Grand Circle Corporation is a global enterprise comprised of a family of travel companies, committed to changing people’s lives by offering high-impact experiences to our travelers and building local communities through philanthropy, social entrepreneurship, and volunteerism.
The original Grand Circle Travel was founded by retired high school principal Ethel Andrus. Having vision of helping Americans lead more vital, challenging, and politically active lives and pursuing this dream, she founded the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and Grand Circle Travel in 1958. Since then, we’ve made it our mission to provide life-changing experiences around the world, primarily by connecting travelers with locals who live in the areas we explore.
For many years, Grand Circle Travel was based in New York City where it served members of AARP until 1982. In 1985, Alan Lewis purchased Grand Circle Travel and moved its offices to Boston.
Alan and his wife, Harriet, acquired Grand Circle Travel in 1985 and transformed the $23 million travel company that was losing $2 million a year into a fast-moving, global enterprise with gross sales exceeding $600M, more than 35 offices worldwide, 3,000 associates in 85 countries, guides, and ship crew.
Today, Grand Circle Travel is joined by two other travel entities: Overseas Adventure Travel, acquired in 1993, and Grand Circle Cruise Line, which Alan established in 1998. The family of travel companies make up Grand Circle Corporation, the leader in international travel, adventure, and discovery for Americans aged 50 and older.
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