Gennaro Barbirotti (first generation) founded the shipping agency “Transcontinental” in the early 1900s. During a period of mass emigration, it was the first agency in Southern Italy to offer those seeking fortune in the Americas a complete service, from obtaining entry visas to selling tickets for intercontinental sea voyages. In 1956, he was awarded the Gold Medal by the Salerno Chamber of Commerce for “loyalty to work and economic progress.”

Giuseppe Barbirotti (second generation) in the 1960s was among the pioneers who introduced the “Leisure” segment into the tourism industry, which replaced transoceanic emigration travel. Vacations became a coveted commodity for everyone, and increasingly diverse and organized travel packages were born. In the 1970s, Barbirotti Agency established itself internationally, becoming the general agent for Aviatur, one of the first operators to develop the concept of the “Travel Package.”