Take-A-Break Travel

Babson Professor Ed Marram, Case Director

William Mayfield, Jim Foster, and Dan D'Heilly, Case Writers

Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship

© Babson College, 1996.

Abstract

Two partners in the college spring break travel business must decide whether to expand into the high school travel business. The case explores their decision making process in a potentially high-growth environment. It also illustrates the impact of regulatory requirements in shaping the opportunity and the challenges that are created. Finally, it provides a discussion on issues such as how and when to professionalize the business, how to project its financial growth, and the capital required for growth. Another case in this series, Scott Tompkins, deals with the starting up of this business. This case is best used in courses with a focus on cash flow, new ventures, growth management, guerrilla marketing, partnerships, international entrepreneurship, and product development.

Location of the company: Massachusetts

Year(s) spanned by the case: 1989 through 1996

Industry segment(s): Spring break travel for students

Stage of the company: Growth

Age of the entrepreneur(s): 20s

DVD

A 23-minute DVD is available for this case. The principal from the case, Mario Ricciardelli, answers questions in a Babson class. Please place DVD orders through ecch.

Teaching Notes

A seven page case teaching package, written Ed Marram (compiled by Dan D'Heilly), is available for this case. The teaching package includes strategies for case presentation, key concepts, solutions to the assignment questions in the case, and suggestions for the most effective ways to work this case into a course.