STAPLE Investments Partners with Corporate Travel Services

STAPLE Investments, an evergreen investment firm focused on mission-aligned, long-term stewardship, has announced a partnership with Corporate Travel Services (CTS), a Northville, Michigan-based provider of travel, tours, and event management services. The transaction terms were not disclosed.

Founded in 1965, CTS is a family-owned company known for its customized travel experiences, including educational tours, faith-based pilgrimages, themed cruises, and luxury journeys. The company has built a reputation for personalized service and cultural enrichment over nearly six decades.

Under the partnership, CTS will maintain its current leadership team and continue delivering the high-touch service its customers value. STAPLE Investments will provide evergreen capital and operational resources to support CTS’s next phase of growth, focusing on technology upgrades and operational efficiencies.

John Hale, President of CTS, said, “STAPLE recognizes the value of the culture we’ve built over decades. This strategic investment strengthens our ability to deliver the same high-touch service at greater scale, and it reinforces the trusted relationships our clients and partners value most.”

David DiFranco, CEO of CTS, added, “With STAPLE’s long-term, mission-aligned approach, we can invest in the talent, systems, and infrastructure that make every journey smoother from planning through on-the-ground execution, while staying true to what has made CTS special since 1965.”

Timothy Reichert, Managing Partner and Co-CEO at STAPLE Investments, commented, “CTS is a rare combination of mission, operational excellence, and care for the traveler. Our role is to be a steady, values-aligned partner – supporting the team with evergreen capital and operating resources so they can create experiences that deepen faith and understanding, strengthen communities, and build a durable culture.”

The partnership aims to expand CTS’s service offerings by integrating advanced technology platforms to improve trip planning and execution. Operational efficiencies are expected through infrastructure investments, shared administrative functions, and economies of scale in vendor negotiations.

CTS’s focus on customized, high-touch travel experiences positions it uniquely in the travel and event management sector. The collaboration with STAPLE is expected to strengthen CTS’s competitive position by enabling scalable growth while preserving its family-owned culture and service ethos.

Key challenges include maintaining CTS’s culture during scale-up, aligning operational improvements without disrupting customer experience, and retaining leadership and talent post-transaction.

Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. The partnership reflects a growing trend of mission-aligned investment firms supporting niche travel and event companies with long-term capital and operational expertise.

Looking ahead, CTS plans to leverage STAPLE’s resources to enhance customer experience, expand service capacity, and invest in sustainable growth initiatives. The partnership underscores a shared commitment to delivering meaningful, personalized travel and event experiences.