For 25 years, Ascent Performance Group has designed and delivered once in a lifetime group travel experiences and highly engaging events to a wide variety of corporate clients and sponsoring organizations. Throughout this journey, we have reached significant milestones, navigated challenges, and witnessed the transformative impact of travel on our clients’ lives.
25 Years of Incentive Travel Excellence: By the Numbers
- Travel Programs Executed: 200+
- Unique Destinations Experienced: 78+
- Travel Brands Founded: 8
- Distinctive Trip Logos Created: 125+
- Pecan Pies Enjoyed: 520+
I extend my sincere appreciation to everyone who has contributed to the success of these past 25 years. To our travel planners and client service teams—your dedication enables our clients to deliver extraordinary experiences that celebrate success, recognize achievements, inspire performance, and reward loyalty through impactful sales incentive travel programs.
This journey would not have been possible without the unwavering support and encouragement of Heather Birkhimer, who has worked with me almost from the beginning. As my colleague and friend, trusted business advisor and confidant, Heather has been an invaluable asset to APG and remains my longest-serving team member.
To my exceptional team members, past and present – Amelia Boren, Casey Lazar, Claudia Grow, Kelly Kozlowsky, Dorothy Johnson, and Cathy Steele – your leadership and commitment have been instrumental in our continued growth year after year. And to our newest team members, Melinda Malone and Ingrid Vance, thank you in advance for your contributions to the continued growth and success of Ascent Performance Group.
Reflecting on this journey as a leader in incentive travel, I want to share my top ten business insights shaped by decades of experience building programs, refining our proven incentive travel planning process, and partnering with world-class organizations.
Top Ten Business Lessons:
- Hire individuals who are smarter than you. Seek out those with expertise that complements your own and empower them to succeed.
- Understand the difference between being busy and being profitable. Productivity should always be aligned with profitability.
- Always be honest. Whether facing industry shifts or global challenges such as the pandemic, honesty remains the best approach – with your team, your clients, and yourself.
- Never dismiss an opportunity too soon. Even if it falls outside your usual scope, it may lead to valuable growth in the future.
- Keep every promise. No matter how small, commitments matter.
- Start small. Every successful business begins somewhere; extensive resources are not a prerequisite for success.
- Recognize when to move on from an idea. Not every concept will work—knowing when to pivot is key.
- Keep Learning. If you are operating the same way you did five years ago, you are not innovating.
- Maintain focus. No one can excel at everything; define your niche and master it.
- Value your time – yours and others. Your priorities set the precedent for how others respect your time.
Over the years, we have had the privilege of working with incredible individuals, and I am deeply grateful for their partnership, friendship, and support. None of this would have been possible without you, our clients, who place an enormous amount of trust in us.
Here’s to the next 25 years of innovation, growth, making an impact, and, of course, more Travel Booyah! While our official celebration will be postponed until after our current travel season, I am truly honored to recognize this remarkable milestone.
Our mission at APG is to always celebrate what’s best about our clients, their top team members & customers, and ourselves. That’s what we’re about, and there is lots to celebrate!
I would love to hear your thoughts. Join the discussion on my LinkedIn page.
With gratitude,
Scott Andrews
