Go West Tours

What Go West Tours does

Go West Tours Inc. is a privately held Destination Management Company (DMC) and receptive tour operator founded in 1992 and headquartered at 790 Eddy Street, San Francisco, California. The company designs and sells tour products for the USA and Canada, serving approximately 59,681 passengers per year across 29 destination countries via offices located on three continents. Its customer base is reached exclusively through B2B channels — travel agencies and tour operators worldwide — with no direct-to-consumer sales motion. Core products comprise Group Tours (customized leisure and incentive group itineraries with dedicated tour directors), Guaranteed Tours / SIC (Seat in Coach) escorted fixed-departure tours in six languages (French, English, German, Portuguese, Italian, Spanish), Incentive/MICE Tours delivered through a dedicated Urban-MICE sub-brand, and FIT/Individual Tours including pre-packaged Fly & Drive self-drive itineraries.

The technology stack is built around a B2B distribution backbone rather than consumer-facing innovation. Travel agents access guaranteed SIC departures through the TravelExchange platform and book FIT services (hotels, excursions, sightseeing, transportation, Fly & Drives) through the WebConnect portal. Both portals are supplemented by an XML Connectivity API that exposes the FIT inventory programmatically to agents' booking systems. The company is a member of USTOA, NTA, IATA (via IATAN), the U.S. Travel Association (SafeTravels stamp), and NYC & Co / SF Travel conventions and visitors bureaus. There is no evidence of proprietary AI/ML capability; the operating model relies on multilingual human tour directors, regional contracting teams, and a multi-territory sales force covering UK & Ireland, Australia, DACH, Denmark, Holland, France, Italy, Eastern Europe, Spain, and Portugal. Preferred-supplier partnerships span major hotel brands (Marriott, Hilton, Best Western, Wyndham), attractions (Universal Studios Hollywood, Warner Bros. Studio Tour), activity operators (Papillon, Niagara Helicopters), cruise lines (Red and White Fleet, Gananoque Boat Line), and tourism boards.

Go West Tours generates revenue from two mainstreams: tour package sales encompassing group, guaranteed/SIC, incentive/MICE, and FIT tours priced as one-time land arrangements (covering accommodation, transfers, meals, and guide services), and transaction-based FIT bookings for individual hotels, excursions, and Fly & Drive packages bookable year-round at guaranteed rates. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; quotes flow through travel professionals via the agent portals. The company is owner-operated, with Stephan Forget as President and apparent family presence in sales leadership (Leslie Forget covering Italy and Eastern Europe); no institutional investors, private equity backers, or parent company are referenced. There are no funding rounds, acquisitions, or public-market events in the available record, and the company remains an independent private entity after more than 30 years of continuous operation.

Name

Go West Tours

Legal name

Go West Tours Inc.

Website

https://gowesttours.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Go West Tours is a privately held US-based Destination Management Company and receptive tour operator selling exclusively B2B through travel agencies and tour operators, providing group tours, guaranteed SIC tours, incentive/MICE tours, and FIT packages for USA and Canada destinations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tour Operator / Destination Management Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land (48711)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Inbound DMCs (Full-Service Ground Handling) (THAKAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Group & Series Tour Operators (Seat-in-Coach/Fixed Departures) (THAKAEAD), Small-Group Escorted Tour Operators (THAKADAB), FIT & Private Tour Operators (Customized Day Tours) (THAKAEAC), Destination & Itinerary Management (DMC-Led Experiences, Excursions, VIP Access) (THAHANAE)

Keywords

• Destination management services
• Group tour packages
• Guaranteed SIC tours
• FIT individual travel
• Travel agent booking platform

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tour Package Sales: Go West Tours generates revenue by designing and selling tour packages including Group Tours, Guaranteed/SIC Tours, Incentive/MICE Tours, and FIT/Individual Tours. Revenue comes from land arrangements including accommodation, transfers, meals, and tour guide services.
2. FIT Services and Bookings: Revenue from booking pre-packaged Fly&Drives itineraries, individual hotels, excursions, and sightseeing activities. Services are bookable year-round at guaranteed rates.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Go West Tours is a Destination Management Company (DMC) and receptive tour operator that designs, packages, and delivers land-based tour services across the United States and Canada. The company sells customized Group Tours, guaranteed Seat-in-Coach (SIC) departures, Incentive/MICE corporate programs, and independent FIT/Individual Tours (including Fly & Drives) exclusively through travel professionals, supported by dedicated agent booking portals (WebConnect, TravelExchange) and XML API connectivity.

Product overview

Go West Tours is a Destination Management Company (DMC) and Receptive Tour Operator specializing in USA and Canada travel. The company offers a unified portfolio of tour products: Group Tours for customized group travel with dedicated tour directors; Guaranteed Tours (SIC/Seat in Coach) for escorted group departures in multiple languages; Incentive/MICE Tours for corporate events via the Urban MICE division; and FITs/Individual Tours including Fly & Drives for independent travelers. All products are sold exclusively through travel professionals and supported by destination expertise across 29 countries, with operations spanning three continents.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Urban-MICE: Incentive and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) tours division operated by the company for specialized corporate group travel services.

Products and services

• Group Tours Specialized group travel services for groups of any size, offering tailored itineraries, dedicated tour directors, creative feedback, and multilingual guides for leisure and incentive groups in USA and Canada. Sold exclusively through travel professionals.
• Guaranteed Tours (SIC / Seat-in-Coach) Guaranteed departure tours where travelers reserve a seat in a coach and join other travelers, with all land services included (accommodation, transfers, meals) and multilingual tour guides in French, English, German, Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish. Bookable through the TravelExchange agent portal.
• FITs / Individual Tours Flexible independent travel services for individuals and small parties, including pre-packaged itineraries, individual hotel bookings, excursion bookings, customized itinerary design, and Fly & Drives - pre-packaged self-drive itineraries bookable year-round at guaranteed rates. Bookable through the WebConnect agent portal and XML API.
• Incentive / MICE Tours Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events tour services for corporate groups in USA and Canada, handled through the Urban-MICE division of Go West Tours.
• USA Destination Services Destination management services covering the United States, including West, East, and South regions with sample itineraries available, covering 29 destinations.
• Canada Destination Services Destination management services covering Canada, including West, East, and Maritime regions with sample itineraries available.
• WebConnect (Agent Booking Platform) Online portal for travel agents to access FIT services, manage bookings, search products, check availability, and access the media library. Bookings include hotels, excursions, services, and customized itineraries for FIT coordinators.
• TravelExchange (SIC Agent Booking Platform) Online booking platform for SIC (Seat-in-Coach) guaranteed tours, accessible to travel agents via login credentials for booking and managing guaranteed departure tours.
• Fly & Drives Pre-packaged self-drive itineraries designed for families, groups of friends, solo travelers, and experienced explorers, bookable throughout the year at a guaranteed rate.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Best WesternminorOthersPreferred hotel partner - accommodation provider for tour packages
• MarriottminorOthersPreferred hotel partner - accommodation provider for tour packages
• Wyndham HotelsminorOthersPreferred hotel partner - accommodation provider for tour packages
• HiltonminorOthersPreferred hotel partner - accommodation provider for tour packages
• Universal Studios HollywoodminorOthersPreferred attraction partner - tour and sightseeing destination
• Warner Bros. Studio TourminorOthersPreferred attraction partner - tour and sightseeing destination
• Niagara HelicoptersminorOthersPreferred activity/excursion partner - helicopter tours
• PapillonminorOthersPreferred helicopter tour partner - Grand Canyon helicopter tours
• Bassett LimousineminorOthersPreferred transportation partner - limousine services
• Lafayette TravelminorOthersPreferred travel partner - regional tourism partner
• Fort Worth TourismminorOthersPreferred destination partner - tourism board
• Flagstaff TourismminorOthersPreferred destination partner - tourism board
• Canyonlands by Night and DayminorOthersPreferred activity/excursion partner - Utah adventure tours
• Gananoque Boat LineminorOthersPreferred cruise partner - Thousand Islands tours
• Red and White FleetminorOthersPreferred cruise partner - San Francisco bay cruises

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Insight Vacations: Insight Vacations is a premium global escorted tour operator (part of TTC) with substantial North American product. It overlaps with Go West Tours in higher-end USA/Canada guided group tours sold through the travel agent channel.
• Tauck: Tauck is a premium escorted tour operator with deep North American destination coverage, including national parks and city tours. It competes with Go West Tours in the higher-end group and FIT touring space for USA/Canada.
• Globus Family of Brands: Globus (and its sister brand Cosmos) operates escorted and independent travel packages worldwide, with a sizeable North America land tour portfolio distributed through travel agents. It is a broad incumbent competing with Go West Tours in USA/Canada escorted and FIT products.
• Trafalgar: Trafalgar is one of the largest global escorted tour operators with extensive North American itineraries sold through travel agents. While broader in geography and brand portfolio than Go West Tours, it directly overlaps in the USA/Canada multi-day escorted tour category.
• Cosmos: Cosmos is a value-oriented escorted tour brand within the Globus family, offering North American itineraries at lower price points. It overlaps with Go West Tours' SIC and value guided tour products targeting cost-conscious travelers.

Emerging players

• AHI Travel: AHI Travel is a US tour operator focused on affinity and special-interest group travel (alumni associations, fraternal organizations), with significant USA/Canada land product. It is comparable to Go West Tours in the customized group and incentive touring niche.
• City Wonders: City Wonders operates guided tours, excursions, and sightseeing experiences across major North American and European cities, often sold via online travel agents and direct. It overlaps with Go West Tours' FIT excursions and city sightseeing offerings.

Direct peers

• Collette: Collette is a major US-based escorted tour operator offering guided land tours across North America, Europe, and beyond, sold primarily through travel agents. It is a direct competitor to Go West Tours in the US/Canada escorted group tour and FIT categories, with overlapping distribution and product structure.
• Brendan Vacations: Brendan Vacations is a US-focused escorted tour operator (now part of the Trafalgar/TTC family) that designs guided vacations across North America. Like Go West Tours, it sells multi-day package tours with strong destination expertise in the USA, overlapping directly with Go West's leisure and group tour products.
• American Tours International: American Tours International is an inbound receptive tour operator and DMC specializing in USA group and FIT travel, selling primarily through international travel agents. It is one of the closest direct comparables to Go West Tours in model, geography, and channel.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/go_west_tours

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Go West Tours