ABOUT US
Enriching lives through travel for more than 30 years
Georgia Hardy Tours: educational travel and custom tours for schools, organizations, families, and lifelong learners of all ages.
Our roots are in Europe, but our passion for organizing life-changing travel journeys spans the entire globe. The vision started with the extraordinary Georgia Hardy herself. Born in Budapest, Hungary, Georgia lived in Austria and Venezuela before coming to Canada in the 1950s. With a personal exuberance and cosmopolitan flair, Georgia made her name in the educational travel business, honing her talents at Butterfield & Robinson. She developed a rare mastery of the student trip niche and soon attracted an avid following of teachers and youth leaders. From there, she broke out on her own. In 1987, Georgia founded Georgia Hardy Tours, as a specialty travel company serving schools, youth organizations and educational institutions.
Today, Georgia’s legacy lives on, and Georgia Hardy Tours is a family-owned and operated travel company based in mid-town Toronto. While still a Canadian leader in student travel, it has expanded to also offer specialty tours and bespoke, tailor-made adventures around the globe, for families, cultured travellers, museum groups and anyone looking to feed their wanderlust. While Europe remains a focus and a real specialty, there is no point on the compass Georgia Hardy Tours can’t take you to – with flair, finesse and first-rate planning.
Look to Georgia Hardy Tours for:
- School and youth group trips
- March break & summer student experiences
- Credit courses abroad and learning adventures for youth
- Community Service and Volunteer vacations
- Outdoor Education
- Wellness retreats
- Museum tours abroad (proud to serve the Royal Ontario Museum)
- Expert-led history, music, art and culture tours for individuals and groups
- Bespoke luxury tours for families and individuals
- Wine tours
- Yachting vacations
- Adventure-based trekking expeditions
- Military history programs
George Hardy
President
Strong leadership is in the details
As president of Georgia Hardy Travel, George blends his mother’s passion for travel with a business background in corporate finance. A chartered accountant with a degree in commerce from the University of Toronto, he took the helm of the family business in 1992, expanding its scope beyond strictly student travel to encompass bespoke journeys for individuals and groups. George is very much a hands-on leader, travelling widely to inspect hotels and restaurants, and ensure all itineraries flow smoothly. With a big heart for his travellers and a head for numbers, George also scrutinizes every trip costing to ensure each client receives maximum value for every travel dollar spent.
In addition to leading the company and watching the books, George is also an experienced tour organizer and destination expert himself. Notably, he’s arranged ski trips to Zermatt, exclusive golf trips to some of the world’s signature locations, and top-notch student music trips for one of Canada’s premier choir schools
- Places he’s lived: Canada and the UK.
- Travel destinations he loves most: South of France. Skiing in Zermatt Switzerland (winter). Sailing in the Mediterranean (summer)
Melina Mancini
Sales Manager
Creator of captivating voyages
Since 2004, Melina has brought her infectious enthusiasm and wealth of overseas travel experience to enliven the journey for Georgia Hardy travel customers. As client liaison for the company today, she is the first point of contact for all Georgia Hardy Tours travellers and suppliers. She also forges preferred relationships with the best local hoteliers, attractions and restaurant owners to enhance our tours.
Her passion for travel started at University of Western Ontario (UofW) where she was selected as the very first UofW student to study Italian language and culture in Siena, Italy on the study abroad program. Joyously infected by the travel bug, Melina moved to Madrid after graduation to teach business English to high profile clients like the European Commission. From there, she moved to Scotland for a wee spell, honing her customer service skills in the recruitment field. Energetic and resourceful, she leads the organizing, planning and managing of every aspect of our student and group tours today. Melina is also our go-to expert in navigating the complex trip approval process for school boards and public institutions.
Fluent in Italian and a true citizen of the world, Melanie is most passionate about rooting out enthralling new locations to share with her travellers.
- Places she’s lived: Canada, Italy, Spain, Ireland and Scotland.
- Travel destinations she loves most: Costa Rica and Italy
Kathleen Hardy
Vice President
Navigator of extraordinary travel experiences
As our destination expert and luxury itinerary trailblazer, Kathleen Hardy has been breathing life into Georgia Hardy bespoke travel journeys for more than a decade. Together with her husband George, she helps steer the organization forward, respecting its proud heritage while innovating its present and future. Prior to joining the company, Kathleen was a corporate communications executive, leading national campaigns for some of Canada’s top technology brands. Her strong communication skills ensure excellent rapport and open dialogue with specialty travel clients. An avid traveller with an insatiable curiosity (and a BA in history and English), she is a master at crafting imaginative itineraries, packed with a bounty of special extras, for clients like the Royal Ontario Museum, Ontario school boards, and culture-focused small groups.
The mother of two well-travelled teen girls, she has a special interest in designing magical, multi-generational family trips that delight, excite and celebrate special occasions.
- Places she’s lived: Canada, England and Switzerland.
- Travel destinations she loves most: London (culture), Utah (hiking), Switzerland (skiing) and Tofino, BC (surfing).
What Makes Georgia Hardy Tours Different?
Six Reasons Georgia Hardy Tours Soars Above the Rest
