Since 1928, the Globus family of brands has introduced travellers to the world, making waves across the travel industry along the way. What began nearly a century ago as a rowboat ride across Switzerland’s Lake Lugano has evolved into a global portfolio of independent, touring and cruising vacations across 70 countries.

“On his rowboat on Lake Lugano, Antonio Mantegazza had a dream to show travellers the world,” said Scott Nisbet, president and CEO for the Globus family of brands.

“And in 1928, when he launched Globus, he did that -- and so much more. From creating the world’s first European touring vacations and unveiling value tours for cost-conscious travellers to designing ‘Suite Ships’ that changed the tide in river cruising, the Globus family of brands has a 95-year history of creating life-enhancing journeys across the globe. As we look back on our history, we’re celebrating this very real, very ‘today’ current of change.”

Here are a few of the travel industry-wide changes the company stakes a claim for:

-- The first to create “modern” European Touring vacations.

-- The first to unveil vacation packages highlighting multiple countries.

-- The first to develop ‘Circular Touring,’ vacations that start and end from the same gateway, creating cost-savings for travellers.

-- The first to create value-focused touring vacations, in the form of a the Cosmos brand.

-- The first to develop Regional Touring vacations, providing an immersive experience in the same country.

-- The first to offer ‘LeisureStyle’ Tours, slower-paced itineraries with more time spent in each location.

-- The first to name and unveil ‘Local Favourites,’ giving travellers the opportunity to experience the sites and activities the locals love, in addition to ‘must-see’ landmarks.

-- The first to create ‘Undiscovered’ tour itineraries, featuring off-the-beaten-path destinations.

-- The first to build Choice Tours, inviting tour travellers to spend their days their way, with more than a dozen included excursions, giving clients the opportunity to personalize their touring vacation.

While inspiring travel innovations on the roads and rails of the world with Globus and Cosmos, the company also made significant ripples on the globe’s rivers with the launch of Avalon Waterways in 2004.

Since then, Avalon has elevated the cruising experience with innovations including:

-- Designing award-winning ‘Suite Ships,’ featuring two full decks of 200-square-foot Panorama Suites.

-- Developing open-air balconies, available in every Panorama Suite, featuring wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows that open 11-feet wide to invite the outside-in, without sacrificing room space.

-- Doubling-down on views with beds facing the views for which river cruising is famous in 80 percent of all staterooms.

-- Creating ‘Active & Discovery’ itineraries on every major waterway in Europes.

-- Launching a ‘Storyteller Series’ of cruises, hosted by celebrity authors, actors, artists and musicians, providing guests the perfect intertwining of facts, fiction and fun.

-- Enhancing 'Avalon Choice' -- featuring “Classic,” “Discovery” and “Active” options on every river cruise itinerary throughout Europe.

-- Promoting 'Avalon Fresh' – helping travellers indulge in creative, healthy dishes with surprising flavours and a dash of innovation.

-- Spearheading 'FlexDining' – inviting guests to choose where and when they’d like to eat.

-- Unveiling ‘Avalon Adventure Hosts’ -- available on every Suite Ship in Europe, these hosts help travellers explore wellness options, onboard and in destinations across Europe.

-- On all vacations, the Globus family of brands provides guests access to GO Apps (AvalonGO, GlobusGO, CosmosGO) providing them with daily itinerary insights, GPS-enabled maps, stories behind the sites (all without using internet data) to enhance their vacation.

In 2021, the company unveiled the Lighthouse Project, an initiative created to help travellers come together to reduce our footprint and give generously for the globe’s greater good.

To celebrate 95 years of travel innovation, the Globus family of brands is offering $95 off select Globus tours booked between now and April 24.