I want to remind everyone the new hiring season for our major tour operators will be starting up soon. Most start going through the resumes in the winter and start their interviews and hiring right after the holidays.
I talked to Joseph at Collette. He anticipates a busy domestic market for the next few years due to our slower economy.
I recommend updating your resumes, getting experience, networking with your fellow tour directors and guides. If you're new to tour management and guiding I recommend taking the September class which will have you ready in time for the hiring season.
15 comments:
I really, really hope the financial crisis is settled and that, as anticipated, tour operators forecast a good year for domestic travel! I've already started sending in my resume and will continue to send updates as I get new experience. I find it interesting that EF and Disney are already recruiting for the 09 season. Perhaps they're going after the newbies because they don't pay as well as the bigger operators? Just wondering.
EF hires early because they specialize in student tours. Their high season is during the school year. They actually slow down in the summer which is when you'll be busy with the other tour operators.
Student tours normally cost less so they pay less. In general, the younger the tour members, the less the tour or cruise cost.
Disney is notorious for paying less, even in their resorts and parks. They do everything else right though and it's a great place to get experience. Who knows, you may be training their Adventure Guides by next season.
I so agree with you about the financial crisis. I have got to stop listening to it for awhile. All the talk is going to put all of in a depression - emotionally and financially.
Keep sending your resume. When it gets tough people just stay closer to home and our domestic market increases. After 911 tourism was back up and with record numbers within a year.
Besides the international visitors are taking advantage of our low dollar value. On the news the other night they talked about the importance of promoting the US overseas for even more visitors.
Hi Cherie and Elizabeth,
I'm quite new to the world of blog but open to learning! For my first official post:
I say let's shake up some cyberspace and get a tour on the move- where we TDs, TGs, meeting pros, etc. can all get together, learn from each other and have some fun!
Cherie is the perfect person to lasso that kind of bubble- she is professional and fun, and always willing to share her vast knowledge and expertise...
She can make bubble wranglers of us all!
Let's spread the word and make a training tour happen!
Thank you Robin. Let's do it! I would love to do a tour where we can all meet, connect, network, learn and have a heck of lot of fun!
Anyone else interested?
I'm new to blogging too so we'll learn together.
Cherie
Hi, can you please tell me when your next class will be? Where can I go to look at the syllabus, cost, and length of the course? I appreciate your help. Carol
Hi Carol,
The next online class starts October 15 and inclues six weeks of lessons. A new class starts each month.
You'll find all of the information you're requesting by linking to the class through my website: www.tour-guide-training.com.
I hope this helps and I look forward to seeing you in class.
Cherie
Hi Ann,
Great question. I would say at least once every three or four weeks. As you say you don’t want to annoy them and keep them on the phone. Just a quick message to remind the tour operator who you are and something like, “Just wanted to let you know I’m available.” Often new tour directors are hired through emergency hiring and you want them to think of you first.
I especially recommend following up around the holiday season and again after the New Year. Most of the major tour operators will start their new hiring process in January and February.
I received an email from Elizabeth today saying, “I've been emailing operators and have been on the phone all day talking to many of them....They're all projecting a strong 09.” Good news.
Ann, you’re welcome to share information here on your radio talk show. I’m sure others will be interested and learn from your vast experiences.
Cherie
Thanks so much for your advice (and your generous compliment!), Cherie. Say, I'd like to post the MP3 audio of the interview you and I did on 1620 AM awhile back, if ok with you.
In the meantime, take care and keep that blogging up. And good luck to everyone out there as we search for tour director openings.
Ciao,
Ann
Live in Miami? Here's an article I just found on licensing their guides.
Tuesday August 5
Fact Check
Tour guides get certified
Contrary to popular belief, Miami's Freedom Tower was not built by Michelangelo. It was not designed by God. It's just a 1925 Mediterranean Revival office building, originally housing the Miami News & Metropolis, that got swept into the lusty and blustery mythology of a migration that changed this city. Its architecture is not necessarily significant, but its place in the emotional story of Miami often leads to exaggerated renditions of its history. The tower is just one of the many attractions in Miami that tourism officials are concerned about. To prevent busloads of gullible Canadians from believing that the structure is the center of the universe, the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau is making sure tour guides get their facts straight.
Starting this week the GMCVB and Miami-Dade College will be initiating a tour guide certification program, a 30-hour course, that promises accuracy when it comes to explaining the city's historical landmarks. Taught by local history guru Dr. Paul George, the classes are intended to raise the quality of tours given in our tourist-attracted city.
The classes run through Saturday, August 9, at MDC's Inter-American Campus, 627 SW 27th Ave. Registration costs $200. Call for details 305-237-1093. -- By Juan Carlos Rodriguez
I understand Grand Circle Travel (gct.com) has an ad looking for domestic tour directors. If you're interested I would apply asap.
I worked for GCT as an international tour director for years and they always treated me well. Unfortunately, they now use local tour directors for the their international tours.
http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspx?Job_DID=J7X45W64WGLSWJLS2GR&sc_cmp2=10_JobMat_JobDet&IPATH=JEHUA&siteid=cb_emailrec&APath=1.8.0.0.0&je=myrec&HostID=US
A tour manager in a Boston beer factory? Have to say that's a creative way to get one's foot in the tour director door. Hope you don't mind my unusual "job finds," Cherie.
http://jobview.monster.com/GetJob.aspx?JobID=77605621&from=indeed
From Suntrek Tours, Cherie. Is this standard for hourly pay? Seems a tad low for the duties involved.
Ann, "TheTripChicks"
ATL
Good question Ann. It doesn’t sound very high but it should be at least 12 hours a day, times 7 days a week leading to over time rates.
I know you are active and can and do participate in all of the activities listed but to be honest Suntrek likes hiring ‘youngish’ tour directors because their tour members are ‘youngish‘, meaning parties, night clubs, and etc. Their tours are very much like TrekAmercia, camping adventure tours throughout the US.
It’s a great way for new ‘youngish’ tour directors to get started in the business and I do recommend them in my training. They are owned by Trafalgar who also owns Contiki and Destination America so it can lead to leading more standard type tours.
Thanks for sharing the link.
Ann, posting the interview would be great. It will also give others a chance to meet you too. Thank you.
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