Tauck, the luxury tour operator, has a reason to celebrate.
More than 700 employees, Tauck family members, director
guides, board members, sponsoring partners and special guests celebrated the
100-year milestone at a gala event in Florence, Italy to celebrate the company’s
anniversary.
Attendees from 32 countries were present at the event from
February 3-6, 2025, that included general meetings, focused breakout sessions,
daily sightseeing excursions, gala evening events and volunteerism activities.
Tauck Chairman Dan Mahar said in a statement, "Tauck
has thrived – and we continue to thrive – because we have a shared vision and a
deep sense of purpose – to enhance our guests lives by providing truly
meaningful travel
experiences.”
He added, "At Tauck we speak of our 'One Global
Family,' which starts with our loyal guests, and we're grateful beyond words to
them for entrusting us with their travel experiences. And of course, our 'One
Global Family' also encompasses our amazing employees, our worldwide network of
trusted supplier-partners and our incredible travel advisor partners, all
working together to go the extra mile for our guests. We're filled with
gratitude for their dedication and shared commitment."
Over the course of two days, attendees contributed more than
1,400 hours of labor to city projects including an array of restoration and
beautification projects, an initiative designed to integrate the English
language into educational programs offered by the city's museums, and
art-themed projects that "upcycle" discarded items and employ
marginalized members of the local community.
As part of its 100th anniversary gathering, Tauck also
provided a generous grant to help restore the historic Madre Terra floor mosaic
in the Duomo's famed Baptistery of San Giovanni, dating back to approximately
1200 AD.
It was Florence's rich history that resonated with the Tauck
family and executive team and prompted the company to celebrate its milestone
anniversary there, explained Tauck CEO Jennifer Tombaugh.
She said, "Florence is regarded as the birthplace of
the Renaissance, which propelled Europe out of the Dark Ages and time of the
Black Death into a new era of humanism and stunning achievements in art,
architecture, science, literature and more. Throughout the Renaissance, and
thanks to the patronage of the Medici family, creativity and innovation
flourished. In much the same way our family-owned company has emerged from the
challenge of a global pandemic and is poised to achieve new levels of success.
The theme of our event – 'Destined to Flourish' – perfectly captures the wonder
of the Renaissance, and our optimism and excitement as we enter our second
hundred years."
Although Tauck is guided by principals and a sense of
purpose first articulated by company founder Arthur Tauck Sr., the company has
evolved and enhanced its product offerings in ways he couldn't have imagined.
As Tauck enters its second century, that commitment to innovation is stronger
than ever.
Mahar said, "It's no exaggeration at all to say we're
100 years young. Although our values are timeless, we still have an incredible
thirst to keep exploring and innovating, whether it's new destinations, new
modes of travel, or new ways of delivering life-changing experiences to our
guests.”
He added, “At the same time, we're rededicated to supporting
a thriving world by having a positive impact – environmentally, socially and
economically – on the people and places we visit, and in the places where we
live and work. It feels like we're just getting started, and we can't wait for
the future.”
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