Launched in 2003 as a multi-brand tour operator, Group IST traces its roots back to the early 1980’s, as a pioneer in cultural travel: multi-day group tour packages combining the sublimity of experiential travel with the intellectual joys of expert-led lectures.
Having grown over the years, with hundreds of memorable travel experiences operated in every continent on earth, Group IST now encompasses a family of category-leading niche travel brands, and acts as operating and/or marketing partner in several joint ventures.
Though New York City is where HQ is, we have partner offices across the world, and feel most at home on the road, with purpose in mind and passport in hand.
Our Team
Michael Goren
President & CEO, GroupIST
Michael is an seasoned founder and executive with over forty years’ experience as a leader in niche tourism. Having pioneered the concept of Educational Travel with his company IST, Michael then acquired brands Regina Tours and Journeys Unlimited,, and partnered with Variety Cruises and Vered Hasharon, to build the multi-brand operator Group IST. Michael’s undying passion for the tourism industry is rivaled only by his love for traveling with his wife, family and friends.
Nicholas Mancino
COO, GroupIST and President
Faith-based brands Journeys Unlimited & Regina Tours.
Nicholas Mancino is a seasoned founder and executive with over 50 years’ experience in the travel industry. He cofounded, alongside Ray Masillo, Journeys Unlimited in 1990 with the purpose of serving the church through travel. Since then, Nick has grown the brand, now part of the Group IST family of brands, into one of the world’s recognized Christian travel provider. When he is not in the office helping Pastors lead their travel ministries, he is volunteering at his church, or going for runs in Prospect Park.
Naomi Kabak
EVP, GroupIST and MD, Variety Cruises America
A driving force in the growth of US tourism to Israel over the past 5 decades, Naomi is a veritable swiss-army knife of skills in all things marketing, operations and management. She joined Group IST in 2004 and has helped expand its realm of destinations, niche interests, and strategic partnerships. It is likely that the only thing that can separate her from the work are her grandkids!
Gregg Murasso
VP Operations, GroupIST
Owning all aspects of travel wholesaler operations since 1989, Gregg is the rare breed of professional who handles the byzantine world of back-office and GDS maneuvering with the exact same ease as the latest in workplace and teamwork technology, without missing a step in inter-departmental communications. Oh, he’s also a proud father and lifelong New Yorker.
Gilad Goren
VP Business Development, GroupIST
Born and raised in the travel industry, Gilad has invested much of his professional life in pushing the Travel industry, arguably the world’s largest, to meet its potential for positive impact at scale. Having founded both a nonprofit and a social venture in the travel-tech space, he joined Group IST in 2020 to help steer the company to its next phase as a category leader, with an emphasis on authenticity, quality, and impact.
“Variety Cruises has had the pleasure of working closely with Group IST for decades now. Both as a strategic partner and our exclusive marketing representative in the Americas, the company has always been the reliable and effective collaborator we need in order to thrive in our competitive industry.”