Leadership

John and Mary Stachnik
Co-Owners, Mayflower Tours

John Stachnik entered the travel industry in 1966 when he began working for a Washington, DC hotel company. From 1970-1978, Stachnik was founder, part owner and president of an Illinois-based tour company, which increased from its inception to 35,000 passengers annually. In 1979, he started his own company based in the Midwest, Mayflower Tours, with his wife Mary by his side.

Mary Stachnik serves as the executive vice president and co-owner. Mary has made an outstanding contribution to both the travel industry, as well as Mayflower Tours. She is considered as an innovator in finding and developing group travel programs, and continues to keep active in both the industry and in the day-to-day operations of Mayflower Tours.

Both John and Mary are incredibly active in travel industry associations. John is currently the vice-chairman of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) and has previously served as its chairman. He has also served three terms on the Board of Directors of the National Tour Association (NTA) and has even taken on the responsibility of serving as NTA’s president. John has also served as a member of the board and executive committee of Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) and chaired NTA’s Global Task Force. He is also currently an officer of Tourism Cares and holds both a Certified Tour Professional (CTP) designation awarded by NTA and a Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) designation awarded by The Travel Institute (formerly ICTA).

Mary has been involved in the industry as well in various capacities, including serving on the Board of Directors of the National Tour Association. Travel Agent Magazine, a leading travel trade publication, has recognized Mary’s continued success, naming her one of the Most Powerful Women in the Travel Industry for four years.

John and Mary met at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. John and Mary’s passion for both travel and people lead them to their core belief that when a superior product is delivered at a value-driven price, a company will maintain loyal travelers and grow its market. John and Mary have recognized a need for a more specialized type of travel – one where all the happiness and excitement of a destination is enhanced by emphasizing attractions and events that reinforce our beliefs.

Faithful Holidays (through its parent Mayflower Tours) is obviously well suited to accomplish this. The company is family-owned and operated. Its employees cumulatively represent hundreds of years of experience in hospitality management. Mayflower posts a $1,000,000 Travelers Assistance bond with the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) as sign of good faith that travelers’ monies are secure.

Torre Ossmo
Vice President and General Manager, Faithful Holidays

Torre Ossmo, is Vice President and General Manager of Faithful Holidays, a division of Mayflower Tours.

Torre has over 30 years of travel and tourism industry experience and knowledge to complement his position with Faithful Holidays. He is complete in his love of the concept of faith-based journeys, “I thoroughly enjoy helping make a difference in the field of religious travel.” During his career, he has worked in the airline and hotel industry, as a tour operator, and over 22 years representing tourism organizations for Hong Kong, Canada and the five Scandinavian countries. He has traveled the globe for business and pleasure and continues to enjoy the “thrill and excitement” of travel, along with seeing new places and meeting new friends.

Torre noted that “the opportunity to be with one of the leading tour companies in America heading up their faith-based travel division and expanding the existing Mayflower Tours religious group travel experience is extremely exciting.” In addition to the travel experience he has, Torre also has a religious background and experience. He says, “growing up as a minister’s son was at times difficult but I am thankful for all the fond memories and beliefs that were instilled at a very young age.” Torre firmly believes that a faith-based trip or vacation can have tremendous impact on one’s life.

Torre lives with his wife Bonnie in Chicago and is blessed to have their four grown children and two beautiful grandchildren in the area.

Nish Patel
Chief Operating Officer, Mayflower Tours

Nish Patel serves as chief operating officer for Mayflower Tours and Faithful Holidays. Among his many and varied duties for Faithful Holidays, he oversees relationships with airlines along with a being a guiding force among our international suppliers.

He began his career at Mayflower Tours in November of 2000 as its chief information officer. He was primarily responsible for the company’s information technology, including the recent development and implementation of a new custom web-based application that supports and enhances business operations, traveler service reporting and marketing efforts. Patel also managed the Call Center and Air Department staff.

Patel has 27 years of experience in many phases of the hospitality industry. This experience includes the position of vice president of operations for a nationally-known travel company. He was also a key member of a travel consulting company which was a provider of software solutions for the industry.

Patel holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Gujrat University in India. He also has an Associate Degree in Digital Electronics from DeVry Institute of Technology and a certificate course in Travel and Tour Management from the Adams School of Travel.