Gateways International Tailor-made Tours

What Gateways International Tailor-made Tours does

Gateways International Tailor-made Tours is a privately held, family-run Canadian travel agency operating under the legal entity The Joy of Travel Ltd. and headquartered in Richmond Hill, Ontario. Founded in 1986 and marking its 40th anniversary in 2026, the company designs and sells fully customized international travel itineraries to individual and small-group clients, primarily Canadians departing from Canadian points of origin. Destinations span over 50 countries across Europe, the Mediterranean, Africa and the Middle East, Central America, and South America, with Antarctica recently added to the published geography list.

The core offering is a tailor-made tour package comprising accommodation, transfers, ground tours, private transportation, local guides, and select meals, assembled per client specification and priced on request. Gateways acts as an intermediary between the traveler and third-party suppliers (airlines, hotels, ground operators, car rental companies), earning revenue through package markups, amendment fees (CAD $60 + HST per person), and cancellation penalties. The product portfolio is organized both by travel style — Adventure, Culinary & Wine, Beach & Sun, Family, and Group — and by destination-specific branded itineraries such as the Chilean Odyssey, Grand Tour of Switzerland, Authentic Puglia Self-Drive, Mystical Peru, Norwegian Fjords & Arctic Lights, Luxurious Lapland, and the Azores Island Odyssey. A non-refundable deposit of CAD/USD $500 per person is required at confirmation, with the balance due 60 days before departure (120 days for itineraries including cruises).

The business runs on a sales-led, high-touch go-to-market: expert travel planners — many recruited from the regions they specialize in and visiting those regions annually — craft personalized proposals for each client. Customer acquisition blends direct channels (the company website, toll-free phone 1-800-268-0900, an email newsletter, and Instagram) with a travel-agent referral channel that the company actively encourages. The technology stack is conventional: a WordPress-based marketing and itinerary site with no proprietary platform, no mobile app, no public API, and no disclosed integrations. TICO registration numbers 2472491 and 2171876 govern the firm's Ontario operations.

Name

Gateways International Tailor-made Tours

Legal name

The Joy of Travel Ltd.

Website

https://gateways-international.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gateways International is a privately held, family-run Canadian travel agency founded in 1986 that designs and sells fully customized international tour packages to 50+ countries, primarily serving individual Canadian leisure travelers through direct sales and travel-agent referrals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Travel Agency Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (56152), Travel Agencies (561510)

akta.pro primary industry

Custom Itinerary Planning with Booking & Fulfillment (Full-Service) (THAKAOAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bespoke Multi-Day Itinerary Planning & Custom Tour Design (THAJALAB), Luxury Multi-Day Tour Operators (THAKADAE)

Keywords

• Custom tour packages
• Tailor-made itineraries
• Travel agency services
• Luxury travel planning
• Destination travel services

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond Hill

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Package Tour Revenue: The company acts as a travel agent on behalf of clients, making arrangements with airlines, hotels, ground operators, and car rental companies. Revenue is generated through package pricing that includes markups on supplier services, including accommodation, transfers, tours, and select meals. Additional revenue streams include service fees, amendment fees ($60 CAD + HST per person), and cancellation penalties.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Gateways International designs and sells fully customized, tailor-made international tour packages to individual travelers, covering 50+ countries across Europe, the Mediterranean, Africa & the Middle East, Central America, and South America. Acting as a travel agent, the company assembles flights, accommodations, private transfers, local guides, tours, and select meals into personalized itineraries based on each client's preferences and travel style. Pricing is custom-quoted per trip, with a $500 CAD/USD non-refundable deposit required upon confirmation.

Product overview

Gateways International Tailor-made Tours is a Canadian, family-run travel company (established 1986, a division of The Joy of Travel Ltd.) specializing in customized tour packages to over 50 countries across Europe, Mediterranean, Africa & Middle East, Central America, and South America. The company offers a portfolio of distinct itinerary products organized by travel style (Adventure Travel, Culinary + Wine Tours, Beach + Sun Holidays, Family Travel) and destination-specific tours. Core offerings include luxury tailor-made itineraries with private transportation, expert local guides, and curated accommodations. Notable itinerary products include Chilean Odyssey, Grand Tour of Switzerland, Authentic Puglia Self-Drive, Balearic Islands, Galapagos cruises, Athens & Corfu, Norwegian Fjords & Arctic Lights, Sicilian Odyssey, Mystical Peru, Portugal Explorer programs, Family Fun in Denmark, Faroe Islands Spirit, Luxurious Lapland, and Azores Island Odyssey. All tours feature personalized service with pricing available upon request and are booked through travel agents or direct contact with specialists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tailor-Made Tour Packages Fully customized international tour packages to 50+ countries with private transportation, local guides, curated accommodations, transfers, tours, and select meals, tailored to each client's preferences and pace.
• Adventure Travel Custom adventure itineraries covering rugged landscapes, mountain peaks, diving experiences, and unique off-the-beaten-path adventures across multiple destinations.
• Culinary + Wine Tours Custom culinary and wine-focused itineraries featuring gourmet cuisine, wine tastings, vineyard visits, and restaurant experiences in destinations such as Italy, France, and Portugal.
• Beach + Sun Holidays Custom beach vacation packages to pristine coastal destinations featuring turquoise waters, relaxation experiences, and curated accommodations.
• Family Travel Custom multigenerational family itineraries with activities and experiences tailored for every age and interest, designed for family bonding.
• Group Tours Organized group travel experiences for multiple travelers traveling together to international destinations, coordinated and customized by the company.

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• G Adventures: G Adventures is a global operator known for small-group adventure travel and locally rooted experiences. It overlaps with Gateways' adventure segment, although its standardized group-tour model is less bespoke.
• Abercrombie & Kent: Abercrombie & Kent is an established luxury travel company offering private journeys, small-group tours and tailor-made itineraries. It overlaps materially with Gateways but operates across a broader portfolio and geographic network.

Direct peers

• Kensington Tours: Kensington Tours designs private, tailor-made luxury trips worldwide using destination experts and preferred suppliers. Its customized, service-led model directly overlaps Gateways' core offering.
• Audley Travel: Audley Travel specializes in tailor-made international holidays created by destination specialists. It is a close comparator in customized itinerary design, premium service and personalized proposals.
• Scott Dunn: Scott Dunn creates bespoke luxury holidays, private journeys and family trips across global destinations. Its specialist-led customization and premium customer base closely match Gateways' business model.
• Jacada Travel: Jacada Travel offers privately designed luxury journeys supported by local experts and curated experiences. It competes directly in high-touch, tailor-made international travel.
• RED SAVANNAH: RED SAVANNAH provides handcrafted tailor-made holidays, villas and private travel experiences. Its expert-assisted, bespoke model is closely comparable to Gateways' itinerary-led proposition.
• Original Travel: Original Travel builds tailor-made holidays through a network of destination experts. It directly compares on customized international itineraries and specialist-led customer service.
• Butterfield & Robinson: Butterfield & Robinson specializes in luxury active and cultural travel, including privately guided journeys. It overlaps with Gateways in high-value customized travel, local guides and experiential itineraries.

Emerging players

• Wild Frontiers: Wild Frontiers focuses on off-the-beaten-track destinations, adventure travel and privately designed or small-group itineraries. It is a relevant comparator for Gateways' adventure and experiential travel offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/gatewaysinternational

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Gateways International Tailor-made Tours