives to be the most professional and customer-responsive travel agency and a market leader. We believe superior quality service is the most important thing we sell, and we seek to provide our customers with positive travel experiences and excellent quality of service at competitive prices.  To do this:  we will employ sales and service oriented associates; acquire the best technology available; provide a working environment which encourages a quality commitment to continuous improvement, teamwork, and leverage the buying power of Travel Leaders to benefit our customers. We will build a work place committed to conducting our daily business with the Godly principles of honesty, integrity, candor, trust, and dignity. 

We want to be a premier player in the corporate travel marketplace giving us the opportunities to service and bid for the top accounts in our market area.  Our goal is also to be the leading retail agency for leisure travel in our market area and be recognized as such by our vendor/suppliers and the general customer. This diversification, size, and efficiency should make our business profitable and successful."

Celebrating 60 Years in the travel industry in 2018!