Ambassadors Group
Encyclopedia
Ambassadors Group, Inc. is a publicly traded
educational travel company based in Spokane, Washington
. It was originally an operating division of Ambassadors International, Inc., but was divested into a separate corporation in 2002 to form the company under its current name.. The CEO is Jeffrey Thomas, whose 2009 compensation totaled over $1.7 million.
This for-profit company has a close business relationship with People to People Student Ambassador Program
and several other related cultural exchange groups involving students from several countries.
According to the company's end of year filings, in 2008 and 2009, Ambassadors Group served 41,929 and 34,248 travelers, respectively.. In 2010, the company estimated that it would serve 26,674 participants (a net decrease of 22%.)
Travelers (thousands) :
Public company
This is not the same as a Government-owned corporation.A public company or publicly traded company is a limited liability company that offers its securities for sale to the general public, typically through a stock exchange, or through market makers operating in over the counter markets...
educational travel company based in Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
. It was originally an operating division of Ambassadors International, Inc., but was divested into a separate corporation in 2002 to form the company under its current name.. The CEO is Jeffrey Thomas, whose 2009 compensation totaled over $1.7 million.
This for-profit company has a close business relationship with People to People Student Ambassador Program
People to People Student Ambassador Program
The People to People Student Ambassador Program is a travel service based in Spokane, Washington offering domestic and international travel opportunities to middle and high school students. The group was founded in 1956 and reincorporated in 1995. Since its founding, nearly half a million...
and several other related cultural exchange groups involving students from several countries.
According to the company's end of year filings, in 2008 and 2009, Ambassadors Group served 41,929 and 34,248 travelers, respectively.. In 2010, the company estimated that it would serve 26,674 participants (a net decrease of 22%.)
Travelers (thousands) :
| years | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| travelers | 15.5 | 17.1 | 25.3 | 25.8 | 21.0 | 22.7 | 30.6 | 37.8 | 43.1 | 52.7 | 41.9 | 34.2 | 26.7 |
History
- In 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower founded People to People.
- In 1967, Ambassadors Group is founded
- In 1995, Ambassadors Group became a wholly owned subsidiary of Ambassadors International, Inc.
- In 1996, acquisition of Marc L. Bright (professionals). Jeffrey Thomas joined the company.
- In 1999, acquisition of Travel Dynamics (sport)
- In 2001, Jeffrey Thomas became CEO
- On February 28, 2002, Ambassadors Group spun off from Ambassadors International
- On May 15, 2008, Ambassadors Group bought BookRagsBookRagsBookRags is an educational website that provides summaries, study guides, and lesson plans on literary works. Based in Seattle, Washington, United States, the website is a subsidiary of Ambassadors Group....
, an educationEducationEducation in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
al website for $18 million. The mergerMergers and acquisitionsMergers and acquisitions refers to the aspect of corporate strategy, corporate finance and management dealing with the buying, selling, dividing and combining of different companies and similar entities that can help an enterprise grow rapidly in its sector or location of origin, or a new field or...
was a friendly takeover. - On March 17, 2009, Ambassadors Group announced its partnership with Discovery Education to become the travel provider for the new Discovery Student Adventures learning and adventure-based trips for students in grades 5Fifth gradeFifth grade is a year of education in the United States and many other nations. The fifth grade is the fifth school year after kindergarten. Students are usually 10 – 11 years old, and are preteens...
–12Twelfth gradeTwelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
. In 2010 approximately 125 students traveled .