About Us
Liberty Receptive Tours makes group travel effortless for professional tour and motorcoach operators. Our expertise in Tennessee and across America with student, domestic, and faith-based tours allows us to deliver seamless, time-saving solutions so you can focus on your clients and your business.
Pete Pantuso
Pete Pantuso is Principal of Pantuso Advisors LLC, where he advises organizations and companies to help them achieve their objectives. He does this by helping to transform companies, drawing on their best internal and external talents, helping overcome management and communications challenges, and creating a roadmap that leads to their success, and through a unique blend of strategy, consulting, organizational transformation, and coaching they empower clients to achieve their objectives.
Previously, he served as the President and CEO of the American Bus Association (ABA) from 1996-2024, supporting over 3,800 member organizations. He was also President of the National Bus Traffic Association and the ABA Foundation.
Driven by his leadership, ABA evolved into North America’s most influential and largest motorcoach, tour and travel association, representing approximately 65 percent of all motorcoaches on the road. Pantuso led the expansion of the ABA Foundation to a $9 million organization, creating high-demand, actionable research and data for industry groups. Since its inception, the ABA Foundation has awarded over $1,200,000 in scholarships.
Pantuso established councils of like-minded and focused members to expand the scope and impact of the transportation, tourism and travel industry while ensuring the inclusion of all members.
With decades of business, association, industry, and government experience, Pantuso previously directed government and regulatory affairs for the Rubber Manufacturers Association, the National Confectioners Association, and the Glass Packaging Institute, all based in Washington, DC. His early career also included work in the Pennsylvania State Senate and at Owens-Brockway Glass in Brockway, PA.
He was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to the National Advisory Committee on Travel and Tourism Infrastructure and to DOT’s Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Council.
Pantuso served on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100 leading association executives and was on the boards of American Highway Users Association, the Roadway Safety Foundation, the Museum of Bus Transportation, the Motorcoach Marketing Council, University of Pittsburgh (Bradford) Advisory Board, and GroupConnect LLC. He currently serves on the Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America) National Capital Area Council’s Board and Executive Committee, and the Sandy Spring Bank Advisory Board. He is also a partner in multiple commercial development projects in Washington, DC.
A Bradford, PA native, Pantuso holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s degree from the George Washington University’s School of Business and Government.
He received the National Eagle Scout Association’s Outstanding Eagle Scout award, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford distinguished alumni award, and the Certified Travel Industry Specialist designation.
Pete Smith
For the past 16 years, Pete Smith has served as the Director of Sales at Collier Development Company in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. During his tenure, Pete has successfully led the group sales department, driving growth and innovation. Under his leadership, the company has expanded its portfolio, developing over $50 million in new properties.
Pete’s journey in the tourism industry began at the young age of 13, making cotton candy at Dollywood, Dolly Parton’s iconic theme park. Determined to put himself through college, he worked as a waiter while earning a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Auburn University, a school he holds close to his heart.
Since 1980, Pete and his family have played a significant role in shaping the economy of the Smoky Mountain region. Together, they have performed at Dollywood, built two music theaters, and developed multiple construction projects, leaving a lasting impact on the area’s tourism industry.
Now residing in Sevierville, Tennessee, Pete is a devoted husband and father. His son, Harrison, 22, is an Eagle Scout and an engineering major at the University of Tennessee. His daughter, Ella Grace, 18, captained her high school dance team to a state championship and plans to follow in her father’s footsteps by studying marketing at East Tennessee State University.
Pete often jokes that he “overmarried” when he wed the love of his life, Kristie Smith. Together, they are deeply involved in the family businesses—Liberty Receptive Tours and ETEA LLC (operating as Ed and Ted’s Excellent Adventures)—where they combine their expertise to create exceptional travel experiences.
An active leader in the industry, Pete serves on the boards of the American Bus Association Foundation, the Student Youth Travel Association, and the Motorcoach Association of South Carolina.
However, Pete believes his greatest achievement is neither professional nor personal, but spiritual—his acceptance of Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Anchored by his deep faith, he strives to champion the cause of Christ in every aspect of his life, however imperfectly.
