Sean Finelli

Sean Finelli co-founded and serves as CEO of The Tour Guy, a global travel company that grew from his personal guiding experiences in Rome. After shifting from a finance career in 2008, Finelli pursued his interest in Italian travel and culture, beginning to lead tours himself and earning the nickname "The Roman Guy." This direct engagement with travelers shaped the company's initial approach, co-founded with Brandon Shaw, which focused on offering hand-crafted tours and comprehensive online resources designed to provide authentic cultural insights and immersion. Under Finelli's leadership, the company expanded its operations beyond Rome to include other major European cities such as Florence, Venice, Paris, and London, leading to its rebranding as The Tour Guy in 2019. The Tour Guy now coordinates both owned and partner tours worldwide, employing thousands of guides and freelancers. Finelli's background in finance, combined with his self-taught marketing practices, has underpinned the company's significant growth. He champions "vacation equality" – a philosophy centered on ensuring travelers connect deeply with their destination through thoroughly researched online content, often drawing from historical texts and cultural context.