President of EF World Journeys, Heidi Durflinger, will become CEO of the tour operator, whose sub brands include EF Go Ahead, EF Ultimate Break and the new EF Adventures.

A native of Kansas, Durflinger started her career at EF Go Ahead as a sales consultant in 2004. She was named president of EF Go Ahead Tours in 2014 and president of EF World Journeys in 2021.

“I joined EF Go Ahead Tours in a sales role over 20 years ago, inspired by our mission to open the world through education, and I continue to be energized two decades later as we help more customers experience and learn about the world and themselves through travel,” said Heidi. “I’m thankful to the Hult family, founders and owners of EF Education First, who have entrusted me to take on this role, and I’m truly fortunate to work side-by-side with this amazing team across EF World Journeys as we look to expand our business in the years to come. Our shared vision is clear – to deliver the most epic tours and to be the best in the tourism industry as we connect our travelers to the history, cultures and stories behind the places we visit.”

“For 20 years, Heidi has and continues to put our customers first,” said Edward Hult, CEO of EF Education First, the parent company of the EF travel and education conglomerate. “She has an incredible work ethic and is always trying and learning new things.”

In an interview, Durflinger said she would concentrate on future missions and consolidating the success EF World Journeys has achieved. “The goal of this role is growth,” she said, “so it is about me thinking about what is next for the EF World Journeys portfolio. That’s really my focus.”

Source.: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/heidi-durflinger-20-year-travel-and-tourism-veteran-appointed-as-ceo-of-ef-world-journeys-usa-a-leader-in-guided-experiential-travel-for-gen-z-to-baby-boomers-302323047.html.