Black Tomato Founders Sell 75% to Employee Ownership Trust, Keep Control
Black Tomato's founders have sold 75% of the luxury custom-travel operator to an employee ownership trust while retaining board control and day-to-day decision-making, according to Skift's exclusive review of company filings and interviews. The move places Black Tomato among a small but growing group of travel companies adopting EOT structures to secure long-term ownership continuity without an outright sale or private-equity exit. For advisors who route FIT and custom luxury itineraries through Black Tomato, the near-term operational impact should be minimal — leadership and strategic direction stay with the founders. But the structure is worth tracking: EOT ownership typically channels profit toward staff retention rather than outside shareholder returns, which can support consistency among the trade-desk contacts advisors rely on. No changes to commission terms or trade programs have been announced alongside the deal.
Collette Opens Advisor Event on Selling Sicily as an Italy Alternative
Collette is inviting advisors to a virtual event on Aug. 27 built around a traveler's firsthand account of its Sicily & Its Isles itinerary, paired with a complimentary 'Know Before You Go' guide and positioning language for pitching Sicily as a distinct alternative to a standard mainland-Italy tour. The timing lines up with fall and winter booking conversations, when Italy remains one of the most-requested escorted destinations and advisors are looking for ways to differentiate beyond a Rome–Florence–Venice itinerary. The assets are built for reuse in client meetings — itinerary highlights, traveler testimony, and pre-trip logistics bundled together rather than scattered across brochures. Advisors who miss the live session should expect a recording to follow. For agencies competing on Italy product against other escorted brands, having a Sicily-specific narrative ready before the event airs is a small but concrete selling edge.