A New Zealand native, David Hosking has traveled far and wide, becoming a leading expert in the travel and hospitality industry. He is currently managing director for Contiki Tours International and The Travel Corporation (TravCorp).

              

David Hosking began his career at Contiki in 1976. The company is the world’s largest travel organization for 18 to 35 year olds, offering a variety of different tours, such as cruises, river rafting, adventure trips diving trips overland tors and more. TravCorp, a holding company with more than 25 brands, today owns Contiki. Hosking was promoted to his current role at TravCorp in 1996 and was later invited to join their board of directors in 2001. He is based out of the Geneva office where he manages a local staff of fifty.

Long before becoming a travel industry executive, Hosking studied agriculture at Canterbury University. Upon graduation, he traveled to London to begin his overseas adventures.. Combining his own personal love for travel and history, he decided to look into guiding tours. After working for a few smaller companies, Hosking landed a job with Contiki as a driver. Soon thereafter, he began work as a tour guide, adding off-the-beaten-track destinations to Contiki’s roster, such as Jordan, Afghanistan, Iraq and India. After establishing these tours, Hosking had to then change his focus due to political shifts in the late 1970s. He went to New Zealand and then Australia to establish Contiki outposts there followed by a move to Los Angeles to start Contiki’s United States office. In L.A., Hosking served as the president of the company’s U.S. branch, marketing and designing new tours for American clients. In 1987, Hosking returned to London to be the European managing director of the company.

Hosking himself has led tours throughout Europe, Russia and Scandinavia, and planned tours in India as well. When he assumed his role at TravCorp, he moved with his family to Nyon, Switzerland, close to the Geneva office he runs. He serves on the board of directors for TravCorp as well as a number of its subsidiary companies. He is an innovator in his industry and offers his expertise to these subsidiaries both in planning and in marketing and branding. 

Most recently, Hosking has been instrumental in launching a new initiative to support marine wildlife through sustainable tourism. The initiative is through The Conservation Foundation, in partnership with conservationist Celine Cousteau, who is also the grandchild of the iconic oceanic explorer, Jacques Yves Cousteau. Hosking and Cousteau are implementing popular social media networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, to educate young travelers about marine conservation and leave-no-trace travel. The project, which is planned out for the next three years, also recruits young environmentalists to raise funds for conservation research.

Contiki is a household name for top quality travel for young, students and professionals worldwide. Hosking’s work has been instrumental in bringing the company to its current status, as well as building up TravCorp’s client reach as well. Beyond his work as a travel and tour expert, Hosking enjoys skiing, biking and playing tennis.




Links
David Hosking - Short Biography
David Hosking - Wiki Page
David Hosking  Online Resume
David Hosking on Squidoo
David Hosking - Bigsight