When Rick Retires?????

There’s probably a solid succession plan. Who knows, maybe his son who has his own travel company will consolidate both together.

https://www.wsaeurope.com/about/about-andy-steves

I don't think anyone would know that (or would be allowed to publicize it) except for Rick himself. The founder of any company can retire but maintain decision-making authority by being on the Board of Directors, or they may turn it for the Vice President or another high-level manager to run (see Microsoft or Apple as examples). Or they can be bought out by a larger company. Or they may stay independent but keep evolving under a selected successor. The vision and operations of any company reflect the person at the top, so I would at least expect some change. I think most company owners hope for stability and continuity but you can't predict what happens in the case of new leadership because they may have different ideas for the direction of the company. Regardless of what happens to Rick, the company will change and evolve over time - the world, the clients, changing demographics, and technology demand it.

I don't necessarily think that Rick's son will automatically take over because I don't know if he's interested or has the business skills, savvy, connections, and everything else that would be needed. Maybe he's happy growing his own much smaller tour company, which is a totally different market segment than Rick's. People are not interchangeable, and you can ruin a perfectly good company (and relationships) by installing family members. Someone would have to be nurtured and groomed into that role. It could be Andy, but who really knows what the plan is?

Have you posed that question to Rick directly? I think he might laugh at the suggestion that he would retire anytime soon. He doesn't seem to be slowing down at all. Everything I've heard and read about him implies he's extremely hands-on, a meticulous workaholic, and constantly trying to expand his horizons (in non-European countries).

And Rick has a daughter, Jackie, too.

Maybe, one will need to do their own research like one did before RS. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources out there.

I remember decades ago attending some sort of corporate positioning/investor relations seminar, and Martha Stewart's enterprise was one of the discussion topics (this was before she served time, of course), but it was acknowledged that there is real risk when a brand revolves so much around one key person....because THAT PERSON is the brand. Rick, of course, is the brand for the topic we are discussing.

Said (jokingly) just like we used to see the WWJD bracelets that were somewhat popular years ago, maybe when he retires (or dies) the company can do WWRD bracelets, books, and tours.......milking his "spirit" for a couple of years. I have no idea if anyone would buy one of the bracelets if they offered them today...maybe the in-their-blood Ricknics??? (Note to RS staff: Do a cheap test marketing of the concept...before investing too much in that....as there could be pros/cons and some real risks.)

If Rick's company were publicly traded, you better believe there would be a succession plan. But since it is not publicly traded, I guess it would depend on what value he places on the advice of his estate planners. If such a succession plan is not in place, of course, the company could (we have no idea since we are not insiders) go into a real scramble should some serious illness or accident cause his early demise. If his company carries any debt (and guessing it may not), I am sure the lenders would want some level of a succession plan (or life insurance) in place.

If his son were the heir apparent, seems he would start working him into the branding (now) in a more visible way.

National Geographic Travel was somewhat recently acquired by a big conglomerate, and I thought the whole brand would get messed up...but so far, so good. BUT, that said, there is no one person around which National Geographic's travel brand evolves.

I could see his company blend into a culture like REI (maybe).

Edit: For those of you who have traveled with Tauck, the history of the brand and Arthur Tauck are celebrated, and a few key family members (and in-laws) seem to be keeping that brand commitment actively alive. Annual mailings celebrate the history while sharing news for the future. But, family evolved into the picture as the company grew....it was not like someone flipped a light switch.......thus my comment above that if Andy is the man, now is the time to bring him MORE into the picture.

Rick has made it crystal clear he is not interested in retirement, saying, "What am I going to do?" What he does is the passion of his life, and his lifeblood, so to speak.

He's in his mid 60s and assuming his health holds up, I could see him in his current capacity for another decade, although he might not be on the road as often.

From 2013.........yep, he's got some good bench strength on the team........they could move it forward with the WWRD as a guiding light. I do not see these seasoned people reporting into Andy, though (sorry Andy).

https://blog.ricksteves.com/blog/how-someone-whos-always-traveling-runs-a-travel-business/

I bet it will be Cameron Huitt that takes over - he is heavily promoted on Facebook on Rick's page.

Well he has a whole bunch of staff people, planners, guides, co-authors and assistants who do most of the on-the-ground research anyway. So maybe the TV shows will drop off but he doesn't really need to do that much else as it is.

Being as much of the RS product is done in conjunction with other authors and guides and that buy Ricks own words he has not led a tour in years I think the RS brand will survive after Ruck retires. That being said as a lot of folks would view much of what RS does as Thier ideal retirement and as RS seams to be the type that really enjoys what they do it may not be a problem for a good long time yet. My dad was still walking miles a day in Europe when he was 86.

What I do wonder about is as Rick ages and the knees and hips and potential the lungs and heart start showing ware will Rick start to put a bit more emphasis on travel for the elderly and those with mobility limitations? It was never something I considered until a couple years ago, When my father started having issues going up hills or stairs (breathing issues) But thier is a limited amount of information available that is written from that point of view but as the Babyboomers age it is going to become an ever more important segment of travel.
So perhaps as Rick ages we may see him start to incorporate that a bit more. It if fine to suggest using a backpack bag vs a 4 wheel spinner until you can’t carry one anymore.
Last year I loaned my carry on (wheel) back to my Father for a solo trip he took. When he got home he said her preferred his 4 wheel spinner. When asked why he said because he can turn it sideways to wheel down the narrow aisle in the plan but my back had to go down it the wide way and it was a lot harder on him. I NEVER considered this before and I have done several trips with him and I and both those bags. But I am 50 and just carry my bag on so I have never tried to wheel it on a plan..

this is the kind of thing that I think perhaps as Rick ages we may see change in his perspective.

As until faced with the limitations that age brings on we just don’t know the problems.
So I expect that before we see Rick retire we may just see him modify his approach to traveling.

What I do wonder about is as Rick ages and the knees and hips and
potential the lungs and heart start showing ware will Rick start to
put a bit more emphasis on travel for the elderly and those with
mobility limitations?

I think that's exactly why he writing books for the cruise ship market, even though that may not appeal to some more physically active or just plain not interested more mature/very mature folks who would rather travel using different means. I would have never guessed he'd go after this market, although it makes perfect business sense not to ignore it. By the way, does AARP and like minded interest/trade groups address travel for older/ less mobile folks?

I think running some of the faster paced RS tours (with a lot of uneven walking, one-night stay overs, getting up early, lots of bus time, etc.) would be quite difficult with a different tour member health mix, especially on the extremes of mobility and/or less healthy or physically active. You'd have to slow it down quite a bit, cut down the amount of physical time and/or attractions, or make the trips longer. It's tricky, and that's likely why RS tours keep their focus on self-selected healthy and adaptable people (at whatever age) so that their tours, as designed, can work for the age range of the tour members, which can vary sometimes quite a bit.

Well, Rick is not very old! He is very active mentally and physically -- I think he can continue to lead his company for many more years (and I hope so!).

Absent an unpredictable/unexpected adverse health event, this topic is at least 10 years premature.

Given his attention to detail, I have to believe there is a 'plan' in place should the unexpected happen.

My observation is that he has a knack for hiring the 'right' people and then lets them do their job. I see this as a positive sign that 'RS Inc'., continue for a long time

'keep on traveling'

Maggie,
Disney bought Nat Geo Travel:
https://skift.com/2018/08/24/national-geographics-travel-arm-expands-ahead-of-disney-takeover/

1. You could travel independently

2. You could stay with RS Europe under the new leadership. Why assume the company would change a profitable business model?

3. You could travel with Smithsonian Journeys or Odyssey

4. You could take a tour from the many colleges & universities that offer them

Hi, I can't expand on this, but rest assured that there is a plan. The tours will go on.

When he retires, will he "keep on travelin'", or stay home and work on his piano playing?

This company is quite large and extremely well organized. It already has individuals in charge of major company functions: guidebooks, tours, etc.

Paul, RS mentioned in the recent magazine article that he is too antsy and doesn't like staying home very long.

“When he retires, will he "keep on travelin'", or stay home and work on his piano playing?”

As a person who has played the piano for 55 plus years, recently retired and have upped my travel plans, he will easily be able to do both!

Do you wonder if the Webmaster showed this posting to Rick, and they’re chuckling at “our advice” and speculation? ; )

This sounds like the ever present question in AL-when will Nick (Saban) retire?-Rick and Nick seem to have the same gotta stay busy attitude.

I doubt Rick has too much input in the day to day workings of his company or tours. However, demographics and technology are changing and his company will need to keep up or perish. I imagine this board skews older and many of us learned about Rick through his tv shows as that was one of the only ways to learn about European travel. Now with YouTube, it’s very easy to see endless travel vlogs and, let’s face it, Rick’s dad jokes aren’t going to appeal to millennials.

There’s so much travel information online and again, I just don’t see millennials buying guidebooks, especially with some of the photos dating back to the 1990s.

So, his company has got to have a succession plan but also realise that the travel market is changing and the typical RS tour member being 50 plus means you’ve to have a plan for the future. As mentioned above, I think that’s why he’s getting into the cruise ship market as he understands there’s a market segment with money but that doesn’t want the typical fast paced RS tour or climbing stairs in a quaint hotel.

It’ll be interesting to see where the company is 10 years.

I know I’ve painted with some broad brushes. And I do really appreciate have RS books and shows over the years, even in my starving student and post college life, even if i only had leftover pizza and $5 in my bank account, I could count on Rick to help me dream of going to Europe. But, the world is changing and watching a PBS show at 4 PM and checking out travel guides from the library isn’t the only way to learn about travel now.