Tom Tours: From Local Roots to Global Reach and Doubling Sales

Tom Tours, a family-owned travel agency founded in 1984 by sisters Martha Obregon and Lucia C. Fernandez, has grown from serving the Central American community in New York to offering services across Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe. Led by Lucia and her son Julio, they navigated challenges like 9/11 and the pandemic. With SBDC’s help, they secured significant funding, expanded their team, and increased sales from $9M in 2020 to $20M in 2023.

Assistance Provided

SBDC Advisor:
Jacqueline Franco

Tom Tours, a family-owned business based in the New York metro area, was established in 1984 under the vision of sisters Martha Obregon and Lucia C. Fernandez. Initially serving the Central American community in New York, Tom Tours has grown into a trusted travel agency providing services to all destinations in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Western Europe.

Lucía Fernandez, an immigrant from Nicaragua at 17, acquired full ownership of the company in 1995. Her journey, shaped by resilience and a commitment to justice, unfolded amid Nicaragua’s civil war, prompting her family to seek new opportunities in the United States. Despite challenges like 9/11 and the pandemic, Tom Tours thrived. Transparency, a dedicated team, and adaptability to remote work ensured uninterrupted service.

In 2010, Lucía’s son, Julio Fernandez, joined the family business as the Internet Sales Manager, helping redesign and launch tomtours.com to continue Tom Tours’ commitment to providing competitive fares to various destinations.

In February 2021, Lucía met Jacqueline Franco, SBDC’s business advisor. Franco assisted Lucía in strategic planning, personnel management, and marketing, providing valuable training in business topics, including MWBE opportunities. The collaboration extended to connections with suppliers, strategies for optimizing meetings, and enhancing branding. Multiple market research studies and insights into government-funded financing programs through the SBA enriched the company.

Tom Tours’ services cater to the Latin American community and travelers interested in the region, offering exclusive airfares and comprehensive travel packages. With offices in Manhattan, Hempstead, Central Islip, Queens, and New Jersey, the company diversified its offerings.

Tom Tours received substantial support through the SBDC and SBA programs. They processed two PPP loans totaling $455,000, secured a $200,000 SBA loan, and a $10,000 EIDL. These funds helped Tom Tours expand its workforce from 20 full-time employees to 23 and increased their annual sales from $9 million in 2020 to $20 million in 2023.

In summary, Tom Tours, led by Lucía Fernandez, celebrates 40 resilient years as a customer-centric travel agency. From humble beginnings to industry prominence, their story highlights perseverance, adaptability, and an unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional service. The collaboration with SBDC has reinforced the company’s dedication to growth and excellence, showcasing the pivotal role of strategic guidance in their success.

** Our success stories focus on the work the SBDC has done with our small business clients and does not constitute an expressed or implied endorsement by the NYSBDC of the company and/or their products and services.