History
In 1978, former high school teacher Judi Wineland established O.A.T. After she went to Africa, she became the first woman to launch and operate an adventure travel company. In 1993, O.A.T. was acquired by the Grand Circle Corporation, owned by Alan and Harriet Lewis. Grand Circle Corporation also includes Grand Circle Cruise Line and Grand Circle Travel.Awards
Cultural engagement
O.A.T. itineraries focus on "cultural immersion and spending time making connections to local people and their culture.” Their tour guides, called "Trip Experience Leaders", are English-speaking residents of the country.Solo travel
Forty-seven percent of O.A.T. travelers are solo travelers. There is a free single supplement on all O.A.T. land trips.Philanthropy
Through the company's Grand Circle Foundation, which consists of the Lewis Family Foundation, millions of dollars have been pledged toward education and preservation since 1992. In 2007, Harriet Lewis founded a program called Next Generation Leaders, that gives internships to students from Boston at the Grand Circle office. In 2012, O.A.T. pledged $600,000 to benefit WBUR, which was the largest donation in the station's history.References
{{reflist Adult education organizations Outdoor education organizations Organizations established in 1978 Seniors' organizations Travel and holiday companies of the United States Lifelong learning Privately held companies based in Massachusetts American companies established in 1978 Cruise lines River cruise companies Adventure travel