Acendas Travel Announces New President, Brent Blake to Retire

Posted January 7, 2025

Overland Park-based Acendas Travel has announced that long-time travel industry executive Richard Aquino will succeed president Brent Blake, who is retiring.

Aquino will begin his position on January 27 while Blake will remain through the first quarter of 2025 to assist in the transition, according to a Tuesday release.

Richard Aquino will be the next president of Acendas Travel effective Jan. 27. Photo credit: Acendas Travel.

Aquino comes to Acendas Travel with over 20 years with Allianz Partners, the world’s largest travel insurance and global assistance company. Most recently, Aquino served as vice president and head of sales at Allianz where he was responsible for revenue growth, client retention, product development and management of the sales channel.

Blake will retire after 27 years at Acendas Travel. He joined in 1997 as chief operating officer and later advanced to co-owner and president in 2001 then owner in 2018. An Overland Park native, he helped grow the company to a top 50 travel management company and facilitated Acendas Travel’s relationship with BCD Travel. Acendas Travel is now a wholly owned subsidiary of BCD Travel.

Acendas Travel president Brent Blake will retire following 27 years with the company. Photo credit: Acendas Travel.

Blake was featured in Ingram’s January 2024 C-Suite Awards, where he was honored as President of the Year. He was also featured as a profile in the 2024 Ingram’s 250: Kansas City’s Most Influential Business Leaders in October.

Founded in 1982, Acendas Travel is a travel management company that provides corporate travel solutions, full-service meeting support and customized vacation travel planning. The firm is headquartered in Overland Park.