History

Southeast Travel Service was found in San Francisco on September 28, 1973, with only four employees, including its founder, P.K. Mei. Mr. P.K. Mei began his lifelong career in travel and tourism at age nineteen at China National Aviation Corporation, which later became Air China. From office clerk to Director of Business, P.K. Mei proved his professionalism with determination and dedication to the airline industry. After relocating to Taiwan, he also employed with Civil Air Transportation and China Airlines as top ranking director. At China Airlines, his ability was recognized again with the plotting of Taiwan-U.S. air routes. 

In 1970s, Taiwan-U.S. air routes was lead by Pan Am World Airways and few other international airlines. Southeast Travel Service was able to secure its market share in the San Francisco Bay Area by distributing airline tickets to the overseas Chinese-Americans. Within a few months of operation, Southeast Travel Service was accredited by ATC (now ARC) and IATA to self-ticketing.

During the time when on-line computer reservation and ticketing system for airline ticketing was uncustomary for local travel agencies, Southeast Travel Service was unable to have American Airlines nor United Airlines to install reservation ticketing computers. All ticketing services were performed manually, which was not only time consuming, but also inefficient. 

In 1977, Christopher Mei, who had just earned his MBA degree, joined Southeast Travel Service and actively promoted installation of computer reservation/ticketing system. Christopher Mei's efforts did not go unnoticed; within a short time, Pan Am offered to request a computer reservation and ticketing system from American Airlines for Southeast Travel.

For a company which was established only a few years ago, a couple of thousand dollars of monthly service charge for online computer was a financial burden. However, to better accommodate its clients, Southeast Travel Service not only adopted state of the arts computer system, but also computerized its accounting procedures. Time validated this decision; the total sales volume of the year increased by five times, while staff was expanded by only two employees. Southeast Travel Service was the first Chinese owned travel agency to install computer system. Today, Southeast Travel Service remains one of the top eleven travel agencies among more than five thousand agencies in Northern California. 

With advanced computer system, Southeast Travel Service was able to provide customers more efficient services and therefore establish long term mutually beneficial relationships with major airlines. At this point, Southeast Travel Service has become the leading U.S. Chinese-American own travel agency and ticketing center.

In 1982, Christopher Mei was appointed president by Southeast Travel Service's board of directors. Between 1983 and 1984, Southeast Travel Service updated its entire computer system, enabling its employees to provide even more efficient reservation and expeditious ticketing services. Southeast Travel Service was capable of issuing more than one hundred group tickets in a few minutes. In addition, Southeast Travel Service's management decided to restructure its operational system and formed a tiered operation system. Better management, follow-up, and services were accomplished and brought in more repeat businesses and better reputation in the industry. 

In 1987, sales increase and prominent reputation of Southeast Travel Service were noticed by United Airlines, who had just bought rights of Pacific air routes from Pan Am. United Airlines was eager to maintain and expand its Pacific market and realized Southeast Travel Service was just what United Airlines needed. United Airlines was impressed by Southeast Travel Service's phenomenal growth and outstanding customer service. It offered Southeast Travel Service to install their advanced computer system Apollo at no charge. With two complete computer systems which include all flights of major airlines, Southeast Travel Service has now taken a new step toward efficient yet personalized services.

Since 1985, annual total sales of Southeast Travel Service has been more than US$10,000,000 and total sales volume has been expanding at the rate of at least 10% annually. In 1993, the annual sales was in excess of US$20,400,000. Total sales in 2000 reached US$26,000,000.