Fri, Feb 16th 2024
Ticino billionaire Sergio Mantegazza, renowned for elevating Globus Viaggi to global prominence, passed away in Ticino. His legacy spans from a humble pedalo rental to a global tourism empire.
Ticino billionaire Sergio Mantegazza, a pivotal figure in global tourism, died in Ticino. In the 1950s, he propelled his father’s travel agency, Globus Viaggi, to international acclaim. Forbes Magazine acknowledged him among the world’s wealthiest.
The “Corriere del Ticino” team confirmed his passing to Keystone-SDA. They received the notice on Thursday.
The Mantegazza family’s venture began in the 1920s with pedalo rentals on Lake Lugano. It evolved to offer coach excursions and, by 1950, trips to iconic European destinations under “Globus Viaggi.”
In 1968, they launched Monarch Airlines in Luton, England. By 2006, it served seven million passengers. The Globus Group, as per the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland, had 5,000 employees and 34 aircraft in 2008.
The family exited Monarch Airlines in 2014 after significant investments, totaling about 150 million francs, to support the airline.
Beyond aviation, the Mantegazzas had ties to sports, with Sergio’s brother Geo leading the Lugano field hockey club to numerous victories in the 1980s. Today, Geo’s daughter Vicky heads HC Lugano.
Forbes listed Sergio Mantegazza as the 1164th richest globally in 2023, with a fortune of $2.7 billion at the age of 96.
©Keystone/SDA
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