Travel Café

Travel Café Announces New Office Space in Missoula

Travel Café, in response to business growth requiring more office space, announces their move to a new location at 2307 Stephens Ave., Missoula. The agency will now occupy offices on the second floor of the Capital Family Mortgage Building. The unique, Victorian style facility features a home-like waiting room with fireplace on the main floor and an impressive grand staircase leading to the Travel Café offices on the 2nd floor.

"Our new offices extend Travel Café's heritage of delivering extraordinary travel experiences," said owner, Billie Ruff. "We're in a beautiful new space that will help us serve our clients even better."

Headquartered in Billings, Travel Café first opened in 1999 under owner, Billie Ruff, who had the idea to open an internet café and travel agency combination in downtown Billings, Montana. Since then the company has proven its ability to stand the test of time by leveraging cutting edge technologies, and providing exceptional services and experiences to clients. This has allowed the company to continue to grow, even in the face of the constantly changing travel landscape and volatile economies. 

Over the last 19 years, Travel Café has not only survived, it has thrived, expanding across the state with additional offices in Bozeman, and Missoula, an agent in Great Falls and operations manager in Helena. The agency provides full travel services, including leisure, corporate, events, adventure, groups, specialty travel and more.

Look to our Missoula travel professionals, Kim Lewis and Lindy Plakke, to assist you with all of your travel needs.

For more information stop by Travel Café's new offices at 2307 Stephens Ave., Missoula, visit http://montanastravelagency.com or phone (406)-721-5100. 

LC Staffing

Survey sheds light on what Missoula job seeker’s really want

35% of job seekers say “work environment” is most important factor when looking for a job.

A recent survey of Montana job seekers has culled important insight for local area employers during the state's historically low unemployment rate. Survey results, gathered by Montana-based employment agency, LC Staffing, indicate that job seeker priorities could be more complex than local employers realize.

While 25% of survey respondents declared that "wage" was one of their main considerations when looking for a job, a startling 35% stated that their "work environment" was a more important factor.

Chamber Board Chair Advocates for Local Spending

by David Erickson for the Missoulian

Will Johnson, the newest chair of the Missoula Area Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors, wants to use his yearlong term to raise awareness about how local spending is so important to a community’s economy.

“I want to spell out the connectivity of things that go on, that are missed in the community,” he said. “Folks complain about property taxes and turn around and buy from Amazon. There’s a disconnect there that needs to be shown and demonstrated.”

Johnson noted that Amazon doesn't pay Missoula County property taxes, sponsor a local Little League baseball team or contribute to any local nonprofits. But locally owned shops, grocery stores, sporting goods retailers and other businesses contribute tens of thousands of dollars to Missoula causes every year, he said.

“Local businesses show up and sponsor events and youth activities,” he said. “Three of our larger members contribute over a million dollars.”

Spending at locally owned stores keeps dollars in the community and supports jobs here. Those workers pay for housing, food, clothing and other goods in the Missoula economy. Johnson isn’t even against shopping at big box stores in Missoula, because at least those businesses pay local property taxes.