Globus

What Globus does

Globus is a Swiss family-owned tour operator founded in 1928 by Antonio Mantegazza, originally operating tourist transportation on Lake Lugano. Today the company runs three wholly-owned brands — Globus (premium escorted tours), Cosmos (value-priced touring), and Avalon Waterways (river cruises with Suite Ships in Europe, Asia, South America, and Egypt) — collectively offering more than 740 vacations across 80+ countries on six continents. Its product portfolio spans classic guided tours, Small Group Discovery Tours averaging 15 guests in Europe and 18 worldwide, Independent city stays, Undiscovered off-the-beaten-path itineraries, off-season Escapes, religious pilgrimages, rail tours, cruise-and-tour combinations, and special-event trips, supported by features such as Globus Choice Excursions (customizable on roughly 80% of tours), Local Favorites exclusive experiences, and hand-picked hotels with seamless transportation.

The underlying technology stack consists of a digital booking platform with the globusjourneys.com storefront, the MyGlobus customer portal, and a family of mobile apps (GlobusGO, AvalonGO, CosmosGO) for on-trip services, complemented by dedicated portals for travel advisors (agents.globusfamily.com) and group leaders. The business model is one-time package sales via direct-to-consumer channels (website, toll-free Vacation Planners staffed Monday-Saturday) and an extensive third-party travel advisor network, supplemented by optional excursion add-ons and a $250-deposit "Start Now. Go Later" payment plan. Pricing ranges from approximately $899 (Escapes) to $5,389+ (Small Group Discovery) per person based on double occupancy, with US operations housed in Denver under the Cosmos Tours Ltd. legal entity and fielding roughly 251-500 employees.

Customer segmentation is hybrid across personas and use cases, with the primary target being mature Gen X and younger Boomer leisure travelers (ages 50-65) in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, who value guided, structured travel with built-in flexibility. Secondary segments include solo travelers, value-conscious off-season travelers, religious pilgrims, and group/private bookings. The company remains privately held under the founding Mantegazza family with no disclosed external funding, no identified PE/VC or strategic parent ownership, and current leadership including CEO Scott Nisbet.

Name

Globus

Legal name

Cosmos Tours Ltd.

Website

https://globusjourneys.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1928

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Globus is a Swiss family-owned tour operator founded in 1928, offering 740+ guided vacations across 80+ countries through three brands — Globus, Cosmos, and Avalon Waterways — primarily serving mature Gen X and Boomer leisure travelers via direct sales and an extensive travel advisor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Guided Tour Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Private/Customized Multi-Day Tour Operators (THAKADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Escorted Coach & Bus Package Tour Operators (THAKADAA), Adventure & Expedition Travel Agencies (THAKAFAB)

Keywords

• Guided tour packages
• River cruise vacations
• Escorted group tours
• Leisure tour operator
• Independent travel packages

Headquarters

HQ city

Littleton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Guided Tour Packages: All-inclusive vacation packages combining hand-picked hotels, seamless transportation, immersive experiences, and expert Tour Directors. One upfront price with no surprises. Revenue generated from package bookings across Classic, Small Group Discovery, Independent, Undiscovered, and Escapes tour styles.
2. River Cruises (Avalon Waterways): River cruise vacations through Avalon Waterways brand featuring Suite Ships with largest staterooms and modern amenities, included shore excursions. Cruises available in Europe, Asia, South America, and Egypt.
3. Optional Excursions and Add-ons: Additional revenue from optional add-on experiences and upgrades available for purchase during tours, such as zip line canopy tours, catamaran cruises, and adventure activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Globus is a tour operator that designs and sells guided vacation packages across 80+ countries on six continents. Offerings include escorted Classic tours, Small Group Discovery tours (averaging 15 guests), off-season Escapes, Independent city stays, Undiscovered tours, Religious pilgrimages, Rail tours, Cruise & Tour combinations, Special Event tours, and Private tours, all bundled with hotels, transportation, sightseeing, and Tour Director-led experiences at one upfront price. The company also operates sister brands Cosmos (value tours) and Avalon Waterways (river cruises).

Product overview

Globus is a Swiss family-owned tour operator offering a comprehensive portfolio of guided travel experiences across 80+ countries on 6 continents. The company operates three distinct brands: Globus (premium guided tours), Cosmos (value-oriented tours), and Avalon Waterways (river cruises). The core Globus brand encompasses multiple tour styles including Classic Tours (full-service escorted experiences), Small Group Discovery Tours (average 15-18 guests for intimate experiences), Escapes (off-season value tours), Independent Tours (flexible self-paced options), Undiscovered Tours (off-the-beaten-path), Religious Tours (pilgrimages), Rail Tours, Cruise & Tour combinations, Special Event Tours, and Private Tours. Key differentiating features include Globus Choice Excursions (customizable experiences on 80% of tours), Local Favorites (exclusive authentic experiences), Tour Directors and Local Guides, hand-picked hotels, VIP access, and seamless transportation. The portfolio spans over 740 vacation options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Globus Classic Tours Globus's flagship guided tour line featuring signature escorted vacations with maximum depth and minimum stress, including hand-picked hotels, seamless transportation, VIP access to iconic sights, Local Favorites experiences, and Tour Directors and Local Guides. Targeted at leisure travelers seeking fully guided, all-inclusive vacations.
• Small Group Discovery Tours Smaller-group guided tours averaging 15 guests in Europe and 18 worldwide, providing more intimacy, access, and connection than standard tours, with exclusive excursions and special access. Targeted at travelers seeking smaller, more intimate group experiences.
• Globus Escapes Off-season value tour style offering lower prices, smaller crowds, and cooler temperatures at top destinations worldwide. Available in Europe, South America, North America, and the Middle East with deals from $899 per person.
• Independent City Stays & Tours Flexible touring option including hotels, transportation, and on-trip support while allowing travelers to explore destinations at their own pace without a fixed group schedule.
• Undiscovered Tours Off-the-beaten-path tours taking travelers to hidden gems, backstreets, and lesser-known destinations without the crowds of mainstream tourist sites.
• Religious Tours Pilgrimage and faith-based guided tours that follow historical and spiritual footsteps to places of devotion, connecting travelers with like-minded wayfarers.
• Rail Tours Scenic rail-based travel itineraries featuring iconic train journeys such as Rocky Mountaineer, combining land touring with rail transportation between destinations.
• Cruise & Tour Vacations Combination vacation packages pairing guided land touring with cruise-based travel, combining overland sightseeing with water-based cruising experiences.
• Private Tours Personalized guided tours designed for private groups of two or more travelers, offering all benefits of published Globus itineraries customized for specific parties.
• Cosmos Tours Value-priced escorted tours under the Cosmos sub-brand, targeting budget-minded travelers seeking guided experiences with the backing of Globus expertise.
• Avalon Waterways River Cruises River cruise vacations aboard Suite Ships with industry-largest staterooms, modern amenities, and included shore excursions across Europe, Asia, South America, and Egypt.

Quantifiable outcome

• 74% of Gen X travelers and 71% of younger Boomers find guided vacations appealing
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• MMGY Travel IntelligenceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner commissioned by Globus to conduct traveler preference surveys, including a study of 5,000 leisure travelers aged 50-65 across U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand on guided travel preferences.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Trafalgar: Trafalgar is a guided vacation operator offering 4-5 star escorted tours across multiple continents, also owned by The Travel Corporation (TTC) as is Globus. It competes directly with Globus Classic and Small Group Discovery tours through similar Tour Director-led, multi-destination itineraries targeting the same 50+ demographic.
• Insight Vacations: Insight Vacations is a premium escorted tour operator also under The Travel Corporation umbrella, serving the same upscale guided tour customer as Globus with a similar business model of Tour Directors, hand-picked hotels, and immersive itineraries in Europe and beyond.
• Cosmos Tours: Cosmos is Globus's own value-priced sister brand under the same family ownership. While not a true independent competitor, it operates in the same escorted tour market at lower price points and is the primary direct internal comparable for understanding segment-level margin and growth economics within Globus's portfolio.
• Avalon Waterways: Avalon Waterways is Globus's sister river cruise brand, a wholly-owned subsidiary under the same family. It operates Suite Ships in Europe, Asia, South America, and Egypt, directly comparable to Viking River Cruises and AmaWaterways in product and customer profile.
• Viking River Cruises: Viking River Cruises is a major river cruise operator with a similar 50+ affluent traveler customer base and a comparable river cruise plus pre/post land tour package model. It is the most direct external competitor to Avalon Waterways and overlaps heavily with Globus's Cruise & Tour products.
• Tauck: Tauck is a family-owned, premium escorted tour operator founded in 1925 serving the same affluent 50+ traveler segment with guided land tours and small-ship cruises. Its premium positioning, century-long heritage, and family-controlled ownership structure make it one of the closest analog peers to Globus in both business model and customer profile.
• Collette: Collette is a guided tour operator offering escorted tours across all seven continents, closely comparable to Globus in product mix (multi-day escorted tours with Tour Managers), target demographic (mature travelers), and global distribution via travel advisors.
• AmaWaterways: AmaWaterways is a family-owned premium river cruise operator, directly comparable to Avalon Waterways' Suite Ships product. The river cruise segment overlap and shared customer demographic make it a highly relevant peer for assessing Globus's Avalon Waterways subsidiary.
• Gate 1 Travel: Gate 1 Travel is an escorted tour and river cruise operator with a similar tour director-led multi-country model across 6 continents, serving both value and premium tiers. It is a meaningful direct competitor particularly in the value tier where Globus's Cosmos brand competes.

Emerging players

• TourRadar: TourRadar is an online marketplace aggregating 40,000+ tours from 3,000+ operators, providing booking and comparison functionality for guided tours. It is comparable as a distribution channel and emerging disintermediation threat to traditional tour operators like Globus, though it serves an overlapping rather than directly competing role.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@GlobusFamily
• Facebookfacebook.com/globus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/globus
• Instagraminstagram.com/globus
• Xx.com/globusfamily

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Globus