Growing up in a family business gave Elizabeth Hall and her brother Joe Hall a front-row seat to the dedication and care that built John Hall’s Alaska into a trusted name in travel. This year, they’ll bring those lessons to their new leadership roles as President and Chief Operating Officer of the company their father founded more than 40 years ago.

Elizabeth will take over as President, while Joe will step into the role of COO. Their father, John Hall Sr., will remain active as CEO and Chairman of the Board, ensuring a smooth transition while continuing to guide the family business.
“The key to our success is that all of the children started working when they were 10 and 12 years old and always proved their worth like any employee before taking the next steps,” said John Hall.
“We know this is a strong succession of leadership because Elizabeth and Joe have always known what my philosophy is. They were raised with it, and their customer service level is unmatched.”
Grew up in the business
Elizabeth grew up immersed in the motorcoach industry, working alongside her father and gaining experience in various aspects of the business. She was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2011 after earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration. She has played an integral role in expanding John Hall’s Alaska into new sectors, such as global tour offerings with World Adventures.
Elizabeth, now at the helm of a female-operated business, is a member of the national board of the American Bus Association (ABA), a past chair of ABA’s Women in Buses Council, and the chair of the ABA’s Next Era Leadership Council. Elizabeth also represents John Hall’s Alaska and the motorcoach industry in Alaska, serving on the Alaska Travel Industry Association and the Alaska State Chamber boards.
While the company has plans for growth, remaining an independently owned, family-run operation means John Hall’s Alaska can continue to provide the individualized service to each client they’ve come to expect after more than four decades.
“We have been training for these roles and both have a proven reputation for being dedicated to the company and to the industry,” said Elizabeth. “We will ensure the company continues to grow but always remains at a management size of which Joe and I can have our pulse on at all times. We are in the business for the quality of what we do.”
Family ties add strength
Joe Hall’s promotion to COO represents a key step in John Hall’s Alaska’s growth. He also has been involved with the business since childhood and has expertise across all areas of the company, from operations to customer service. He has led the establishment and growth of the company’s maintenance operations and motorcoach charter service offerings in Alaska and Minnesota.
“The mentality for our entire family is, it doesn’t matter if it falls underneath your position or not, the job gets done,” said Joe. “We have a team that follows that same train of thought. That’s the beauty of being a small company. We don’t see any responsibility as too big or too small.”
Joe also emphasized the benefits of sibling leadership in a family business.
“The great thing about working with family is that you know you have someone who will be there no matter what – no matter how good or bad it gets. Elizabeth and I rely on each other, and we’ve always said that as a family, there’s nothing we feel like we can’t do.”
Elizabeth added, “People ask us all the time if we get along as well as what we portray, and the answer is yes! Joe is my favorite person in this world, and I can’t imagine entering the next generation of the business without him.”
The siblings say they are committed to preserving John Hall’s Alaska’s mission.
“Our priority will always be to uphold the foundation and reputation our father built,” Elizabeth said. “Nothing about our model will change. We will still be worldwide, offering the highest standards in the industry and ensuring the legacy of our family’s company will always live on.”