A legacy of service.
The company was originally established in Greenwich Village, NY in 1870 as Fugazy Steamship Agency to assist Italian immigrants with bringing families through Ellis Island. Fugazy developed over the decades to become the second largest travel management company in the world during the 1960 & 70s while also expanding into ground transportation in 1967, becoming a recognized leader in that industry as well. In 2006, Fugazy established its event management division solely focused on providing logistical and operation support across sports and entertainment.
As a generational family operated company, we continue to innovate, adapt, and consistently elevate our service to meet client needs which has kept us as a leader across each business line. Honoring our history means living up to the legacy of service that was started in 1870: our personal commitment to navigate the ever-changing landscape of travel and transportation logistics.
Commendatore Luigi V. Fugazzi served in the Royal Italian Army and learned to speak English before crossing the Atlantic at 30-years-old in 1869. After his name was changed at Ellis Island, Luis opened businesses, including a private bank that he operated out of New York City’s Greenwich Village. Nicknamed ‘Papa Fugazy’, he spent his career providing services and safe passage for thousands of Italian immigrants.
Upon Luis’s death in 1930 state law required the family to sell the bank’s charter, but it retained the travel department which it operated as Fugazy Travel Bureau. Considered one of the oldest travel agencies in the country and named among its clients were Republic Steel, the Radio Corporation of America, Samuel Goldwyn Productions, R.K.O. Radio Pictures and New York University.
Luis’s son Italo led the company as President until 1947 when the torch was passed to his son, Bill. A naval officer graduate of Cornell University, Bill served as a lieutenant during World War II and received a Naval Letter of Commendation for underwater demolition and mine-clearing. Under Bill’s aspirational leadership the company expanded to 19 offices nationwide and helped grow the world’s first multipurpose credit card, when he became President of Diners Club.
Henry Ford and Lee Iacocca were looking to gain exposure for the Lincoln Continental. Fugazy Travel’s reputation and prominent clientele including Ford Motor Company, provided a seamless partnership as they ventured into the livery business. With commercials featuring Bob Hope and Vic Damone showcasing an array of vehicles including limousines and buses, the company provided best-in-class service for an affordable price. The addition of the livery service transformed the family business into a multifaceted and all encompassing travel and transportation company.
Long before becoming an official division, the company had a storied history which included transportation contracts for the Grammy Awards starting in 1968, all World Series for the Yankees, both of Pope John Paul II’s visits to New York in 1979 and 1994, Lake Placid Winter Olympic Games in 1980, the United Nations 50th Anniversary in 1995, and US Open Tennis beginning in 2006. Recognizing the void in the transportation industry specific to events, Fugazy Sports & Entertainment was established by Bill’s son, Roy. By the end of 2008, the event management division provided services for nearly all professional sports and the largest venues in addition to the arts, fashion, music and film industry.
Logistics strategy, coordination, and execution for any event.
