Tauck Celebrates 100 Years with Gratitude, Volunteerism and Commitment to Innovation

WILTON, CT (February 10, 2025) A jubilant group of more than 700 Tauck employees, family members, Tauck Director guides, board members and sponsoring partners gathered in Florence, Italy last week to celebrate the company's 100th anniversary and kick off its second century of hosting travelers around the globe. Traveling to Florence from 32 countries, attendees assembled in 13 hotels across the city from February 3 - 6, gathering for general plenary meetings and focused breakout sessions, daily sightseeing excursions, gala evening events and an array of volunteerism activities.

For Tauck Chairman Dan Mahar, the celebration was an opportunity to reflect on all those who have contributed to the company's success over the decades. "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," said Mahar. "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." 

Besides having plenty of chances to celebrate, the Tauck event also provided the company with an opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way to the city of Florence, a featured destination on some of Tauck's most popular tours since 1993. Over the course of two days, attendees participated in an afternoon of volunteer work, contributing more than 1,400 hours of labor to projects around the city. Activities included 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. "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," said Tombaugh. "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."

INNOVATING INTO TAUCK'S SECOND CENTURY
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. "It's no exaggeration at all to say we're 100 years young," explained Mahar. "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. 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," concluded Mahar. "It feels like we're just getting started, and we can't wait for the future."

About Tauck: Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025, Tauck has been family owned for four generations. The company is a world leader in upscale guided travel, with more than 170 land tours, safaris, river cruises, small ship ocean cruises and family travel adventures to 70+ countries and all seven continents. In each of the last 27 years, Tauck has been honored in Travel + Leisure magazine's annual "World's Best Awards" celebrating the very best in luxury tours, cruises, hotels and more.

Those interested in more information can contact their local travel professional, call Tauck at 800 468 2825, or visit the company's website at www.tauck.com (www.tauck.ca in Canada, www.tauck.co.uk in the UK, www.tauck.com.au in Australia/New Zealand).

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PLEASE NOTE: High-res images available for download at www.tauck.com/mediaimages.