Chairman

Phillip Gordon’s life has revolved around traveling. He spent his youth in a number of different countries, experiencing foreign cultures and languages and his professional career has focused on helping consumers do the same thing. During Gordon’s journey through the travel industry, more than 30 years have been spent with the Globus family of brands. In 2004, he was named president and chief executive officer of Group Voyagers, Inc. (GVI) and in 2009, Gordon became the company’s chairman. GVI is the privately held company that markets and sells the Globus family of brands within the United States. These brands include Globus, Cosmos, Monograms and Avalon Waterways.

A native Australian, Gordon’s career embarked in Italy – still his favorite vacation destination – as a Tour Director guiding American travelers across the Italian countryside. From those early days, Gordon has successfully applied his touring and leadership experience, as well as his dedicated pursuit of new knowledge of cultures, to various positions at the company.

He joined the company’s Europe operations department in Lugano, Switzerland in 1976. Four years later, he moved to New York to launch Globus and Cosmos’ “Visit America” Program. Gordon’s next stop was in the product-planning department and, with his guidance, the North American market flourished, eventually becoming one of the company’s most successful ventures.

In 1985, he was named managing director of product development and operations for North America, South America and the Pacific-area programs. And, prior to Gordon’s post as chief executive officer, he was chief operating officer of the Globus family of brands from 1998 to 2004.

He is an active member of the National Tour Association (NTA), the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) and the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA). Gordon lives in Denver, Colo., with his wife and their two children.