2026 Next Gen: Darcy Rumpp
Darcy Rumpp is one of the 2026 Next Gens, as nominated by Groups Today readers for making a difference in the industry with their fresh, progressive perspective.
After graduating from the University of South Carolina, Darcy Rumpp began working as a tour guide for a student travel company in Florence, Italy—an experience which ignited her passion for group travel.
To expand her knowledge of the industry, she joined the Operations Team at EF Explore America and today works there as a Senior Procurement Specialist, where she has successfully built partnerships and strategic initiatives for the past three years.
“I have been drawn to the industry ever since my own travel experiences as a student, but the idea of a career really took hold once I became a tour guide,” Rumpp shared. “After graduating from college, I took a position as a guide and sales manager in Florence, Italy. I primarily worked with American study-abroad students and helped them explore Europe. This was one of those ‘post-grad, last-chance-at-adventure’ jobs that I wanted to have before settling down in a corporate space.”
Rumpp shared that after becoming comfortable with travel, she thinks it can be easy to forget how exhilarating it is to do something totally different and be outside your comfort zone.
“I saw exploration through new eyes and I was inspired to help people better understand the world and themselves,” she said. “After being a part of group tours as a guide and then in the sales capacity, I wanted to continue understanding the business but from an operational perspective, so I joined the Procurement Team at EF. It has been one of the most fulfilling experiences I have had in my career.”
Rumpp notes the increase in youth engagement all over the world—from politics, to environmentalism, to creativity.
“Travel at any point can be eye-opening but I am always intrigued to find what we can do to keep our students engaged once they return home,” she said. “What will grasp their attention and keep their curiosity going? I think combining new technologies with real storytelling is a great way to make a lasting impression on a generation that is very comfortable with screens and constant stimulation. Utilizing AI technologies to help students understand history and culture is an amazing tool that I think educators have just begun to apply to student learning. I am excited to see how we can use AI to improve the student experience and expand the industry.”
When Rumpp took her first job, the world was just rebounding from the COVID-19 pandemic, where uncertainty and volatility for tourism as a whole was the norm.
“As the state of tourism begins to recuperate, it is exciting to play a role in determining where we are heading as an industry. Working in operations, there is ample opportunity to meet with thousands of new suppliers each year,” Rumpp explained. “Around two years ago, I wanted to make a concerted effort to increase the diversity and inclusivity we see in the companies we partner with. Whether it is women-owned, minority-owned, or focusing on something like Indigenous history, we continue to increase our partnerships to highlight these important facets of our community.”
Rumpp believes there’s much power in story and connection—and that’s where she’s proudly put most of her attention. Looking to the future, Rumpp plans to continue this effort towards inclusivity with their suppliers.
“Working with different communities is a symbiotic relationship. It enables us to hear different perspectives and think strategically in new ways while also making the tourism community stronger by including as many voices as possible,” she said. “I am honored to be in a position that allows me to connect students with different opportunities and cultures, and I hope that I can expose them to as many facets of culture and history as possible.”
Darcy Rumpp is one of the 2026 Next Gens, as nominated by Groups Today readers for making a difference in the industry with their fresh, progressive perspective. Read the full feature here.
Photo courtesy of Darcy Rumpp.
Written by Sarah Suydam, Managing Editor for Groups Today.
