Terry Fischer: A Mindset for Growth and Possibility

Raised in Western Canada, Terry Fischer was introduced to the travel and transportation industry early, as his father owned a school bus company. Having earned his CDL license at 18, Fischer quickly recognized that what began as something practical soon became his calling. At 20, he took a summer job driving a tour bus in the Canadian Rockies for Brewster in Banff.

“That’s where the love affair started right then and there,” he said, recalling how those early years truly shaped his career. 

He learned routes, commentary, and nuances of hosting travelers from around the world. After college, Fischer returned to work in his father’s business, helping expand it from school buses to motorcoaches. After spending 21 years there steadily building experience in charter and tour operations, Fischer’s father eventually sold the company in 2004, where Fischer remained for four more years before working as Director of Sales at another motorcoach company on the West Coast. Come 2011, Fischer and his wife Kathryn took a leap of faith, acquiring Transportation Charter Services (TCS)—he as President and she as VP of Sales.

“I’d spent my whole career working for other people, and the fact that it was going to be us this time was a little scary,” he remembered.

With only 18 motorcoaches and no tour and travel focus, the company was far from what it is today in terms of scale and client base. But where others may have seen an unconquerable challenge, Fischer saw opportunity. The couple leaned into their industry relationships and aggressively pursued group tour work in the Southwest—an action that helped spur incredible growth and cemented strategic expansion as a true hallmark of Fischer’s leadership.

When a major competitor exited the Canadian Rockies market, TCS stepped in to fill the void. And in 2017, an unexpected opportunity arose to acquire Polynesian Adventure Tours, a Hawaiian operator previously owned by Norwegian Cruise Line. The acquisition expanded TCS’ footprint to four islands and added a popular Kauai luau attraction—one Fischer now calls one of the most rewarding parts of the business.

“Never did I have in our New Year’s resolutions that year that we were going to buy a company in Hawaii—and it just happened so quickly,” Fischer said. “We've now seen a different side of the business with managing an attraction as well. It’s fantastic.”

Today, TCS and its family of brands operate across multiple regions with hundreds of vehicles and staff. Through it all, Fischer remains grounded in relationships and engaged in advocacy. A longtime industry veteran, he’s served on various association boards and was recently appointed to Hawaii’s Tourism Authority advisory board, where he hopes to help shape the island state’s responsible and sustainable tourism.

Fischer was recently awarded the 2026 TODAY! Award presented by Groups Today at ABA Marketplace in Reno, Nevada.

“I was shocked, actually,” he said of the honor. “I never thought I’d be recognized for this … it’s not why we do it. But as a motorcoach operator, we're the conduit. We’re proud to be the ones who connect travelers with all of these hotels, attractions and beautiful national parks and places to see.”

Fischer plans to continue his steady approach that’s led to his current success: Embracing opportunity, investing in people, and ensuring the group travel and motorcoach ecosystem thrives.

Written by Sarah Suydam, Managing Editor for Groups Today. 

This article originally appeared in the May/Jun ’26 issue of Groups Today.

Photo courtesy of American Bus Association.