Stephen Oddo and Charaf El Mansouri have launched Flagship Group, a new venture in the day tour operator space. The group debuted with three acquisitions: Amigo Tours, WalksDevour, and Askos Tours, providing coverage across North America, Europe, and Japan. These acquisitions were strategically chosen to establish a strong foundation in diverse markets, with Amigo Tours being one of the largest day-tour operators in the Spanish-speaking world, WalksDevour offering a unique food-and-culture experience, and Askos Tours specializing in cultural and archaeological tours in Southern Italy.
Oddo, a travel industry veteran, previously founded WalksofItaly.com in 2009, which later became a global brand. He sold the company to Hornblower Group in 2020, but the acquisition strategy he envisioned was cut short due to the financial impact of Covid. Oddo’s journey into travel was almost inherited, growing up in a travel industry family and falling in love with Rome during his travels. His technology background and the offline nature of Rome’s tour scene in the late 2000s inspired him to create WalksofItaly.com, which quickly succeeded by connecting high-quality tour guides with reliable access to attractions and intelligently designed itineraries.
A partnership forged over paella
El Mansouri, with a background in automotive and travel-tech startups, researched the day tour market while working on Dharma, a venture-backed startup. His experience in sourcing local partners for Emily in Paris day tours exposed him to the market’s fragmentation, leading him to develop the consolidation idea.
A chance meeting in Valencia led to a three-hour dinner and the formation of their partnership. They began acquiring target companies, with conversations starting soon after with the three founding acquisitions.
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A festival business as role model
Flagship Group aims to consolidate the best day tour operators globally, drawing inspiration from Superstruct, a European live music and festival consolidation company. El Mansouri believes this model can be applied to their industry, which faces similar challenges of independent, founder-led businesses. Superstruct’s success in consolidating independently run, founder-led, experience-based businesses provided a blueprint for Flagship Group.
The group focuses on culture, knowledge-sharing, and local experiences, aiming to handle back-office tasks to allow operators to focus on their unique offerings. This approach is designed to preserve the distinct identities of each operator while providing shared infrastructure and resources, supporting a culture of openness and generosity.
Human-led experiences in an AI-driven world
Oddo emphasizes the importance of high-quality, human-led experiences, which he believes cannot be replicated by AI or OTAs. This focus on local, authentic experiences is central to their strategy, benefiting both travelers and communities. Oddo argues that while AI may transform how travelers discover and plan trips, the supply side—high-quality, human-led experiences—remains irreplaceable. This distinction positions Flagship Group to thrive in an increasingly AI-driven travel environment.
With a small team, Flagship Group has ambitious global plans. The founders acknowledge the challenges of consolidating strong-willed entrepreneurs but are confident in their approach, aiming to create a leading day tour operator. Their strategy involves targeting founder-led operators while prioritizing cultural fit and shared values. The team’s hands-on approach, with Oddo and El Mansouri personally driving much of the outward-facing work, reflects their commitment to building a significant presence in the day tour operator space.