| Slogan | "Every journey tells a story" |
|---|---|
| Locale | EU NZ AU US CA |
| Service type | Package tours |
| Fuel type | Diesel |
| Chief executive | Sergio Mantegazza |
| Web site | http://globusandcosmos.com |
The Globus family of brands is a worldwide group of escorted tour, river cruise and independent travel package companies, including the brands Globus, Cosmos, Avalon Waterways and Monograms.[1]
The Globus family of brands began as a small family company with one man and a rowboat in 1928. Antonio Mantegazza, the company’s founder, used his rowboat to transport commercial goods across Lake Lugano in Switzerland.[2]
Over time, Mantegazza acquired motorcoaches to transport tourists around the Lake Lugano area in southern Switzerland. Boasting a fleet of 12 coaches, operating local excursions for European tourists in Switzerland, Mantegazza called his new venture Globus Viaggi.
By 1950, Globus Viaggi had grown significantly, featuring 33 coaches with overnight excursions to Rome, Venice, the Dolomites and French Riviera. Gradually, the overnight excursions became regularly scheduled tours and grew longer to cover more ground. Later that decade, under the leadership of Werner Albek, Antonio’s business partner, Globus pioneered the concept of Grand European Touring by offering first-class European tours to North Americans.[2]
By 1961, the company launched the Cosmos brand, featuring value-priced European touring for the cost-conscious British traveler.
Beginning in 1974, under the flagship of Sergio Mantegazza, son of Antonio and current president of Globus, the company's brands began expanding their markets beyond Great Britain with packages to Africa, Australia, North and South America, Southeast Asia, Europe and the South Pacific. Also in the early 70s, Globus launched its North American company – Group Voyagers – overseeing U.S. tour operations and the American market for the Globus and Cosmos brands.[2]
In 2003, the Globus family of brands launched a cruise company, Avalon Waterways. Also in 2003, the family extended its offerings by creating Monograms, which provides consumers independent travel packages.[3]
In all, the group of companies, consists of more than 30 tourism and aviation businesses, serviced by more than 5,000 professionals. The companies’ escorted and independent vacations offer nearly 10,000 departures and almost 300 different itineraries, covering more than 65 countries on six continents. Combined, the travel brands carry nearly 500,000 passengers in a normal year, making the Globus family of brands the largest tour operator worldwide.[4]