Holy Land Travel Center

What Holy Land Travel Center does

Holy Land Travel Center is a privately held, family-owned Catholic pilgrimage travel agency founded in 2002 and headquartered at 2800 San Mateo Blvd NE, Suite 108, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The company is operated by the Qumsieh family, whose roots in the Bethlehem suburb of Beit Sahour position them as native Holy Land Christians. The firm organizes and escorts group pilgrimages to Catholic sacred sites worldwide, bundling roundtrip flights, 4–5 star hotel accommodations, meals, English-speaking tour guides, spiritual direction by priests, motor-coach ground transportation, and site entry fees into single per-person packages priced between roughly $2,499 and $5,499 on a double-occupancy basis, with a $500 deposit and final payment 45 days prior to departure.

The product portfolio spans 19 destination categories including the Holy Land, Jordan and Egypt, Western Europe (Rome, Assisi, Fatima, Lourdes, Santiago de Compostela, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Scotland, England), Eastern Europe (Prague, Krakow, Czestochowa, Auschwitz), Greece and Turkey (St. Paul sites), Ireland, Mexico, South America, Marian Shrines, the decennial Oberammergau Passion Play, Mediterranean cruises, and a newer USA & Canada category. The company holds a special relationship with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem for exclusive access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and co-markets Spanish-language itineraries with the Virgen de Guadalupe Foundation. It also offers optional travel insurance through three providers (Travelex, Trawick International, Travel Insured International), with Travelex ceasing new Israel policies as of October 2023.

Commercially, Holy Land Travel Center runs a sales-led, direct-to-consumer model with no resellers or third-party distributors. Customers — individual Catholic pilgrims and parish groups — engage via the holylandtc.com website (with WeTravel embedded checkout), a 1-866 phone line, and email at [email protected]. Priest and spiritual director referrals function as the primary grassroots distribution channel, with named clergy such as Fr. Vitus (Albuquerque), Fr. Michael J. Shea, Fr. Martin (St. Louis), and Deacon Donato Lucero referenced across customer testimonials. The firm has served over 15,000 clients across its 22-year history, has no disclosed funding rounds, no parent company, no subsidiaries, and operates with 11–50 employees.

Name

Holy Land Travel Center

Legal name

Holy Land Travel Center

Website

https://holylandtc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Tourism Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation (487)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Pilgrimage & Faith-Based Multi-Day Tour Operators (THAKADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pilgrimage Packages (Air-Inclusive) Tour Operators (THAKAHAK), Faith-Based Group Travel (Church/Mosque/Temple) Organizers (THAKAHAH)

Keywords

• Catholic pilgrimage tours
• Religious group travel
• Guided faith tours
• Pilgrimage packages
• Holy Land tours

Headquarters

HQ city

Albuquerque

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Pilgrimage Tour Packages: The company generates revenue through selling comprehensive pilgrimage tour packages that include roundtrip flights, accommodations (4-5 star hotels), meals, professional tour guides, spiritual directors, air-conditioned motor coach transportation, and entry fees to sacred sites. Packages range from 6 to 16 days and are priced per person based on double occupancy.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Holy Land Travel Center organizes and operates Catholic pilgrimage tours to sacred destinations worldwide. Packages include roundtrip flights, 4-5 star hotel accommodations, meals, professional tour guides, spiritual directors (priests), air-conditioned motor coach transportation, and entry fees to holy sites. Tour durations range from 6 to 16 days with destinations covering Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Europe, Greece, Turkey, Ireland, Mexico, South America, and Marian shrines.

Product overview

Holy Land Travel Center is a family-owned Catholic pilgrimage travel company operated by the Qumsieh family of Bethlehem. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of guided pilgrimage tours to sacred Catholic destinations worldwide. The core offering consists of organized group pilgrimages featuring roundtrip flights, 4-5 star hotel accommodations, meals, professional English-speaking tour guides, spiritual directors, luxury motor coach transportation, and entrance fees to holy sites. The product lineup includes dedicated pilgrimage categories: Holy Land (Israel/Palestine), Jordan & Egypt, Western Europe (Rome, Assisi, Fatima, Lourdes, Santiago de Compostela, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy), Eastern Europe (Prague, Krakow, Poland), Greece & Turkey (St. Paul sites), Ireland, Mexico, South America, Marian Shrines, Passion Play, and cruise-based pilgrimages. Additional services include optional travel insurance protection plans through partnered providers. The company operates primarily from Albuquerque, NM with departure hubs from various US cities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Catholic Pilgrimage Travel Services Comprehensive Catholic pilgrimage travel arrangements including flights, accommodations, meals, guided tours, spiritual direction, and transportation to sacred destinations worldwide, for individual pilgrims and parish groups.
• Holy Land Pilgrimages Pilgrimages to Israel/Palestine including visits to Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Nazareth, Galilee, Sea of Galilee, Dead Sea, and sacred Christian sites, for Catholic faithful seeking spiritually meaningful travel.
• Jordan & Egypt Pilgrimages
• Western Europe Pilgrimages
• Greece & Turkey Pilgrimages
• Marian Shrines Pilgrimages
• Mexico Pilgrimages
• South America Pilgrimages
• Ireland Pilgrimages
• Eastern Europe Pilgrimages
• Passion Play Pilgrimages
• Cruise Pilgrimages
• Travel Protection/Insurance

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 15,000 happy clients served
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Latin Patriarchate of JerusalemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe company has a special relationship with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, enabling pilgrims to receive exclusive private access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and meet with the Patriarch. Pilgrims have been honored to be the first group in 2 years to visit and receive Pilgrim Shells.
• Travelex Insurance ServicesminorOthersProvides optional travel protection plans including Group Choice Plus and Group Premier Plus coverage options for pilgrims. Note: As of 10/10/23, Travelex no longer issues policies for Israel travel.
• Trawick InternationalminorOthersRecommended alternative travel insurance provider for Holy Land destinations not covered by Travelex, offering Pathway Essential, Plus, and Premier plans.
• Travel Insured InternationalminorOthersAdditional travel insurance option offered through their parent company Zurich, providing trip cancellation, interruption, medical, and baggage coverage.
• Virgen de Guadalupe FoundationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpanish-language pilgrimage operator that partners with Holy Land Travel Center to offer pilgrimages including Mexico City, Prague/Krakow, Italy, and Holy Land Semana Santa packages. Multiple joint pilgrimage offerings listed on the website.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Collette: Large, established guided-tour operator with faith-based and religious heritage itineraries as part of a much broader portfolio. Comparable on guided multi-day tour mechanics, but operates at much larger scale and is not Catholic-specialist.
• Globus family of brands (faith tours): Major escorted-tour brand offering faith-based and religious discovery tours alongside mainstream itineraries. Overlaps on multi-day guided tour delivery and some pilgrimage destinations, but not Catholic-specialist.

Direct peers

• 206 Tours: One of the largest U.S.-based Catholic pilgrimage operators offering guided Holy Land, Europe, and Marian shrine tours. Directly comparable to Holy Land Travel Center in target market (Catholic pilgrims), product (multi-day faith-based package tours with spiritual directors), and channel mix (parish group recruitment).
• Catholic Journeys: Catholic pilgrimage travel company organizing group trips to Holy Land, Fatima, Lourdes, and other sacred sites. Directly comparable in niche Catholic focus, group-led format, and destination portfolio.
• Trinity Tour and Travel: Catholic and Christian pilgrimage operator offering Holy Land and European faith-based group tours. Comparable target customer, spiritual director-led group model, and tour-package economics.
• Select International Tours: Catholic pilgrimage tour operator offering Holy Land, European, and worldwide faith-based itineraries led by spiritual directors. Closely comparable in customer segment, priest-led group model, and package inclusions.
• Peter's Way Tours: Long-established Catholic pilgrimage company specializing in Holy Land and European religious tours for parish groups. Directly comparable target customer (U.S. Catholic pilgrims), product offering, and priest-led group distribution model.
• Unitours: Catholic-focused tour operator providing Holy Land, European, and Marian shrine pilgrimages with priest chaperones. Comparable in customer base, multi-day faith package format, and parish-group distribution.

Others

• WeTravel: Booking and payment platform used by Holy Land Travel Center for online reservations. Enabling technology provider rather than a competitor; relevant as a peer because it serves many comparable niche tour operators and shapes their digital booking experience.

Regional players

• Virgen de Guadalupe Foundation: Spanish-language Catholic pilgrimage organization and channel partner of Holy Land Travel Center. Comparable as a Catholic pilgrimage organizer but primarily Spanish-language-focused and historically centered on Mexican/U.S. Hispanic Marian devotion, a segment HLTC is expanding into.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/holy-land-travel-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Holy Land Travel Center