The Grand Western Tour team is comprised of carefully chosen professionals who have experience working with a diverse group of personalities. The health and well-being of our students and staff and fostering a sense of community among the group are priorities.​

We maintain a ratio of one staff member for every 13 students, which enables our team to provide personal attention and really get to know the students.

Experience you can trust.

Mary Barnett Hale, Owner
Mary is an alum of the Grand Western Tour who has always cherished her trip across the county in 1981. On that trip, Mary developed many lasting friendships that remain intact today. After graduating from St. Mary’s College and UNC, she married and raised three children in Greensboro, NC. Her youngest daughter went on the tour in 2018 and reignited her passion for the Grand Western Tour. Mary and her husband Scott purchased the Grand Western Tour in 2019 and look forward to carrying on a tradition that played such an important role in Mary’s life.

Ray White, Bus Driver
Ray is a full-time motor coach driver who was recently honored as Holiday Tours’ 2019 Driver of The Year for his outstanding performance. A North Carolina native, Ray has been driving a motor coach since 1985 and is directing the Grand Western Tour charter bus for the third time. He logged more miles (66,000) than any other Holiday Tour driver in 2018.