![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/slj-article-box-img-1.webp\"\/)
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Their trip is over, the 30 or 40 people who started out as strangers have had a chance to bond, and now a simple good-bye won\u2019t do.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re hugging and exchanging phone numbers, maybe making plans to have dinner together or to go on another trip together,\u201d Matthew Kizis said, describing a scene he\u2019s witnessed more than once.<\/p>\n
Kizis, who, with business partner Alan Kline, co-owns the TravelWorld travel agency, said couples, friends, and solo travelers often like to join a group for trips ranging from a \u201cTreasures of Italy\u201d tour to a seven-day trip down the Mississippi on a riverboat.<\/p>\n
\u201cGroups are 80% of our business,\u201d Kizis said in a telephone interview, adding that \u201c98% of the time a representative or employee of TravelWorld is leading the group\u201d to make sure the trip runs smoothly.<\/p>\n
TravelWorld\u2019s efforts to offer top-quality trips to people in the area have now resulted in its winning the Travel Agency category in the Best of Lackawanna awards.<\/p>\n
Of course, if you want a trip for just two people, or maybe just your family, TravelWorld can help arrange that for you as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe arrange trips all over the world,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Recent Travel World excursions have taken people to Venice, Florence and Rome; Las Vegas; the Bahamas; Yankee Stadium; Alaska; and the White Mountains of New Hampshire. There was even a \u201cPizza Tour of Brooklyn.\u201d<\/p>\n
But ask Kizis about his favorite place, and he doesn\u2019t hesitate to name a sunny, Mediterranean country filled with art, culture and world-renowned food.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m an Italian citizen, and Italy means a lot to me. I have a lot of respect for the country,\u201d he said, adding he thoroughly enjoys leading tours to Italy and helping other people \u201cfall in love with the country as much as I fell in love with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trips to the northern Italian lakes and the mountains and the Island of Capri sell out year after year, he said.<\/p>\n
The successful, sold-out trips are \u201ca tribute to what John (Madden) and Debbie (Freas) built,\u201d he said, giving credit to Travel World founder Debbie Freas and executive vice president John Madden, who built up the business over several years. \u201cAnd it\u2019s a tribute to what Alan and I are doing. It comes down to trust.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whether you\u2019re a first-time traveler or seasoned, Kizis said, Travel World \u201ccan alleviate the travel headaches and plan the trip from start to finish\u201d.<\/p>\n
His special joy is \u201cto see people who have never been out of the country\u201d have their first international adventure, perhaps \u201ceating the Italian pasta, tasting the Italian wine, seeing an authentic Tuscan village.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Local journalism matters, and your support makes it possible. You can help sustain this work by making a donation or choosing one of our subscription options. Subscribers enjoy valuable benefits, including full access to our e-edition, a reduced ad experience on timesleader.com, and more.<\/p>\n
Your support helps ensure independent, high-quality local news remains available today and for future generations. Thank you for standing with local journalism. \n<\/p>\n