# Globus family of brands

> Globus family of brands is a privately held, Swiss family-owned travel group whose Globus, Cosmos and Avalon Waterways brands package the hard parts of a trip - routing, hotels, transport, access and local expertise - into guided tours, value tours, independent stays and river cruises. Founded by Antonio Mantegazza on Lake Lugano in 1928 and operated in the United States through Group Voyagers, Inc., the company now offers more than 500 vacations across at least 75 countries, selling both directly to travelers and through a large travel-advisor channel.

- **Founded:** 1928
- **Headquarters:** Denver, United States
- **Founders:** Antonio Mantegazza (Founder)
- **Team size:** Approximately 620 employees in supplied company data; LinkedIn displayed 613 associated employee profiles in 2026.
- **Products:** Globus guided tours, Cosmos value tours, Avalon Waterways, Independent City Stays & Tours, Small Group Discovery
- **Notable:** Grew from a 1928 Lake Lugano rowboat service into a portfolio of more than 500 vacations across at least 75 countries., Helped pioneer circular multi-country motorcoach touring in Europe in the 1950s., Co-founded the United States Tour Operators Association with other California tour operators in the 1970s.

## Products & services

- **Globus guided tours** — Full-service escorted vacations combining planned itineraries, hotels, transportation, Tour Directors, local guides, included sightseeing and access to major attractions.
- **Cosmos value tours** — Value-priced escorted vacations designed to keep major sights and core logistics included while giving budget-conscious travelers more discretionary time and spending choice.
- **Avalon Waterways** — River cruises in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America built around small ships, Panorama Suites, beds facing the view and a choice of Active, Classic and Discovery excursions.
- **Independent City Stays & Tours** — No-group packages that combine independent exploration with prearranged hotels, select transport and local support.
- **Small Group Discovery** — Guided tours designed around smaller groups and access to venues or local experiences that are difficult to accommodate with a full-size coach group; 2026 departures average 15 guests in Europe and 18 worldwide.
- **Choice Excursions** — Included alternatives on a tour day - such as a bike ride, tasting, cultural visit or scenic cruise - offered on nearly 80% of Globus itineraries in Europe and North America as announced for 2026 travel.
- **Travel Advisor Portal and GFOB University** — Trade tools, education, marketing assets and sales support for travel advisors who research and sell the company's vacations.

## Achievements

- Grew from a 1928 Lake Lugano rowboat service into a portfolio of more than 500 vacations across at least 75 countries.
- Helped pioneer circular multi-country motorcoach touring in Europe in the 1950s.
- Co-founded the United States Tour Operators Association with other California tour operators in the 1970s.
- Launched Cosmos in 1961 and Avalon Waterways in 2004, extending the operating platform into value touring and river cruising.
- Introduced Avalon's Suite Ships in 2011, including Panorama Suites with beds oriented toward the river view.
- Named ASTA Tour Operator Partner of the Year in both 2024 and 2025.
- Expanded Small Group Discovery to 61 worldwide itineraries for 2026.
- Avalon Waterways received four honors in Cruise Critic's 2025 Best in Cruise Awards, according to the brand's newsroom.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — The Asia Pacific business appointed Christopher Leigh as managing director, effective July 27, 2026.
- **2026-05** — Avalon Waterways announced three new 2027 cruise-and-tour itineraries and additional France programs for 2027.
- **2026-04** — Avalon introduced new seasonal excursions and continued positioning personalization as a central river-cruise feature.
- **2026-01** — The group highlighted research showing stress relief, handled logistics and a balance of free time and included activities as major drivers of guided travel.
- **2025-10** — Globus launched its 'Two Trips. One Destination.' campaign and a refreshed website contrasting guided travel with do-it-yourself planning.
- **2025-09** — Globus expanded Small Group Discovery to 61 tours for 2026 and introduced included Choice Excursions on nearly 80% of Europe and North America itineraries.

## Links

- Website: https://www.globusjourneys.com/why-globus/globus-family-of-brands/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/globus-family-of-brands
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/globusfamily
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@globusfamily
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/globusfamilyofbrands/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Globus

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Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-13