Ask Mr. Foster Travel Agency

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Mr. Foster Travel Agency is a Jupiter, Florida travel agency that caters to the rich and famous. Customers of the company have included Burt Reynolds, Mark Wahlberg and Cyndi Lauper.

[edit] Company history

In 1888, the Ask Mr. Foster Travel Agency was founded in St. Augustine, Florida, making it one of the oldest travel agencies in the United States. Its unusual name is the result of one local resident, Ward G. Foster, who was the unofficial keeper of the train timetables. When tourists inquired about the time of train arrivals or departures, they were told to “Ask Mr. Foster.”

In 1957, the agency changed hands when two shareholders, Donald Fischer and Thomas Orr, paid $157,000 for controlling interest in the company, which had seen hard times during and in the wake of World War II.

In 1980, Carlson Companies of Minneapolis, Minnesota purchased Ask Mr. Foster, with more than 100 branches and annual revenue in excess of $100 million.

In 1991, Ask Mr. Foster changed its name to Carlson Travel Network to capitalize on the professionalism, strength, and synergy of the Carlson Companies.

In 1994, Carlson Companies and the Paris-based Accor Group combined the business travel interests of their respective companies, Carlson Travel Network and Wagonlit Travel, under the name Carlson Wagonlit Travel.