WICHITA, Kan. — What began as one bus shuttling skiers from the Denver airport to Colorado slopes has evolved into one of the Midwest’s largest and most successful motorcoach companies.
Village Travel now operates nearly 200 coaches across eight markets, offering tours, charters, and entertainer service to thousands of passengers each year. Through decades of expansion, the company has maintained a focus on quality, said President and CEO Jeff Arensdorf.
He recalled how the founders brought their first coach back to Wichita to run charters and baseball trips. “It kind of grew from there,” Arensdorf said. “They just kept adding coaches.”
By the time Arensdorf and his father, Norman, purchased the company from the Marney family in 2000, Village had 15 buses. Over the next 20 years, the business expanded into Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri, and added retail tours and entertainer coaches. Today, Prevost models make up about 60% of the fleet.
That fleet continues to grow. In September, Village took delivery of three new H3-45 coaches, with more on the way before the end of the year — a total of 10 seated coaches and six entertainer shells.
Arensdorf said the deliveries underscore the strength of Village’s operations and its long-term relationship with Prevost. “We run our coaches for about 14 years, so getting these new models into service is an investment in our future,” he said.
The timing was critical, with the new vehicles arriving just in time for college football season.
“Everyone at Prevost went above and beyond to make it happen,” he said. “If we have a coach down, we know we can reach out and get support right away.”
Comfort and quality
Village drivers and passengers alike notice the difference in Prevost coaches, Arensdorf said. Larger luggage bays, better visibility, and improved ergonomics make driving easier, while the Volvo engine’s torque and fuel economy stand out on mountain routes.
Passenger comfort is a top priority. The company outfits its tour coaches with premium Cloud One winged seats and installs fewer of them to allow more legroom.
“We don’t get complaints about seat comfort anymore,” Arensdorf said. “That makes a big difference when you’re traveling 3,000 miles.”
Village keeps its vehicles longer than most operators, so durability is key. Arensdorf said Prevost’s build quality and engineering help the company control maintenance costs and maintain resale value.
“Our mechanics like the way they’re built and easy to maintain,” he said.
After more than two decades of growth, Arensdorf credits Village Travel’s success to its team and to partnerships built on trust.
“Prevost really is a quality product supported by a quality team,” he said. “They work hard to do things the right way, and that makes all the difference.”
