Building a following across eras

5 days ago 5

As you might imagine, we have a rich collection of stories from this company going back to the 1920s. Of all of the gems in our archives, this message has always resonated the most with me. Written near one century ago, it speaks to a “hope” and “dream” for how to build a company over time, focused on the “right” values – providing a high-quality experience that fosters loyalty and trust, bringing repeat and referred customers over time. Yet, this is incredibly difficult to sustain; if it were easy, everyone would do it. New managers, new ways to adapt to a challenging environment, and the pressure of short-term goals can impact an organization’s ability to Build a Following. As we enter our second century in just a few months, this belief remains central to our philosophy and business model. We are proud to sustain Arthur Tauck Sr.’s dream: In 2024, approximately 55% of our guests are repeat travelers, with more than 30% coming as referrals from these loyal guests. Sometimes, things can feel “old-fashioned,” yet they are as timeless and relevant as ever as we step into our second century.

New Eras at Tauck

We gathered recently for our annual Fall Company Meeting. Three generations of the Tauck family were present, along with our Board of Directors and approximately 350 of our home office team. Our theme this year was “Eras,” as we have several important milestones to recognize at this time – some represent endings, and others, new beginnings.

One era is moving to our 2^nd century – something that so few companies can experience, and an opportunity we value and respect deeply. A second era is marked by a new strategic plan that will guide us through 2026-2030. And finally, we celebrated several new leadership eras:

After a rewarding 18 years as CEO, I have moved to a new role as Chairman of our Board.
Our President of 13 years, Jennifer Tombaugh, is now CEO.
Jeremy Palmer, who has been with Tauck since 2007, is now President.
Two members of our management team were promoted to our Executive Team.
Arthur Tauck Jr. is now Chairman, Emeritus.

These changes, a culmination of thoughtful planning, enable us to move through future eras with remarkable calm and confidence, and for this, we are so grateful.

Tauck at 100 & Moving Forward

Our company possesses a unique energy. There are times when I observe people walking by my office, or when I walk by conference rooms and see our team in meetings. I wonder what they are thinking about or planning. There is always a sense of purpose and drive here. Since the turn of the century, this team has accomplished so much:

We built the world’s first multi-generational family travel brand focused on delivering “shared enrichment” for families by managing the logistical elements to enable deeper bonds among multiple generations of family members.
We developed a long-time partnership with a renowned European family, and have built the most exquisite fleet of riverboats – combining our century-long destination expertise with an all-inclusive river experience guided by Tauck Directors and filled with experiences that bring our guests closer to each destination.
We are excited to be launching two new riverboats for 2026, with several more planned for later in the decade.
In partnership with another family-owned company, we launched six new explorer vessels, enabling more choice and itineraries on land and sea than ever before – all grounded in destination exploration.
And, our conviction that “small is big” has impacted nearly all our experiences on land, river, and oceans worldwide, allowing for greater personalization and deeper connections in every place we travel.

And we’re just getting started in century two. Jennifer and Jeremy, along with our senior leadership team and members from across the company, have been working to create a vision for Tauck at 105, as well as preliminary ideas for Tauck at 115 (the year 2040). There is great momentum to “keep moving forward” while upholding core philosophies and values that have guided us for these 100 years. More to come in 2025 on exciting new directions for Tauck.

Sincere Thanks

It’s been a very rewarding journey leading this company as CEO. I reflect often about our little “corner” of the world. A place where humanity and “people serving people” are central to our experience. A place where a team of people come together, united by a mission to enrich the lives of others. A place where honesty, integrity, and respect are valued. A place where standards for performance and behavior are intentionally set high and then met, or even exceeded. These guiding principles are needed in the world, today more than ever.

It has been an honor and a joy to serve as CEO for these past 18 years. I feel extraordinarily grateful to have served alongside such a capable, committed team. I also sincerely appreciate the trust you have placed in us over these years. You may never truly understand how much it matters to each person on our team, and every member of the Tauck family.

Onward we go!

Warm Regards,

Dan Mahar, Chairman of the Board

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