Collette Vacations, Mississauga, ON

Alice Sullivan, matriarch of the family-owned Collette Vacations, takes a look back at her family's experience in a company rich with history.
In their offices in an historic brick mill on the banks of the Blackstone River in Pawtucket, RI, Alice I. Sullivan recalls the day in 1962 when her husband purchased a small motorcoach touring company from a long-time friend who was looking to retire. At the time, the Sullivans had six small children, aged from infancy to 10.
It all began in 1918, when Jack Collette took a jitney bus filled with travelers on a three week tour to Florida from Boston for $61.50. He offered regional tours and a ticketing service in Boston's Park Square. Soon he added April tours to Washington D.C., bringing New Englanders south for an early glimpse of spring. The $50 Cherry Blossom specials proved popular. More than a dozen buses made the trip each season.
Collette moved his business to Providence in 1927, settling into an office at the New England Transportation Company Terminal. His service quickly became a major ticket office for all types of motorcoaches.
As the third generation of Sullivans gets to work, Collette Vacations has offices in three countries and offers tours to all 7 continents, yet it is still very much a family business. Dan Jr. still finds time to lead a tour at least once a year. He just got back from leading a tour to Antarctica. "Each generation has brought a different vision; each generation thinks bigger," Alice exudes.
"I just saw an interview with Warren Buffett - one of the wealthiest men in the world - and he made a comment that I thought was great. He invests in companies that have gone to the third generation. He remarked that if they make it to the third generation, they've done well. It resonated with me because I know that sometimes in the second generation, there's a lot of bickering and family members can't get past bitterness and arguing. Sometimes, it tears families apart. It's so hard to get there.