Tourco, an inbound wholesaler based in Nobleboro, Me., has acquired Seattle-based Generations Touring Company (GTC).
Tourco was founded 28 years ago and specializes in FIT and group tours to the U.S. and Eastern Canada. GTC was founded in 2003 with a focus on small-group, intergenerational travel.
The sale was finalized on Dec. 20. Tourco said it would not disclose the purchase price.
GTC offers family travel packages to Costa Rica, Peru, the Galapagos Islands and a baseball tour of the U.S., with an emphasis on responsible tourism.
Marian DiPietro, executive vice president of Tourco, said Tourco would be working to expand the GTC product, including exploring the possibility of adding faith-based tour programs.
Tom Easthope founded GTC in 2003 “out of a desire to help families connect with each other and the fascinating world in which we live,” according to a joint news release.
Easthope will continue as an advisor to GTC during a transition period, and will be available as a consultant going forward, according to DiPietro. DiPietro will be working with Cheryl DeLisle, manager of Tourco Vacations, the outbound Tourco subsidiary, to operate GTC going forward.
“We bought the company because we truly believe in the concept and the product, and feel strongly that the future of group travel rests with this kind of offering,” DiPietro said. “We believe that affording families an avenue for education, bonding and enrichment offers huge appeal, and we are already hard at work developing additional touring product.”