Get Paid to Travel

President Obama @Disney World Makes Important Announcements on Plans to Increasing US Tourism

2012-01-21T20:39:00.000-08:00

PresidentObama announces a plan at Disney World to increase US tourism by simplifying visaprocess for Chinese, Brazilin and Taiwanese visitors. This should greatlyincrease the number of jobs and careers for tour guides, step on guides, tourmanagers, travel staff and receptive services.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — With Cinderella Castle as abackdrop and under a cloudless blue sky, President Barack Obama on Thursdayissued a message to the world: “America is open for business.”

Obama earlier in the day issued an executive order to easeU.S. visa policies and expand the number of countries in the Visa WaiverProgram, with the goal of increasing inbound U.S. tourism.

“I want America to be the number one tourist destination inthe world,” Obama told the crowd at Disney’s Magic Kingdom.

To do that, Obama said he has directed his administration toincrease by 40% the visa-processing capacity in China and Brazil, wheresecuring a visa to visit the U.S. can take up to a year.

He noted that Brazil and China have emerging middle classesand citizens with growing disposable income, but that onerous U.S. visapolicies mean their citizens have difficulty getting to the U.S.

“People want to come here, and Brazil and China are two ofthe countries with the biggest backlogs,” Obama said.

“That’s what today is all about: telling the world thatAmerica is open for business.”

Obama said the new tourism strategy is part of his job-creationplan.

“The more folks who visit America, the more Americans we getback to work,” he said. “It’s that simple.”

Touching on the difficult balance between maintaining safeborders and the interests of the tourism sector, Obama said, “There’s no reasonwe can’t do both.”

Obama also said he is instructing his administration toexpand the Visa Waiver Program to more nations, such as Taiwan.

In addition, the Obama administration aims to expand GlobalEntry, a program that allows expedited clearance at the airport forpre-screened international travelers.

While it has been suggested in the media that Obama’s speechwas as much about his reelection campaign (Florida is projected to be a keyswing state) as it was about tourism, U.S. Travel Association CEO Roger Dowcommended Obama for being “the first sitting president to say that increasingtravel and tourism is important.”

http://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/Obama-wants-U-S--to-be-worlds-top-tourist-destination/#.TxstnSWq4-k.twitter

Job Request for Mature, Dedicated Tour Directors

2012-01-17T09:53:00.001-08:00

I just received the following job request from Jon Barber atAdventure Travel West. He's looking for "mature, dedicated outdoor tourdirectors". When applying be sure to mention your training. It will helpyou in the hiring process and is important to the tour operators.

Request:

Adventure Travel West, Inc caters to European groupstraveling in the Western US National Parks. We are looking for mature,dedicated outdoor tour directors, for expansion of our team to lead our smallgroup, quality tours. Our tour directors guide groups inside national parks onday hikes, as well as give commentary, and transport groups betweendestinations.

The ideal candidate has the following qualifications: highlyorganized, lots of outdoor leadership experience, fun loving, high energy,clean driving record, knows the Western US National Parks. CDL and WOFA arepreferred. Some training is possible. We are especially looking for tourdirectors that speak Italian, Spanish, French, German or other Europeanlanguages. Our season is April - November. Our professional tour directors arevery well compensated.

Please send your resume to:

operations@at-west.com

company website is: www.at-west.com

http://www.at-west.com/

www.at-west.com

USTOA members reveal travel trends for 2012 , Travel Association News

2012-01-16T11:05:00.000-08:00

The United States Tour Operators Association lists thetrends for 2012. I like seeing tourismreceiving so much attention for the 'good' we do around the world. It's makes our careers as Tour Directors andGuides even more important, appreciated and enriching.

An annual survey of active members of the US Tour OperatorsAssociation (USTOA) revealing forecasts and trends for 2012 travel confirmedthat “experiential travel” – or the “E Factor,” as USTOA President Terry Dalecalls it – continues to be a priority for travelers and was ratedimportant/extremely important by 85% of survey respondents to their overallgrowth and sales. Baby Boomers 46 to 65years of age comprised the largest age group of travelers seeking “E Factor”vacations. Boomers are also the largestmarket in general for tour operator members responding to the survey,representing nearly 60% of their customers.

The region of the world with the most “E Factor” options fortravelers is Europe, according to 37% of members, followed by South America(20%). Within Europe, Italy was namedthe most frequently as the destination offering the most experiential traveloptions. In responding why, memberscited food, wine and culinary tours, historical and educational opportunities,art and culture in general. Francefollowed closely behind, for similar reasons.

The thirst for learning experiences is driving member touroperators to increase “E Factor” itineraries next year. More than half (53%) of the surveyrespondents plan to offer new experiential programs in 2012, with culinarytours topping the list at 26%; culture tours at 22%, and nature, adventure,photography and golf also cited.

When asked to name the top “off-the-beaten-path” or emergingdestinations that will gain popularity in 2012, Vietnam was cited mostfrequently, followed by India, Ecuador and China.

“Europe provides such a wealth of cultural experiences it’sno wonder it continues to rank highly among our members’ customers,” saidDale. “At the same time, expandingprograms to offer new and exciting experiences in more exotic destinationsthroughout the world will meet the growing demand for adventure from BabyBoomers and begin to attract the next generation of travelers.”

Encouragingly, more than half (53%) of the members surveyedanticipate increasing itineraries in 2012 to destinations recovering fromevents this past year that negatively impacted tourism. Egypt was named most frequently as thecountry operators plan to increase tours to, followed closely by Greece, Japanand New Zealand. In fact, nearly onethird of respondents (28.6%) have already seen an increase in bookings to thosedestinations for 2012.

“Consumer demand for truly rich experiences will continue toattract experiential travelers to these hard-hit destinations, and they canreturn with confidence when they book with a USTOA member,” said Dale. “Ourmembers understand how rewarding these destinations are to their clients, andat the same time, the importance of tourism in helping to rebuild.”

Results of the survey of members were unveiled duringUSTOA’s Annual Conference & Marketplace, held in Marco Island, FL,December 10-13, 2011.

Over-the-Road Training Tour

2011-12-24T00:08:00.000-08:00

Cherie Anderson andProfessional Tour Management Training invite you to discover the American Southwest on the 2012

Over-the-Road Training Tour

January 25- 29, 2012

Travelarrangements coordinated by Executive Tours International of Westminster, CA.

San Diego –Temecula Wine Country –

Las Vegas –The Grand Canyon

Train & have fun on one great trip!

Bring a guest!

Departing from Los Angeles (LAX), this 4-nighttraining tour will include some of the most exciting destinations in Southern California, Nevada and Arizona.

Professional Tour ManagementTraining is happy to offer the 2012 Over-the-Road Training Tour which willprovide FastTrack training for Tour Directors, Travel Staff, Tour Guides andCruise Hosts. Learn tour and programprocedures for local, domestic and international travel careers. Training will include all tour managementskills and procedures including safety and legalities for airports, hotels,motorcoaches, and attractions; briefings; documentation; handling tourchallenges and emergencies; research and development of exciting andinteresting narration; employers; resumes and how to get started now in anexciting career in travel. Train whilespending four wonderful days in beautiful San Diego, Temecula, Las Vegas andthe Grand Canyon.

$1,375Per-Person + $395 Training Fee

Departing from Los Angeles basedon double occupancy.

The deadlineto register is January 13, 2012.

TOUR DEPARTURE: The tour will depart by motorcoach from LosAngeles International Airport (LAX) at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, January 25, 2012,and check-in time for the tour will be 9:30 AM. Passengers who are flying to Los Angeles must book their flights so thatthey arrive in Los Angeles with enough time to check-in for the tour at 9:30 AMon January 25, 2012.

TOUR CONCLUSION: The tourwill conclude on Sunday, January 29, 2012. Passengers who wish to fly out of Las Vegas McCarran Airport (LAS) maybook their flights to depart at any time on January 29. For those passengers who wish to depart fromLos Angeles, the motorcoach will travel from Las Vegas to Los Angeles onJanuary 29, arriving at LAX Airport at approximately 3:00 PM. Passengers who wish to fly out of Los Angeles(LAX) may book their flights to depart at any time in the late afternoon or eveningof January 29.

2012 AmericanSouthwest Training Tour Itinerary:

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25:

We will depart from LAX Airport this morning andhead south to San Diego via the Pacific Coast Highway. Famous for its picturesque backdrop against the PacificOcean, Highway 1 is a must see for anyone new to California. After arriving in San Diego, the group willtour the highlights of the city, which include Balboa Park, Coronado and theGas Lamp District. A Welcome CocktailReception will be hosted in the evening. Overnight will be at the Holiday InnSan Diego On-The-Bay. (Breakfast isincluded at the hotels daily.)

THURSDAY,JANUARY 26:

We will depart the hotel andtravel to the Temecula Wine Country of Southern California, where we will enjoywine tastings at 2 wineries, Stuart Cellars and South Coast Winery. Wewill also have some free time to explore Old Town Temecula.

Later in the afternoon, we will continue on to LasVegas and check into the hotel and freshen up before a night on the town. Lodging in Las Vegas will be at the LuxorHotel.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27:

Wewill depart from Las Vegas in the morning and travel to the Grand Canyon,making a stop at the Hoover Dam for a private tour of the dam. Constructed between 1931 and 1936 and using 3,250,000cubic yards of concrete, the Hoover Dam was controversially named honoringPresident Hoover. Following the private tour of the Hoover Dam we willenter the Grand Canyon National Park stopping at various viewpoints along theway prior to check-in at Yavapai Lodge.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 28:

We will be treated to more sightseeing of the GrandCanyon before returning to Las Vegas and the Luxor Hotel. Once back in Las Vegas, the group will enjoy ahosted Farewell Cocktail Reception. Following the reception the guestswill have ample free time to experience the Las Vegas nightlife.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 29:

This morning, the motorcoach will make a stop at Las Vegas McCarran Airport (LAS) to drop off any passengers who havemade plans to fly out of Las Vegas. Wewill then continue on to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), arriving atapproximately 3:00 PM, for those passengers who have made plans to fly out ofLos Angeles.

Prices:

Tour Price: $1,375 Per-Person *

Training Fee: $395 Per-Person **

SingleOccupancy Supplement: $290

Airfare not included.

*Based on double occupancy.

** The Training Fee is waivedfor spouses and guests who accompany student tour managers on the tour in doubleoccupancy.

The deadlineto register is January 13, 2012.

To register,please see the separate

RegistrationForm & Instructions.

Prices Are Per-Person And Include The Following:

Ground transportation by private deluxe motorcoach.
A full-time professional training guide.
Tour escorts Cherie Anderson of Professional Tour Manager Training and Richard Price, President & Owner of Executive Tours International.
Four nights accommodations (1 night in San Diego, 2 nights in Las Vegas and 1 night at the Grand Canyon).
All breakfasts daily at the hotels.
A hosted Welcome Cocktail Reception and a hosted Farewell Cocktail Reception.
Sightseeing tours and admission fees as indicated in the itinerary, including wine tasting at 2 wineries in Temecula.
Bottled waters on the motorcoach.
Complete FastTrack tour management training throughout the tour (including travel time between destinations) from Professional Tour Manager Training.
A Certificate of Completion of the Professional Tour Manager Program (enrollment in the program required).

Prices Do Not Include The Following:

Air transportation.
Lunches or dinners.
Travel insurance.
Items of a personal nature such as laundry and phone calls.

For More Information:

Phone: For travel-related questions, call Richard Price of Executive Tours International at (714) 897-0074 or (800) 521-0070.

For training-related questions, call Cherie Anderson of Professional TourManagement Training at (949) 830-8603.

E E-mail: Send an e-mail to Richard Price at exectours@earthlink.net or to Cherie Anderson at Cherie@tourtraining.com.

RegistrationInstructions:

Please complete the separateRegistration Form, save the document, and send it by e-mail to Executive ToursInternational at exectours@earthlink.net. When you receive an e-mail confirming yourregistration on the tour, please send payment using the instructionsbelow. Please note the fees as follows:

Tour Price: $1,375Per-Person *

Training Fee: $395 Per-Person **

Single Occupancy Supplement: $290

*Based ondouble occupancy. We do not assignroommates.

** The TrainingFee is waived for spouses and guests who accompany student tour managers on thetour in double occupancy.

PaymentInstructions:

Once you have received confirmation that you are registeredfor the tour, you may send payment as follows:

CREDIT CARD:

We accept credit cards via PayPal.

- Simply log onto your PayPal account and click on “SendMoney.”

- Enter our e-mail address exectours@earthlink.net.

- Enter the amount to be paid in US Dollars.

- Click on “Services”.

- Click on “Continue.”

- Then, select the Payment Method (i.e., bank account orcredit card)

- Click on “Send Money” to complete the transaction.

- You will receive a confirmation of the charge from PayPalvia e-mail.

If you do not have a PayPal account, you can easily set upan account at no charge by going to https://www.paypal.com/https://www.paypal.com/. Then, click on “Sign Up.”

CHECK:

If you prefer to pay by check, you may mail your check(payable to Executive Tours) to the following address:

Executive Tours International, Inc.

5222 Cornell Avenue

Westminster, CA 92683

Registration Form

2012 AmericanSouthwest

Over-The-Road TrainingTour

Travel arrangements by Executive Tours International.

Training by Cherie Anderson and Professional Tour Management Training

Please complete the registration form below, save thedocument and send it by e-mail to Executive Tours International at exectours@earthlink.net. When you receive an e-mail confirming yourregistration on the tour, please send payment by credit card (via PayPal) orcheck using the instructions contained in your tour confirmation.

Item	Price	# of Passengers	Total
Tour cost per-person (in double occupancy):	$1,375	_____	$__________
Training fee per-person*:	$395	_____	$__________
Single occupancy supplement:	$290	_____	$__________

TOTAL:

$__________

* The Training Fee is required for all student tourmanagers. The Training Fee is waived forspouses and guests who accompany student tour mangers on the tour in doubleoccupancy.

Passenger Name:

Additional Passenger Name:

Mailing Address:

City: State: ZIP:

Primary Phone: CellPhone:

E-Mail Address (required):

By submitting thisform, I acknowledge that I agree to the terms and conditions stated in theWaiver of Liability on the following.

AmericanSouthwest Training Tour

Agreement andWaiver of Liability

The Tour PriceIncludes: Motorcoach transportation from LAX, hotelaccommodations, breakfast daily at hotels, tours, training and services asindicated in the itinerary. Passengersare responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from LAX (LosAngeles International Airport). Norefund will be made for passengers who fail to arrive at LAX Airport by the dayand time of departure. (10:00 AM on January 25, 2012.)

Payment and CancellationPolicy: Payment in-full is due no later thanJanuary 13, 2012. All payments are100% non-refundable.

Liability andResponsibility: Executive Tours InternationalInc., Professional Tour Management Training and Cheryl Anderson have noresponsibility whatsoever in whole or part for any occurrences including butnot limited to any delay, loss, accidents, personal injury, sickness, medicalexpenses, or property damage occasioned by fault or negligence of any person,employee or company entrusted with the performance of such services fromwhatever cause. Executive ToursInternational Inc., Professional Tour Management Training and Cheryl Andersonhave no responsibility whatsoever for any expense or inconvenience caused bylate arrivals or departures of airplanes, buses, autos or any changes ofschedule beyond its control. ExecutiveTours International Inc., Professional Tour Management Training and CherylAnderson have no responsibility for the loss of, or damage to your luggage,money, jewelry, valuables or any other belongings whatsoever and howsoevercaused. Tour participants areresponsible for carrying their own travel, medical and trip cancellationinsurance.

Program Changes andCancellations: Executive Tours InternationalInc., Professional Tour Management Training and Cheryl Anderson reserve theright to make changes in the tour itinerary, or to cancel events if enrollmentcriteria are not met or when conditions beyond their control prevail. All tours and activities listed in theitinerary are subject to change. Executive Tours International Inc., Professional Tour Management Trainingand Cheryl Anderson shall not be liable for default of any of the terms andconditions of this agreement if caused by fire, acts of God, war, governmentregulation, disaster, strikes or labor disputes, civil disorders or othersimilar contingencies beyond the reasonable control of the non-performing partyto provide services. If the tour is notheld for any reason, the liability of Executive Tours International Inc.,Professional Tour Management Training and Cheryl Anderson is limited to thefull refund of the tour fee only.

Bysubmitting the tour Registration Form, I acknowledge that I have read and agreeto the above terms.

Executive ToursInternational, Inc.

5222 Cornell Avenue

Westminster,California 92683

California Seller ofTravel ID #2020858-40

Phone: (714) 897-0074

New Training Tour to National Parks

2011-12-13T12:51:00.000-08:00

I'm working on a new training tour to the National Parks (Vegas, Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce) for the end of January. It's one of the most popular US tours and often the first tour for new Td's. It's open to new and experienced Tour Directors as well as their guests. I want everyone ready for the new hiring season the beginning of 2012. If interested make sure you're on my newsletter mailing list and send email for information. Fliers will be sent out soon. www.tourtraining.com. Cherie@tourtraining.com.

ON THE JOB: A SEASONED TOUR GUIDE TELLS ALL

2011-12-10T09:18:00.001-08:00

We interviewed Cherie Anderson, owner and president ofProfessional Tour Management Training in Lake Forest, California, to get herinsights on what it's like to be a tour director. Ms. Anderson has led toursacross the globe. When she is not busy touring, she is training others how tobecome tour guides. In the following interview, she also explains some of thebenefits formal training can provide.

What is thedifference between a tour director and a travel agent?

Tour directors are actually out in the field leading thetours. Travel agents work for an agency selling the tours and making thereservations. The two roles are completely different one is hands on visitingvarious countries, dealing with people and logistics while the other worksmainly in the office.

As a tour director, I don't work in the office at all. Idon't sell the tours and I don't market the tours. I am hired to travel withthe tour group. For example if I am doing a tour in Australia and New Zealand Imeet the tour group in Los Angeles and we fly together to New Zealand. I return3 ½ weeks later with the group and go home. I avoid the office. Travel agentshave to know computer codes, the computer programs and all that other clericalwork, that's not what we do As tour directors.

Most people who are interested in the tour directing andtour guiding don't want a desk job. I know I never did. If you want a steady9-5-office job then becoming a travel agent may appeal to you but you won'tfind that as a tour director or tour guide.

How did you become atour guide?

I was in education, sales and a variety of other jobs beforeI became a tour director. I actually found my way into this industry byvolunteering on a cruise ship as a children's activities counselor. That jobled to working as a cruise host on the cruise line. Tour operators would hireme to escort their guests on cruises to all their various destinations. Thatexperience eventually lead to escorting tour groups for international touroperators.

How did you evolvefrom a tour guide into teaching courses on how to be a tour guide?

In 1993, I realized there was a need for a college coursethat would provide direction to those who were interested in tour guiding, tourdirecting and cruise hosting. I decided to combine my education background withmy career in tours and developed my course, "Get Paid to Travel".

In the United States there is very little available toeducate people on how to be a qualified and successful tour guide and/or tourdirectors. Most people would apply to tour operators and state in theirapplications that "I love people and I love to travel." But thatdoesn't mean they are qualified to lead a tour, especially overseas. Touroperators need to feel comfortable that the people they hire know theprocedures, briefings, documentation, safety and behind the scenes work thatgoes into being a successful tour guide and tour director. That is exactly whatmy course offers. I had to learn all the procedures the hard way!

I approached the local colleges about teaching my course andfound a lot of interest. That led to credit and non -credit classes in tourmanagement and cruise hosting. In the beginning I was working with 15 majorcolleges and now I work with over 1,200 online.

Why did you decide toput your course online?

September 11th hit the tourism industry hard. Everythingslowed down, it was frightening. At first no one wanted to travel. After theinitial shock of 9/11 wore off, the travel industry gradually picked up butthings had changed. People now wanted to travel domestically. Many of theInternational Tour Operators had to build up more domestic tours to stayafloat.

I took advantage of the tourism slump to re-work all of myteaching material and offer it as an online course. I also wrote my textbook,Tour Director Training Guide. It took a while to put together but the slumplasted a while so I was okay.

How has September11th impacted the tourism industry?

As I mentioned more people wanted to travel domestically.Tour operators added domestic tours to their itineraries. In that sense itworked to the advantage of the new tour directors. Tour directors could now betrained domestically which is easier for both the tour director and touroperator. After gaining experience they may be placed on international tours.

Another thing that really impacted the tourism industry isthat the economy fell after 9/11 and it hurt the incentive market. As theeconomy tightened up companies shortened their trips and looked for ways theycould still offer incentive trips but more economically. For example, anincentive house before 9/11 might rent out Sea World for the night wouldinstead offer a "dine around" and take their guests for fine dining.

You've mentionedseveral times Incentive Houses, what exactly is an Incentive House?

The incentive houses work with Fortune 500 companies inplanning their company trips. The trips may be a reward for their employee'sjob performance, training, meetings, team building, a convention or an introductionto new products. Tour directors, often called "travel staff", arehired to travel to the destination and make sure their guests receive VIPtreatment.

The incentive house will then hire a DMC or DestinationManagement Company which is a company located in or near the trip destination.They hire local tour directors and tour guides to assist the guests by meetingthem at the airport, covering hospitality desks, taking them to attractions,leading city tours, assisting with dine-a-rounds, taking them on car or boatrallies, assisting with parties and events and so on. DMC work is fun and agreat way for new tour directors to start getting experience and networking. Icover the job responsibilities in my training. My new tour directors have been verysuccessful starting with the DMC's.

If someone came up toyou and asked you how to get into the tour guiding business what advice wouldyou give them?

Take my online class "Get Paid to Travel". It'sconvenient because it's online, it's offered through the colleges and it's inexpensive. The course costs around $100. It's a six week course that offersstudents resources to all the employers, what they are looking for, thenecessary tour procedures, what to cover in their briefing, what to do if thereis a medical emergency etc. In addition I offer my students a list of potentialemployers and how to gain experience in the industry.

The other thing I would tell someone interested in becominga tour director is; don't quit your day job. It may be very competitive tobecome a tour director or guide and it will take more than a "passion totravel and love of people" to land your a job. Get experience wherever youcan. You can work as a step on guide for a local tour operator, work locallyfor destination management companies or volunteer to docent at a local museumor historical site. There are lots of ways to gain experience in the field thatwill vastly help you land a job with a major tour operator.

Finally I tell my students to network. Often a tour directoror a guide will be offered a job and when they are not available, the touroperator will ask, "Do you know anyone who can do the tour?" Word ofmouth recommendations go far in this business so it's a good idea to build up anetwork within the tour guide community.

What kinds of careeradvancement can a tour guide look forward to?

The future opportunities are amazing. Tourism is the largestand fastest growing industry in the world. The baby boomers are beginning toretire and many of them say they want to spend their retirement traveling.

Tour directing can also lead to other opportunities. I'vedone lectures throughout the US doing seminars and workshops for a numberassociations and companies.

I've turned down jobs promoting hotels, cruise lines andcountries.

Tour directors have become product managers (developingtours), vice presidents and presidents of tour operations. This kind of workalso develops excellent leadership skills for other careers.

Do you have to be an expert on any given subject before youget hired as a tour director?

It depends on what kind of tour operator you are workingfor. Most U.S. domestic tours include a lot of history. It might be difficultto get a job giving tours of Gettysburg if you're not familiar with the CivilWar. However, the internet has made research much easier, so if you tell aspecific employer that you have had my tour guide training and are willing todo as much research as possible on the Battle of Gettysburg, you may have agood chance at getting hired.

When I lead an international tour, local guides deliver thenarration. I don't need to be know the history of Australia or wherever thetour may be. I'm also not bilingual, my local guides help if I need aninterpreter. My job is to manage the tour group, not deliver the narration.

How difficult is itto juggle a family life while being a tour director?

You can work locally for a destination management company,receptive services or lead local tours, which will allow you to be home atnight and still be a part of the tourism industry. However, if you work for adomestic or international tour operator you might be gone for several weeks andthen home for a few days or a few weeks. Some families may like that set up,for others it's not really an option.

Would you say thatthe work for land tours is pretty much year round or is it more of a seasonaljob?

There are high and low seasons, but tourism is year around.I lead international tours so we are busy all year round. For example, when itis winter above the equator, it is summer below the equator. In the fall weusually started our South American, Australian and New Zealand tours. In thewinter when the domestic tours slow down the domestic tour directors and guidesmay work for the incentive houses and destination management companies to keepbusy. They're busiest in the winter and spring. There really are opportunitiesall year.

You mentioned tourdirectors are always busy doing work behind the scenes. Do you even get toexperience the "fun" of traveling?

Of course we have fun! We get to experience all the thingsthat people pay thousands of dollars to do. Some people think that the tourgroup is with you 24 hours a day, but they don't want to be with you all thetime! The tour group wants time to themselves and go off on their own. So youmay have some days where you are working from morning until night but thenthere are other days when you may have a half day tour. When this happens youcan go off and explore the destination on your own. Not to mention we participatein all the fun evening activities that are planned for the guests. For example,the evening might include a night out at the Moscow Circus or ShanghaiAcrobats. As the tour director you get to be part of these incredible events.It really is a fantastic experience.

Do tour directorsusually freelance or do they work through a company?

I would say that most tour directors and guides freelance.Most people start out working for several companies. When I started as a tourdirector I worked for a couple companies. After the tour, operators receivedthe evaluations from the tour members and saw that I could do the job, theykept me busy from there on out.

Can you draw anyparallels between tour guiding and other types of employment?

There's a lot of carry over. Teachers, mothers, actors,health care workers, administrators, managers, I find almost any responsiblecareer has carry over that will help. I think I've used every skill I've everhad in tour directing and guiding. We do it all, we're teachers, caretakers,lecturers, sales people, administrators, actors, customer service reps, we do itall. Most people think we are mainly a host, we are much more than that.

Do you have certainqualifications or any restriction you're looking for before you let someonetake your classes?

My courses are offered through public education, everyone iswelcome. I find most skills can be learned if the student will follow myinstructions and say exactly what I list in the lessons.

I've had students I didn't think would be particularly goodtour directors or guides and they turned out to be excellent. I've had others Ithought would be excellent and they couldn't show up on time or cancelled atthe last minute.

If they are not responsible then they shouldn't be tourdirectors or guides. It's not the type of job where you can put on yourvoicemail and hope that will cover for you. You have to actually be there andon time. Better yet, be early!

What would you sayyour typical student is like? Are they usually college age or adults?

Most of my students are mature. It's a great job for thosethat are 'mature'. They have experience and maturity is an asset since mostpeople on typical escorted tours are mature, 70% are over 50.

I like seeing younger people in the training too. There areso many opportunities now! Tourism is the largest and fastest growing industryin the world, yet most people know very little about it. There are alsospecific tours where young people are desired for the tours such as: ContikiTours or many of the adventure, camping, or Alaska programs.

I trained a young man years ago that became a tour directorand now has worked for years as an assistant cruise director for PrincessCruise Lines. He's on his way now to Europe to join the ship for his nextassignment. He loves it. There's opportunity for all ages.

Is there any otherkind of work experience that is particularly helpful?

Narration is important for domestic tours, so publicspeaking skills are very helpful. If you have worked as ski instructor, campcounselor or other kind of activity that you have led a group of people thatmay help your chances.

Volunteering as a docent is also very helpful. In Californiathe mission docents are very knowledgeable of California history.

Customer service skills are important, sometimes handlingtour members under stress can be challenging. You need to be able to think andmake decisions.

You have to think on your feet, obviously, when there's acrisis or other emergency situation.

Yes, you'll be making the decisions for the group. Eventhough the tour is set up a year in advance, things change and there arechallenges. It's up to the tour director to decide what's best for the group.

In my training I give information on handling challenges andemergencies and I have to say, they often seem to happen in the middle of thenight.

We do the best we can when there's a crisis. In myexperience most things that happen may be a hassle and inconvenient but notfatal. Yes, you definitely have to be able to think on your feet.

Perhaps some minimumCPR training would help?

Yes, first aid and CPR are important and some companiesrequire an updated card.

Are there physicaldemands?

Yes. Often there is a lot of walking. On some tours like inChina, it may be miles of walking, which I love.

Active tours have become so popular that it may really be toyour advantage to be in shape.

You don't have to be real strong, but we do have long daysand jet lag on international tours. And as I said emergencies seem to happen inthe middle of the night. You should be able to function occasionally without alot of sleep.

Since it's difficult to replace tour directors before orduring a tour, the tour director should be healthy.

Why do you thinkpeople typically pursue the tour industry?

Some because they are retired and want to do something newand fun.

Other people go into it because they are tired of theday-to-day routine job. They are looking for something that is more fun andless routine.

In some cases the kids are grown, out of the house and nowthere's time for mom to travel and have some fun.

Most go into it because they love travel. Since our job isstrictly on tour with the tour members, there's lots of travel!

What would you saythe average entry-level pay would be?

It varies a lot, depending on the tour operator, type oftour, and destination. Normally, on escorted tours, we earn salary, commissionand gratuities. Most tour directors should be making between $200 and $350 aday with experience.

The entry-level destination management companies arestarting out their newly trained tour directors at about $15-18 per hour.Experienced tour directors are earning $20-25 per hour, earning time and a halfafter 8 hours.

Experienced travel staff working for incentive house's arenow making $350 to $400 a day when working for the major companies.

You mentioned some ofthe benefits. Is there anyway to get things like medical or retirement?

Some of that's changing. In the past we had to buy our ownmedical insurance. However, in the last few years there have been majorlawsuits over companies hiring us as independent contractors. The IRSdetermined that we are in most cases employees. The lawsuits cost the majortour operators millions of dollars, so hopefully it will change things. We'resill in the wait and see mode right now.

Are there anyparticular jobs in the industry that people consider more glamorous or popularthan others?

I'm sure most would say international tours are moreglamorous. Most of my students say they want to go international.

Some of our major tour operators will start their new tourdirectors on domestic tours before assigning them to international tours.

Actually I have students that prefer the incentive market.They stay at four and five star hotels and work as a team. The income can bejust as good and sometimes even better than on escorted tours.

Do companies help theguides with the transportation costs or anything like that?

Absolutely. It's likeany other job that requires travel. All of our travel expenses are paidincluding flights, hotels, meals, and tips. The company will give the tourdirector funds to cover their expenses and the tour expenses before they leavehome.

Can you summarizequickly some of the advantages of training, like your, versus somebody who justgoes it on their own?

As I mentioned the tour operators get a lot of resumes frompeople that say they are qualified because they love travel and people. Bysaying that it may tell the tour operator this person thinks the job is being ahost. It's much more than that.

The job includes safety, legal aspects, specific procedures,documentation, narration, challenges and emergencies. What are they going to doif someone gets ill or dies on the tour. Unfortunately that's part of our jobtoo.

Another big advantage to the training is being able tolocate the employers and types of employers. Some people still think we workfor travel agents. There are lots of different types of employers offeringcareers locally, domestically, and internationally.

The training will help you be successful and get hired. Ihope my students learn from my mistakes and hard lessons what works and does.

Your job does not endwhen the tour ends, correct?

If you're talking about the end of the day, after the tourmembers get off the coach, you're right. There's lots that goes on behind thescenes. These are responsibilities the tour members don't know anything about.I cover it all in "Get Paid to Travel", the online course. It's notreally difficult, you just need to know what is expected.

Do you have afavorite story you might want to relate?

My favorite stories are from my students on their firsttours. They tell me I'm right there on their shoulder the whole time. I alsoenjoy the fact that they get most excited about the challenges during the tourand are so impressed with their own skills when they handle challengingsituations.

One young man said, "I want to tell you that everythingyou said is exactly right." What I stress is that you have to know yourjob, you have to be direct, and you have to stick to procedures. He said he hadtour members that when he told them what time they were going to be departingthe next day they said, "No, we want to go later." So he changed thetime to just 15 minutes later. He than had the others in the tour very upsetbecause he changed the time just because others wanted it. So you have to knowthe psychology of the group, too. You make the decision, you stick with thedecision, and you never ask for a vote. It's not a democracy. People take toursbecause they want to be led, they don't want to deal with decisions, that's whythey're on an escorted tour.

I have another student who was up in Washington State and hecalled one of his first tours the Red Cross Tour. Within a couple of days hehad a woman who slit her knee open and had to have 20 stitches and a man whohad to be taken by helicopter to a hospital because he had a heart attack.These are sort of typical stories and things we talk about in class. When thestudents start working they find out this is what really happens! This is thereality of it all.

I have a student, who is now over in the Alps working forTauck Tours . Her first tour was with Dominico and they sent her to the EastCoast. She was to lead a tour from New Jersey to Myrtle Beach. She prepared allthe narration and when she arrived, she was told, "Now you're doing thetour from New Jersey to Niagara Falls!" And she had tour members fromGermany, the United States, and England. She had to translate documents, do thetour in two languages, and prepare the narration until two o'clock in themorning. So, it's a job! When the new tour directors get back, I always ask,"How did you like it?" They all have said they absolutely love it!They absolutely love it.

If you could givepeople your best advice before pursing land tours as a career, what would itbe?

Research the job and responsibilities. It's not foreveryone. We're not a host, we are on the tour working. With the Internet youcan research and learn a lot about the career. If you find it is the career foryou, than you'll absolutely love it. Most tour directors will tell you theycan't imagine having a 'real job'.

If you do want to be a tour director or tour guide, bepersistent. Get training and experience. Get your resume out there, network andbe persistent. The jobs are out there. It took me about one and half years toget my first job in travel. It doesn't need to take that long, that's why Istarted my training. The students leave the course with information it took meyears to learn.

You can email CherieAnderson directly at Cherie@tourtraining. com

“Tour DirectorTraining Guide” - Tourtraining.com

Ruth Sherman on Nonverbal Communication - Public Speaking, Presentation Skills, Media Training

2011-11-26T10:51:00.001-08:00

Professional Tour Management Training

Video by Ruth Sherman

Executive Speech Coach and Strategic Communications Consultant Ruth Sherman helps clients develop compelling and creative content and messages and coaches them to deliver it all with impact! Ruth and her team guide and support clients through the entire process to successfully integrate all communication elements into a cohesive, seamless performance.

Ruth gives wonderful examples of what we do as Tour Directors, Guides, Travel Staff and Cruise Hosts to deliver information and narration in an informative and interesting way. I'm sure you'll enjoy her video.

Click on Below Link to Start Video:

Ruth Sherman on Nonverbal Communication - Public Speaking, Presentation Skills, Media Training

Copy to your browser:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YM5gEBMljfA&feature=share

Cherie Anderson
Professional Tour Management Training
949 830 8603
www.tourtraining.com
cherie@tourtraining.com
www.facebook.com/tourtraining
www.facebook.com/protours
http://tourtraining.blogspot. com/

We're successful because you're successful.

cherie@tourtraining.com

Vantage Deluxe Travel - Looking for Program Directors for European Cruises

2011-11-11T11:45:00.001-08:00

Here’s another job posting for 2012. Most major companies start their new hiringright after the Christmas Holidays. It’sencouraging to see so many starting their search for new Tour Directors andGuides early.

Vantage Deluxe World Travel is looking for Program Managers(Tour Directors) for their European River Cruise Programs in 2012. Vantage Deluxe World Travel is awell-respected tour operator that has been creating Five-star travel programsat Four-star prices for mature travelers since 1983.

http://www.vantagetravel.com/home.aspx

Posting:

Program Manager – European Rivers: Experienced Tour Leader to deliver thetouring river cruise program along various rivers (Rhine, Danube, Saone, Rhone,Seine, & Elbe) in Europe as outlined in the Vantage operational day by dayfor one coach of American senior travelers, and achieve the overall programquality goals.

Responsibilities include:

· Team Player –work with two to three other Program Managers and take direction from the LeadProgram Manager

· Displaystrong leadership skills

· Manage day today delivery of the tour & problem solve on site to ensure program overall quality

· Create asense of group identity and make all travelers feel they have someone lookingout for their well-being

· Coordinate& reconfirm all services with hotels, coaches, restaurants & localguides

· Beknowledgeable about the tour and the region

· FollowVantage Policy & Procedures

· Deliverinformative briefings and set realistic trip expectations

· Share yourinsider’s view of the destinations to help drive cultural connections

· Excellentcommand of the English language, both written and oral. Comfortable command of German.

This is a freelance position and we are recruiting for the2012 season.

Application:

https://home.eease.com/recruit2/?id=1029611&t=1

I’m not sure what they mean by “Comfortable Command ofGerman” but if you do not speak German I still recommend applying if you feelyou have most of the other qualifications. Its listed last telling me, it’s not as important as the above listedrequirements. I covered most of the list in the training so hopefully you feelcomfortable about the procedures and with a bit of Internet research you shouldbe able to learn about the destinations easily. Remember too, you’re not the guide, you’re the Tour Director andmanaging the groups.

Ark of the Covenant discovered with Tomb of Alexander the Great

2011-11-11T10:16:00.000-08:00

This is the type of news story that can quickly lead to newtours and destinations, leading to work for tour operators, tour directors and local guides. The use of Social media may speed up therequests for bookings.

An Unbelievable Ark Of The Covenant Announcement And 10 Relic Trips

Reports are cropping up that the fabled Ark of the Covenant,said to contain the remnants of the Ten Commandments, has been discovered alongwith the Tomb of Alexander the Great on the Greek island of Thasos.

The Focus Information Agency, a Bulgarian outfit not exactlyrenowned for accuracy, is reporting that Grekomania.ru, a Russian web portalthat purports to be an "official information partner of the Ministry ofCulture and Tourism of Greece," has claimed that a group led by NikolaosKumardzis, an archeologist apparently unaffiliated with any other dig, hasidentified one of the world's great treasures. At least one Armenian newspaperis running a similar story.

What more confirmation could anyone possibly want?

Thasos, which is near Macedonia, has long been rumored asthe potential resting place of Alexander the Great, who died in Babylon in 323BC after conquering Persia and consolidating Eurasian power. The connectionbetween the great military leader and the Ten Commandments -- none of which hecould truly be said to have followed -- is unclear, which makes the news thatthey were discovered together even less credible.

That being said, the Ark of the Covenant has inspiredtravelers and explorers for hundreds of years and is likely to continue to doso. It is worth remembering that pilgrimages remain part of the modern travelculture and that visiting relics or searching for them is quite popular in muchof the world.

Because the Ark of the Covenant story is likely to bouncearound the internet, exciting then disappointing people, we thought it would benice to offer up a selection of places where relics were actually discovered.

We can't vouch for the authenticity of every one of theserelics, but they are revered by many of the faithful.

Photos:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/10/an-unbelievable-ark-of-th_n_1085987.html?ref=travel

Alaska Driver Guides - Holland America Line - Princess Cruises

2011-11-07T10:33:00.000-08:00

Enjoy a Summer as a Driver Guide through Alaska's Wildernesswith Holland America Line and Princess Cruises. Narrate tours while driving amotor coach through the Last Frontier! CDL training will be provided in theOrlando area prior to the Alaska season. Relocation assistance is provided.Training starts soon, apply now! www.alaskatourjobs.com EOE

http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspx?ipath=EXIND&siteid=cbindeed&Job_DID=J3F6DR5ZFMZCRCHBCS9

I also recommend reading the posting on January onAlaska. Jill Hyatt, a past student is now involvedin hiring and offered to help.

http://tourtraining.blogspot.com/2011/01/alaska-careers-2011.html

Chicago's no. 1 Travel and Tourism Site, explorechicago.org, Teams Up With Motorola On New Mobile Tourism App

2011-11-02T12:03:00.000-07:00

This Chicago app may be a wonderful tool for Chicago Tour Guides, Tour Directors and Travel Staff.

StoryPlace.me allows Chicago visitors and residents to view,upload and share videos

CHICAGO– ExploreChicago.org, the City of Chicago’s OfficialTourism Site, is teaming up with Motorola Mobility, Inc. and the MotorolaMobility Foundation around StoryPlace.me, an innovative mobile tourism apprecently released in the Android Marketplace. The service allows users to view,upload and share site-specific video content, giving visitors and residents awhole new way to engage with places and spaces while navigating Chicago.

ExploreChicago.org, the No. 1 travel and tourism website forChicago based on traffic volume, is managed by the Chicago Office of Tourismand Culture (COTC), an agency dedicated to promoting Chicago as a premiercultural destination to domestic and international leisure travelers. COTCprovided the professional content for the testing phase of StoryPlace.me,uploading nearly 100 videos collected from its cultural and hospitalitypartners including:

· Time-lapsevideo of the construction of Museum of Science and Industry’s Smart Home

· LakeviewEast walking tour submitted by the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce

· Short filmof a classic Chicago wedding from Chicago Trolley & Double Decker Co.

· Stop-motionvideo of “Go Do Good” art installation provided by Chicago Loop Alliance

· Clips ofpast productions and interviews with guest artists of TimeLine Theatre Company

“The Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture is a recognizedleader in the visitor industry for using cutting-edge technologies and socialmedia to market Chicago as a premier leisure travel destination,” says DorothyCoyle, Executive Director, COTC. “We’re thrilled to be working with Motorola toenrich the experience of our visitors.”

There were 38.11 million total visitors to Chicago in 2010,28.03 million of which were leisure travelers. The Chicago visitor industrygenerates more than $11 billion in direct spending, $616 million in taxrevenue, and sustains more than 124,000 jobs for the city’s economy.

“The Motorola Mobility Foundation is pleased to collaboratewith the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture to leverage this new app ininnovative ways that enhance the visitor’s experience of Chicago,” says EileenSweeney, Director of the Motorola Mobility Foundation.

For details and to install StoryPlace.me, visithttps://market.android.com ExploreChicago.org Partners with Motorola/ADD ONE

About Motorola Mobility

Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE:MMI) fuses innovativetechnology with human insights to create experiences that simplify, connect andenrich people's lives. Our portfolio includes converged mobile devices such assmartphones and tablets; wireless accessories; end-to-end video and datadelivery; and management solutions, including set-tops and data-access devices.For more information, visit motorola.com/mobility.

About Motorola Mobility Foundation

The Motorola Mobility Foundation is the charitable andphilanthropic arm of Motorola Mobility. With employees located around theglobe, Motorola Mobility seeks to benefit the communities where it operates.The company achieves this by making strategic grants, forging strong communitypartnerships, fostering innovation and engaging stakeholders. The MotorolaMobility Foundation focuses its funding on education, community, health andwellness and disaster relief. For more information, on Motorola MobilityCorporate and Foundation giving, visit responsibility.motorola.com.

Visitor Information Resources

Visitors and Chicagoans planning to entertain out-of-townguests can receive trip-planning assistance and information by visitingExploreChicago.org. Brochures and information on Chicago’s exciting events andactivities are also available at the Visitor Information Centers. FriendlyVisitor Representatives can answer questions and assist in planning anunforgettable itinerary. The visitor centers are located in two of the city’smost popular areas: across from Millennium Park in the Chicago Cultural Center,77 E. Randolph Street; and at the historic Water Works pumping station, 163 E.Pearson Street at Michigan Avenue.

For daily alerts about fun and free things to do in Chicago,follow Explore Chicago on Twitter at Twitter.com/ExploreChicago and “like” uson Facebook at Facebook.com/ExploreChicago, where you can also weigh in on yourChicago favorites. Receive answers to your Chicago questions on the go, andtips on the latest citywide events and activities, via the FREE TwitterConcierge Service (@explorechicago) available daily.

ExploreChicago.org

ExploreChicago.org, the City of Chicago’s Official TourismSite, is the No. 1 travel and tourism website for Chicago based on trafficvolume. Recent additions and other highlights include:

A popular blog, providing a unique insider’s point of viewof the city;

Events, tours and attractions, searchable by date,neighborhood and interest areas;

Social media travel tools including free visitor assistancevia Twitter (@explorechicago);

Fun, location-based games including 11 free SCVNGR treks andFoursquare badges;

Multimedia content such as videos, slideshows, podcasts andan itinerary builder;

“Insider Profiles” of real Chicagoans, with their favoritethings to see and do in the city;

Convenient airline and hotel booking services provided byOrbitz.com;

Detailed information and interactive Google maps forChicago’s 77 neighborhoods.

The Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture is dedicated topromoting Chicago as a premier cultural destination to domestic andinternational leisure travelers, providing innovative visitor programs and services,and presenting free world-class public programs. For more information pleasevisit ExploreChicago.org.

http://www.travmedia.com/north-america/pressrelease.php?id=77369&mo=3&referencekey=d66cd2092d34039ac4ad8d092024d19a

UN partners help least developed countries to take up more effective tourism development

2011-10-30T12:00:00.000-07:00

I am glad to see Tourism getting attention for the manybenefits it has in educating and helping world populations. I have been leading international tours andtraining new Tour Directors for years. I’vealways stressed the many benefits it has especially with responsible locals, governments,tour operators and Tour Directors.

I have a request from a developing country now to help intraining their staff. I’m flattered andhope to be able to work out the logistics. Thereare safety concerns and yet I also understand how the media and politicianswill play up a situation. Claims areoften greatly exaggerated.

International tourist arrivals in the 48 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) grew from 6 million in 2000 to over 17 million in 2010. In the same period, international tourism receipts climbed from US$ 3 billion to over US$ 10 billion.

Eight of the world’s Least Developed Countries (LDCs) have begun to assess their tourism development needs and pinpoint relevant funding sources at a workshop held by the United Nations Steering Committee on Tourism for Development (SCTD) in Geneva, Switzerland from, October 18-20.

Representatives from the Tourism, Finance and Trade Ministries of Benin, Burundi, Cambodia, Comoros, Lesotho, Maldives, Sao Tome and Principe and Uganda came together with the nine UN Agencies that make up the SCTD at International Trade Centre (ITC) Headquarters in Geneva, to learn how to better work together to maximise tourism’s development potential.

“Tourism is one of the few economic sectors through which LDCs have managed to increase their participation in the global economy,” said UNWTO Executive Director, Márcio Favilla, opening the workshop. “The multiplier effect of tourism is also particularly effective in the LDCs, where tourism expenditure generates additional flows of revenue and consumption for other branches of the economy such as agriculture, local fisheries, handicrafts and the furniture and construction industries”.

The workshop allowed the countries to learn more about the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) and how to best access the mechanism to develop their tourism strategies and action plans, as well as leveraging human and financial resources.

The workshop builds on the momentum generated at the Fourth UN Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDC-IV), at which tourism was included as a poverty reduction tool for the first time. It is now expected that the LDCs, with the support of SCTD Agencies as well as the EIF Secretariat, will be able to prepare project proposals by the end of 2011, for local approval and subsequent submission to the EIF Board for endorsement by mid-2012.

http://travelandtourworld.com/news/newsAsso.asp?newsID=2148%20&%20?Category=Association%20News

Golf Tourism Shows Its Resilience

2011-10-27T11:22:00.000-07:00

I’m often asked about leading golf tours. Here’s good news, “… International golftourism was expected to exceed 50 million travelers in 2011, and perhaps reach55 million,…”

Bangkok, October 27, 2011 - Golf is one of few international tourism sectors continuing to grow despite global economic uncertainty, according to the chief executive of the International Association of Golf Tourism Operators, Peter Walton.

Addressing members of Thailand's Golf In A Kingdom destination marketing program in Bangkok this week, Mr Walton said golf tourism had recovered more quickly than other sectors since the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. And despite continuing problems, especially in Europe, the sector was continuing to grow.

He said international golf tourism was expected to exceed 50 million travellers in 2011, and perhaps reach 55 million, equivalent to the level in 2007 before the GFC.

"Golf tourism bounces back more quickly than other sectors," he added. "In established markets, one in three golfers plan to travel in the next 12 months. That is a lot more than in other sectors, like skiing.

"We also know that golfers spend 120 percent more per person per day when staying in a resort than other travellers."

Mr Walton, who is visiting the region from his London headquarters in preparation for the inaugural IAGTO Asia Golf Tourism Convention in Kuala Lumpur next April, also said that whereas only 12 percent of the population in the United States played golf, golfers were responsible for 27pc of US travel expenditure.

"While we don't have figures for other countries, this shows how important golf tourism is in the current international tourism climate," he said.

Mr Walton later said that Spain, the United States and Thailand were currently the big three international golf destinations, with Turkey and Portugal among developing countries that were rapidly increasing their golf tourism sectors.

"Thailand is very well placed to continue the progress it has made in promoting golf tourism," he noted.

An example of how the market is growing in Thailand has been the first visit to South-East Asia this month by clients of US tour operator, Kalos Golf. One group of 37 participants spent five days in Bangkok last week before travelling to Vietnam and Cambodia, also to play golf. A second group of 35 arrives in Bangkok this week where - like the first group - they are scheduled to play the renowned Thai Country Club before also travelling to Vietnam./TravMedia/

Tour manager, Sue Pierce, said the first group's visit had exceeded her clients' expectations. "We were welcomed so warmly and everyone had a wonderful experience. We were amazed that despite the flooding around Bangkok, there was no standing water on the course. We have already made a decision to return every year."

FOOTNOTE: IAGTO has 1700 members in 94 countries and claims that its members are responsible for 80% of golf packages sold worldwide. In Asia, IAGTO has 209 tour operators selling golf in the region in 43 originating countries.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For more information, contact:
Paul Myers, Asian Travel Media, Bangkok
Email: paul@asiantravelmedia.com
Tel: +66 (0) 84 125 1894

http://www.golfasian.com/about/golfasian-press-releases/news/golf-tourism-shows-its-resilience/

Working with Travel Suppliers

2011-10-16T12:20:00.000-07:00

Throughoutmy training, I cover how important customer service skills are in our careersas professional Tour Directors, Travel Staff, Tour Guides and CruiseHosts. The skills are important whenworking with our groups and just as important when working with our suppliersincluding the airlines, hotels, tour operators, attractions and etc. We’re all part of the hospitality industryand want the best for our groups and individuals.

I wasrecently approached by an important hotel manager asking for the name of mysupervisor. He wanted to report a tourdirector saying, “…no one can talk to me that way.” During my career I occasionally hear commentsabout tour directors, travel staff and cruise hosts that seem to think to gettheir way they have to demand help and or that things go their way. The hotel staff, drivers, airport staff, touroperators and locals all talk and will express their opinions, complimentary ornot. They will also share and reporttheir opinions with the tour operators, incentive houses, DMC’s, receptiveservices and cruise lines, the employers of the tour directors, guides, travelstaff and cruise hosts.

Years ago atour member said their recent tour director was tough and said something like, “…shealways went to bat for us.” I knew ofthe tour director through her reputation for being tough with hotel and airportstaff. I also knew the staff said theydidn’t want to work for or with her and would try to avoid her. We were all appalled and embarrassed by herbehavior. I’m talking aboutinternational tours so her reputation was worldwide.

I’m not suggestingnot to ‘go to bat’ for your group but I find the travel suppliers also want thebest and they will help if they can. IfI don’t like their first solution I try to come up with another one. If they still can’t help I continue to probeto find a solution. I find pleasant persistenceworks a lot better than aggression. Empathy also helps. Why can’t they help? What’s the problem? I’m also grateful for their assistance sincethey’ll often go way beyond what they have to do. I do know some help just out of frustrationfrom my persistence.

For example,the guest doesn’t like their room. Is thereanother room available? How about myroom? Why isn't another room available? Is there one on a different flooror wing of the hotel? When will anotherroom be available? What is the cost ofan upgrade? Is there someone else thatmay be able to make a different decision and or approve a different room? Can we do something special for theguest? If nothing can be done I may tryto upgrade and or give the best room in the next hotel. When I talk to theguest I will be able to explain the challenges and show there isn’t an alternative at this time.

I’m not suretour directors that get tough know they may be reported to the tour operatorsand or how it affects their reputation. Theymay get their way the first few times but will only be causing problems iftheir aggression persists. They may ‘winthe battle and lose the war’ and or even the careers.

International Visitation Up Six Percent In July 2011 And Up Five Percent July YTD 2011

2011-10-07T11:18:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Department of Commerce today announced that 6.6 million international visitors traveled to the United States in July 2011, a six percent increase over July 2010. For the first seven months of 2011, visitation (35.2 million) was up five percent compared to the same period in 2010.

Highlights
Overseas Resident Visitation

In July 2011, overseas resident visitation (3.0 million) was up five percent over July 2010.
July YTD 2011, overseas resident visits (15.5 million) were up six percent compared to the same period of 2010.
In July 2011, increases were registered in seven of the nine overseas regions.
July YTD 2011, increases were registered in seven overseas regions.

North American Resident Visitation

In July 2011, non-resident visits from Canada (2.3 million) were up nine percent and visits from Mexico (1.3 million) were up two percent.
July YTD 2011, non-resident visits from Canada (12.1 million) increased six percent while visits from Mexico (7.6 million) were down one percent for the year.

Top 10 Countries (Sort based on YTD July 2011)

In July 2011, eight of the top 10 countries posted increases in resident visitation.
July YTD 2011, eight of the top 10 countries posted increases in visitation to the United States.

Top 10 Countries (Sort based on YTD July 2011)

Country of Residence	% Change July 2011 vs. 2010	% Change YTD July 2011 vs. 2010
Canada	9%	6%
Mexico	2%	-1%
United Kingdom	-3%	2%
Japan	-6%	-7%
Germany	0%	6%
France	8%	18%
Brazil	21%	27%
South Korea	1%	7%
People's Republic of China (EXCL HK)	60%	38%
Australia	11%	21%

Top Ports: YTD July 2011
YTD July 2011, visitation through the top 15 ports of entry accounted for 82 percent of all overseas visits, the same as last year. The top three ports (New York, Miami and Los Angeles) accounted for 40 percent of all overseas arrivals, two percentage points above last year. Eleven of the top 15 ports posted increases in arrivals during the first seven months of 2011. Six of these ports posted double-digit increases.

Access to OTTI Data
Manufacturing and Services' Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (OTTI) collects, analyzes and disseminates international travel and tourism statistics from the U.S. Travel and Tourism Statistical System. OTTI produces visitation data tables, including a more detailed region, country and port analyses. To access these data, you are encouraged to visit the OTTI monthly arrivals page at <http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/view/m-2011-I-001/index.html>.

National Export Initiative
To improve conditions that directly affect the private sector's ability to export and to boost employment recovery, on March 11, 2010 President Obama created the National Export Initiative (NEI). The automation of the arrival/departure form [CBP Form I-94W] for Visa Waiver Program travelers supports this initiative as the automated form will greatly improve the measurement of international arrival data to the United States. To learn more about the NEI, you are encouraged to visit <http://www.trade.gov/nei/index.asp>.

Throughout this report, percent changes posted for international visitation to the United States for July 2011 were calculated by comparing data in July 2011 to data in July 2010. Also, percent changes posted for year to date 2011 were calculated by comparing data January - July 2011 to data January - July 2010. /Trav

http://www.travmedia.com/north-america/pressrelease.php?id=76374&mo=3&referencekey=d66cd2092d34039ac4ad8d092024d19a

dia.com/

Viking River Cruises Hiring

2011-10-05T12:39:00.000-07:00

Viking River Cruises is North America s largest operator ofworldwide river cruises with over 20 vessels on more than a dozen rivers inEurope, Russia, China and Southeast Asia. Our vessels carry an average of 200 English-speakingpassengers, primarily from the United States, with English,

Australian and Canadian guests mixed in. A typical cruise is7-14 days with daily visits to ports along the rivers. During these visits,guests are taken on guided tours, conducted by local guides. A ship has a hotelmanager who is the chief officer for everything that has touches the guests,with the captain having the ultimate responsibility as the person in charge of theship (and as such, in charge of safety and security, and getting from a to b ). Reporting to the HotelManager is the Program Director and his assistants, who are the face of thecompany, as their role is to take care of the guests they handle logistics, escort allexcursions, perform airport meet and greets, make all announcement and conductinformation briefings and other presentations.

We recently learnedthat with appropriate paperwork, we can legally employ North Americans on ourvessels in Europe. As the river cruise business is booming, we have beenlooking to cast our nets wider in finding the right people and this representsa great opportunity both for Viking and for tour managers in the US. In thecoming months, we are trying to find some candidates with which we’d like torun a test: we would employ them on one of our vessels in a Program Managercapacity for 4-6 WEEKS before we evaluate the program we are likely to roll outcompletely in 2012.

Obviously, successful candidates of the pilot program wouldbe first in line for the 2012 season.

Most of our people work on a 2 months on 2 weeks off contract. The season runs fromlate March until December. We’re basically trying to work with people sschedule, but for the North Americans, we are unlikely to provide more than 1return air trip. If they want to come home during the summer, it is on theirown dime. A typical season is about 6 months. Again, Program Managers on ourships escort passengers on their shore excursions and fulfill receptionist andadministrative tasks on the ship; they also assist with airport transfers andmeet and greets. It is a job where good organizational skills and excellentpeople skills are required.

Applicants must be very flexible, willing to SHARE a roomwith a colleague and knowledge of a FOREIGN LANGUAGE is a significant plus.

THE NATURE OF THE WORK MAKES THIS JOB A GOOD FIT FOR PEOPLEAT THE START OF THEIR CAREERS. PEOPLE WITH SIX OR SEVEN YEARS OF EXPERIENCEUNDER THEIR BELT ARE UNLIKELY TO FIND ENOUGH OF A CHALLENGE IN THIS WORK, BUTSHOULD NOT BE DISCOURAGED FROM SUBMITTING THEIR RESUMES.

Viking offers competitive pay and a chance to see somethingof the world!

IF AVAILABLE AND INTERESTED PLEASE SEND COVER LETTER ANDRESUME TO CONTACT

BELOW: (and not to ITMI)

Joost Ouendag

Vice President, Product Marketing

email joost.ouendag@vikingrivercruises.com

Private/Charter Airline looking for Flight Attendants

2011-10-03T19:44:00.000-07:00

Joining the Team

Now accepting applications for the following positions:

Flight Attendants for Ontario, California.
- Must be authorized to work in the US;
- Must be at least 21 years of age;
- Must be able to read/write and speak English fluently;
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred;
- Must be eligible for a US passport (will be required before end of class);
- Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs;
- Must be able to pass a 10 year background check and a pre-employment drug screening;
- Must be flexible and available to work evenings, weekends and holidays;
- Must successfully complete FAA approved flight attendant training program.
Flight attendants will be based in Ontario, California. Paid training, per diem, and uniforms will be provided by Xtra Airways. Comprehensive medical/dental benefit package available. Please send your resume tojobid2176@temcentral.com.

TELEPHONE CALLS NOT ACCEPTED

Don't have email? Try snail mail!
Send your resume to:

Xtra Airways
Human Resources Department
800 West Idaho
Suite 304
Boise, Idaho 83702

Contiki - USA Tour Manager – Summer 2012

2011-10-01T22:54:00.001-07:00

Why work for Contiki?

Contiki is the world’s leading tour operator for 18-35’s. When working for us you’re undertaking not only a job but a lifestyle. A life that involves traveling to some of the most amazing destinations in North America with some of the most amazing people you’ll ever meet.

As a member of our road crew, you will be the face of Contiki – dealing with our passengers each day and ensuring that they have the holiday of a lifetime! We have high expectations of our road crew – only the best will do. We’ve been at the top of our game for the last 46 years and that’s where we intend to stay!

To be a part of our team you’ll need to:

Be passionate about travel and North America – you must be willing to learn and have the desire to keep on learning
Be enthusiastic and motivated – we expect you to work hard for our company and for our clients
Have great time management skills
Be responsible and professional at all times
Have the ability to deal with all types of people – our clients come from all around the globe; they speak many languages and have many different expectations. Also have knowledge about their countries geography, politics and customs
Enjoy a challenge – our training trip and the job itself will constantly present you with many different and difficult situations
Be positive and have the ability to deal with all situations in a calm and mature manner.
Be a problem solver – you will have to assist clients with lost passports, when they have injuries or need to visit a hospital, conflict of personalities etc.
Work well as part of a team – when you are on tour you will be working with your driver, local suppliers and guides – you will be part of a very big picture

What are the requirements?

You must be eligible to work in North America. This means being the holder of one of the following:

Valid Driver’s License or Identification Card
Valid work visa for the US

You must also meet the following criteria to be considered:

Have a university degree (must be completely finished with all classes by February 1, 2012)
Have at least 2 years of work experience

Although not required, the following will be of benefit to you in your application for this position:

Experience working with and leading groups
Confidence when speaking in front of a group
Previous travel; domestic and international
Having previously traveled with Contiki or participated in a group tour of some description

How do I apply?

Click Apply Now to access the Tour Manager Application form. You will need to print the application and send it in with all of the following:

Resume
Two letters of reference
Photo Journal – This one page journal is an open format to display your creativity and show us who you are. These will not be returned.

Please include all of the above in your packet and submit all at once. Any incomplete packets will not be considered for an interview.

Link to rest of information:

http://contiki.com/pages/308-us-tour-manager

Tour Director Couples Traveling Together

2011-09-30T11:42:00.001-07:00

I’m often asked about couplestraveling together. Small, more local companies will often hire married tourdirectors (or at least let the spouse travel with the group) and so do the DMC’s(doing local programs).

To get in with the major touroperators you’ll want to prove you’re both tour directors. I would not askabout traveling together in the beginning. It may put up a warning for the touroperator that you’re looking at the career more as a vacation rather than ajob. It may help if at least one of you gets hired first and then recommend theother’s skills later. (You can both apply of course.) It may be a good way tonetwork the second person into the company.

Most often there is only onetour director on the tour since there’s usually only one motor coach. Somecompanies will send two coaches on popular programs. This may be a way for youto travel together with the major tour operators. I know a couple that doesso. They will often lead two motorcoaches together on the National Parks tours.

Getting into the incentivemarket is another way to work together since you work as a team. Again you will need to prove you are bothtravel staff and may want to network the second person in to the company.Again, I know a couple that often gets hired together. The both also work for the DMC’s together.

I know this may not be whatyou want to hear, but the companies are leery. They want their tour members toreceive outstanding service and tour members will complain if they think youare there enjoying the tour for ‘free’. I know it sounds petty but we are watched by all.

So I guess my answer is ‘maybe’...hopefully.

Fall Hiring for Tour Directors and Guides

2011-09-17T12:57:00.000-07:00

I recently heard fromseveral students that have been interviewing for fall positions with major touroperators. Most major tour operator’sstart their hiring right after the Christmas Holidays but this year seems to bea bit different. After recessions,visitors and companies planning meetings, wait until the last minute tobook. If you’re available I recommend contacting thecompanies immediately.

This is also a great time to contact your local DMC’s. Most were extremely busy this last spring andare anticipating a busy fall. DMC’s arehiring and I’ve been training new employees for a DMC in SouthernCalifornia. Even if you talk to one nothiring, be sure they know you are available.

This is also a good time to contact Student Tour groups. I recommend reviewing Liz Moran's suggestions in Chapter 2 of the "Tour Director Training Guide" to local companies and procedures.

I hope you’re all busy in careers you love.

Spark and Hustle – Conferences and Events for Start-ups and Small Business Owners — Page 4

2011-09-05T09:21:00.000-07:00

Spark and Hustle – Conferences and Events for Start-ups and Small Owners — Page 4:

'via Blog this'

I'm listed as a "Daring Doer" at the bottom of the page. Thank you Tory.

United States Travel and Tourism Exports: June 2011

2011-09-03T10:50:00.001-07:00

The good news for all of us in Tourism continues. Tourism continues to grow and so does the meeting market. If you're looking for work in the fall, now is a great time to apply to the DMC's. They were all busy last spring and are anticipating a great fall. Here are the recent figures from US Department of Commerce on US Tourism:

International Visitor Spending Accounted for 25% of all U.S. Services Exports for the Month
The U.S. Department of Commerce recently announced that international visitors spent nearly $12.5 billion on travel to, and tourism-related activities within, the United States during the month of June - $1.0 billion more (9%) than was spent in June 2010 - marking the eighteenth straight month of growth in U.S. travel and tourism exports. Travel and tourism-related exports have increased, on average, more than $1.3 billion a month in 2011.
Travel Receipts: Purchases of travel and tourism-related goods and services by international visitors traveling in the United States totaled $9.5 billion during June, an increase of 10 percent when compared to last year. These goods and services include food, lodging, recreation, gifts, entertainment, local transportation in the United States, and other items incidental to foreign travel.

Passenger Fare Receipts: Fares received by U.S. carriers (and U.S. vessel operators) from international visitors increased by 7 percent to $2.9 billion for the month when compared to June 2010, despite decreasing 4 percent when compared to last month.
International visitors have spent an estimated $73.5 billion on U.S. travel and tourism-related goods and services year to date (January through June), an increase of 12 percent when compared to the same period last year. In fact, the U.S. travel and tourism industry is on pace for a record-setting year for travel and tourism-related exports.
Americans have spent nearly $53.6 billion abroad year to date (up 6%) - resulting in a $19.9 billion trade surplus for travel and tourism through the first half of 2011.

http://www.travmedia.com/north-america/pressrelease.php?id=75018&mo=3&referencekey=d66cd2092d34039ac4ad8d092024d19a

Tagwhat's New Mobile Application Combines Storytelling Traditions and New Technology for "Great Stories at Places"

2011-07-14T12:01:00.000-07:00

Here's a wonderful app for Tour Directors and Guides. We're always looking for ways to make our narration interesting with stories. If you've already tried it, let me know your experience. It's a fun app for leisure travelers and kids too.

Finally our oldest traditions and latest technologies come together to create a location-based mobile service real people can use and enjoy. Just as people chronicled life on cave walls, Tagwhat, a new application for iPhone and Android tells "Great Stories at Places" in vivid multimedia. Pilot partners include the Associated Press and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Boulder, CO (PRWEB) July 11, 2011

Ever since the first person chronicled life on his cave wall, great stories have been told vividly and shared widely. After cave walls came scrolls, newspapers, and the internet. Meanwhile, the innate curiosity about the world and passion for storytelling lives on.
Today, Tagwhat introduces an entirely new application and a unique way to tell and share great stories, combining the very best of humanity's oldest traditions with the latest mobile technologies. Tagwhat ”Great Stories at Places” is now available for iPhone 3GS/4, Android, and on-line at http://www.tagwhat.com.
With Tagwhat, users experience hidden stories everywhere they go -- thousands of original and curated stories told in words, images, video, and audio by Tagwhat’s team of new media journalists and filmmakers and its first publishing partners: the Associated Press (AP), the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the Virginia Beach Public Library system, just to name a few.
Tagwhat's rich media stories describe and enhance the places around the user and are organized, like TV, by channels. Stories pop up on top of real-life locations, changing based on where the user is and where they're looking. Turn on any Tagwhat channels and watch the world fill with those stories. Tap on a story to dive into interesting videos, historic photos, and rich audio. When a story is too good not to share, send a unique digital postcard that can be personalized to friends via Facebook, Twitter or email. Here are some examples from each of Tagwhat's inaugural channels:
HERITAGE: Watch Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s “I Have a Dream speech” while standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. Explore historic photos of the San Francisco Earthquake where the devastation happened while touring the city.
MOVIES: Watch a clip of the parade from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” while walking down the same Chicago street. Read about the Woody Allen movie settings stumbled upon touring New York.
SPORTS: From the LA Coliseum, look back at the 1984 Summer Olympics with videos of gold medalists Mary Lou Retton and Carl Lewis and learn about the controversy that surrounded the Games.
FOOD: Places and food go together, so hear what inspired the Austin chef to combine Fried Chicken and Waffles and see video of the famous dish as you consider lunch spots downtown.
NATURE: Birdwatching in NYC’s Central Park comes alive in videos and images while enjoying the scenery in person. Discover endangered salamanders at Austin’s Barton Springs through images and a video interview with a lifelong Austinite.
MUSIC: Hear Janis Joplin sing outside the Austin club where she got her start and see images of her preparing to perform.
ART: Watch the dedication of the Andy Warhol statute while standing next to the the art in Union Square, NYC and read about what made Warhol so legendary.
This new Tagwhat is simple to use and seeded with thousands of stories. Everyday, new stories are being added by the Tagwhat team and Tagwhat's content partners. Since the world is such a big place, a “Visit” feature lets users virtually travel to Tagwhat's featured cities: New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA; San Francisco, CA; Washington, DC; Chicago; Boulder, CO; Portland, OR; Austin, TX; and Virginia Beach, VA. Users can look around and interact with multimedia stories as if they were standing in that city!
Please contact Tagwhat to learn more or to schedule an interview with co-founder and CEO, Dave Elchoness. In the meantime, happy exploring!
About Tagwhat:
Tagwhat, Inc. based in Boulder, Colorado is a media company that tells "Great Stories at Places" in multimedia in the mobile device. Tagwhat's application including its patent pending technology is available for download for iPhone 3GS and 4 and Google Android devices.
Media Contact:
Dave Elchoness
Tagwhat, Inc.
press(at)tagwhat(dot)com
(303) 834-7121
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/7/prweb8622290.htm

New High Speed Train Service Between Beijing and Shanghai Good News For Tourists

2011-06-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

If you're leading China tours this summer you may be on the new high speed train between Beijing and Shanghai. It sounds great and less of a hassle than flying. It looks great.

http://www.travmedia.com/north-america/pressrelease.php?id=72648&mo=3&referencekey=d66cd2092d34039ac4ad8d092024d19a

Driver-Guide Positions

2011-05-27T12:39:00.000-07:00

Here’s a request I just received from a tour operator looking for driver guides this summer.

Hi Cherie,

That's great! Here is our posting. Let me know if you have any questions about us, or about the posting. You can check out our website at www.at-west.com (be sure to type it in the blue bar and use "www." otherwise for some reason it won't pull up the site.). I'll keep you in the loop for future postings as well - our needs change throughout the season depending on the number of tours we run in a certain language. I'm looking forward to getting to know some of your students!

Thanks,

Jarmila

ADVENTURE TRAVEL WEST IS HIRING BILINGUAL TOUR DIRECTORS FOR SMALL GROUP TOURS THROUGH THE SOUTHWEST USA

Business is booming and we need excellent tour directors for a busy season! We operate small group tours of 5-13 pax and our Tour Directors act as driver/guides (you are the only staff member on the tour). Tours last typically from 13-21 days. Our season runs from mid-April through November; currently we need to fill a few spots in the program, so this is not a full time position. However, if you want to get your feet wet with us this year and commit to the entire season next year, we will keep you as busy as you like all season in 2012!

Tour guiding is not for everyone. It's a highly demanding yet rewarding job. We are very stringent in our hiring process so PLEASE RESPOND ONLY IF YOU HAVE THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS:

- Fluent in Spanish, French or German (at this time we are NOT hiring English-only tour directors); we especially need Spanish-speaking guides
- Excellent location knowledge (at least 60%) of the National Parks: Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, Arches, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Death Valley, plus Las Vegas and SFO
- Experience driving a 15-passenger van/pulling a trailer (or similar large vehicle)
- CLEAN motor vehicle record
- CLEAN drug test
- Current CPR/First Aid (WOFA/WFR a plus)
- OUTDOOR leadership experience (leading GROUP hikes, camping trips, etc.)
- Ability to think on your feet and act in a mature and professional manner at all times
- Excellent communication, driving, interpersonal and outdoor skills
- Genuine enthusiasm and desire to provide the best possible tour experience to your clients
- Passion for the outdoors and the west - these are NOT bus tours, they are 'get out there and experience nature' tours
- Physically fit and able to lead daily hikes of 2-6 hours
- Able to lead camping tours (includes some cooking duties)
- Able to commit to a minimum of two back-to-back tours (2 weeks each, for a minimum commitment of one solid month)
- Professional guide training a plus
- Willingness to provide all pre-hire paperwork within 2 weeks (see the information below about our web site/hiring process)
- Flexibility to be on the road for at least 15-23 days at a time per tour; this includes transfer to/from tour; usually we try to schedule people for two tours back-to-back which means more than a month straight on the road (or more!)

What we offer:
- Highly competitive pay (includes per diem plus year-end performance bonus); all expenses paid while on tour
- Flexible schedule (this pertains to full-time guides only)
- Comprehensive materials about your tour to help you prepare commentary
- Extensive library of resources to support your own growth and learning
- Excellent back-office support before your tour and while you're on the road (the easier we make things for you, the easier our lives are too!)
- Please respond with "TD extraordinaire" in your reply to show that you have read this entire job posting; otherwise don't expect a response from us
- Transportation to/from the tour
- Reimbursement for tour-related expenses such as first aid certification, etc.
- Limited training
- Chance to meet people from all over the world and the satisfaction of being an integral part of their trip of a lifetime

We hire only the best... but if you're new to guiding and feel you possess the qualities we're looking for... and if this position truly resonates with you, don't be discouraged. Let's talk.

Please send your resume and three professional references to:

Jarmila Gorman
Operations Manager
Adventure Travel West
operations@at-west.com
fax 303-697-5384

Interested parties may also visit our website, www.at-west.com (type into the blue bar, and make sure you type in "www.") Under the page titled "Our Staff", near the bottom you will find a link to our employment page that lists all of the materials we require pre-hire, and in what sequence.

Please, NO phone calls and NO recruiters. Thank you for your interest in ATW!

Facts About Los Angeles

2011-05-22T10:43:00.000-07:00

Here's some very interesting facts that about Los Angeles. They may be fun to share when leading LA tours.

22 May 11
The City of Los Angeles holds many distinctions. LA is the entertainment capital of the world, a cultural mecca boasting more than 300 museums, and a paradise of good weather. From tourist attractions like the Walk of Fame’s collection of stars (numbering 2,434, and growing by one or two a month) to career opportunities like those presented in the expanding biotech industry, Los Angeles is the place to be. It is the only city in North America to have hosted the Summer Olympics twice. Downtown LA is the largest government center outside of Washington, D.C. Los Angeles has the only remaining wooden lighthouse in the state (located in San Pedro’s Fermin Park) and the largest historical theater district on the National Register of Historic Places (located Downtown on Broadway).

Los Angeles is on the leading edge of several growth industries. The LA five-county area, with more than 134,000 jobs in the fashion industry, has surpassed New York’s fashion district workforce. The metro area also has more than 230,000 people at work in health sciences/biomedical activities and 361,000 people in aerospace/technology. Here are some more facts and figures about Los Angeles: the city, the county and the region.

SIZE:
City of Los Angeles: 472 square miles
County of Los Angeles: 4,084 square miles
Los Angeles Five-County Area: 34,135 square miles
(Los Angeles, Riverside, Ventura, Orange and San Bernardino counties)

There are 88 incorporated cities in Los Angeles County ranging from Vernon
(population 95) to Los Angeles city (population 4.1 million).

Source: LACity.org, LACounty.org, California State Association of Counties – counties.org

GEOGRAPHY:
Los Angeles spans a widely diverse geographic area. Primarily a desert basin, the area is surrounded by the San Gabriel Mountain range and divided by the Santa Monica Mountains. Los Angeles County has 75 miles of coastline and altitudes ranging from 9 feet below sea level at Wilmington to 10,080 feet above sea level atop Mt. San Antonio. Area Rivers include the Los Angeles, Rio Hondo, San Gabriel, and Santa Clara rivers.

CLIMATE:
Southern California’s climate has often been described as “perfect” and with good reason. Most days are sunny and warm, with gentle ocean breezes in the summer. The humidity is low with little rain. In fact, there are no unpleasant seasons in Los Angeles.
Annual precipitation: 14.77 inches Average high temperature: 75° F
Avg. sunny/partly sunny days: 292 days Average low temperature: 57° F

Source: National Weather Service Forecast Office at Weather.gov

HISTORY:
Sept. 4, 1781, is the city’s official birthdate, when 44 vecinos pobladores—village settlers from the Mexican provinces of Sonora and Sinaloa — made their home in what is now Downtown Los Angeles. Two of the 44 settlers were Spaniards, while the others were Indians, Blacks and Mestizos (of mixed ancestry). Here to greet the pobladores was a tribe of American Indians called Tongva. The Spanish named the new settlement El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de Los Angeles, or The Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels. After the territory changed hands from Spain to Mexico, the town was officially declared a city in 1835. In August 1846, American soldiers entered Los Angeles, and the stars and stripes have flown over the city since January 1847.

POPULATION (2009):

City of Los Angeles: 4.1 Million
County of Los Angeles: 10.4 Million
Los Angeles Six-County Area: 21.9 Million
(Los Angeles, Riverside, Ventura, Orange and San Bernardino and San Diego counties)
Source: E-1: CA Department of Finance (1/2010)

If the Los Angeles six-county area were a state, it would surpass all states in total population size with the exception of California and Texas. The County of Los Angeles alone would be the eighth most populated state, behind Ohio, with 11.5 million, and ahead of Michigan, with 10.0 million people. Los Angeles ranks as the second largest city in the nation.

PEOPLE:
The diverse, multiethnic population of Los Angeles today distinguishes the city as the cultural hub of the Pacific Rim. In fact, Los Angeles is one of only two U.S. cities without a majority population. People from 140 countries, speaking approximately 86 different languages, currently call Los Angeles home.

Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 48.4 percent
White: 29.4 percent
Asian/Pacific Islander: 10.6 percent
African-American: 9.9 percent
American Indian/Others: 1.7 percent

Source: census.gov American Community Survey 2006-2008

TOURISM STATISTICS (2010 Estimates):
Visitors to Los Angeles County 25.7 million
Domestic overnight visitors 20.2 million
International visitors 5.5 million
Visitor-related spending $13.1 billion

Source: CIC Research

NUMBER OF PASSENGERS FOR EACH AIRPORT IN 2010:
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) 59,069,409
Ontario International Airport 4,808,241
Bob Hope Airport (Burbank) 4,461,271
Long Beach Airport 2,978,326

Source: Lawa.org, Burbankairport.com, Long Beach Airport - Lgb.org

Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) is a unique system of four airports owned and operated by the City of Los Angeles. Each of the airports – Los Angeles International (LAX), LA/Ontario International (ONT) and Van Nuys (VNY) – plays an integral role in helping to meet the regional demand for passenger, cargo and general aviation service in the 21st century.

As the gateway to the West Coast and the #1 international gateway to Asia/Pacific, LAX offers direct flights from 81 domestic cities and 65 international cities. LAX is the seventh busiest passenger airport in the world. Opened in 1984, the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX (TBIT) completed a major renovation program designed to make traveling through this international gateway safer, faster and more comfortable. The three-year project, which came in under budget at a cost of $737 million, was commemorated with a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 26, 2010.

LA/Ontario is a medium-hub, full-service airport with commercial jet service to major U.S. cities. ONT is located in the Inland Empire, approximately 38 miles east of Downtown Los Angeles in the center of Southern California. The airport is the centerpiece of one of the fastest-growing transportation regions in the United States.

Source: Lawa.org

CRUISE TRAFFIC FOR THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES (2010 Estimates): 755,000

Source: PortofLosAngeles.org

AMTRAK PASSENGER BOARDINGS IN ALL LOS ANGELES COUNTY STATIONS IN FY2010: 1,717,708

Los Angeles Union Station is the 5th busiest station in the national Amtrak System.

Source: Amtrak.gov

BEACHES:
The Los Angeles County coastline, stretching from Malibu to Long Beach, is 75 miles long.

BUSINESSES:
The leading industries, based on employment, in LA County are:

Tourism and Hospitality
Professional and Business Services
Direct International Trade
Entertainment
Wholesale Trade and Logistics

THE ECONOMY:
Los Angeles has developed into one of the premier centers of economic and cultural activity in the world. If we compare the economy of the world’s top 20 countries; the LA five-county area ranks at No. 17 and Los Angeles County ranks at No. 19 in the world. The state of California ranks at No. 8 in the world economy ranking.

MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY IN LOS ANGELES:
California is the leading supplier of entertainment to the world, and Los Angeles County produces the vast majority of the state’s entertainment output. The motion picture industry in California generates approximately $34 billion annually.

IMPORTS/EXPORTS:
Los Angeles is the No. 1 import/export port in the United States. The total value of two-way trade handled at the Los Angeles Customs District in 2009 is anticipated to be $283 billion.
The top trading commodities were electrical apparatus, electronic machinery, measuring devices, motor vehicles, magnetic radio recording & playback equipment, apparels, and fashion items.

HIGHER EDUCATION:
Los Angeles is home to 200 colleges and universities, including such prestigious institutions as the University Of Southern California (USC), UCLA, Pepperdine University, Occidental College, Loyola Marymount University and the Art Center College of Design.

Source: LAEDC
http://www.travmedia.com/north-america/pressrelease.php?id=66972&mo=3&referencekey=d66cd2092d34039ac4ad8d092024d19a

International Visitor Spending in the United States: 2010

2011-05-18T10:39:00.000-07:00

More great news on Tourism!

The Office of Travel and Tourism Industries recently published its annual United States Travel and Tourism Exports, Imports, and the Balance of Trade report for 2010. Put simply, U.S. travel and tourism-related exports rebounded in 2010, following the precipitous drop in 2009 that resulted in a record-setting year-over-year decline of $21.0 billion (15%).
International visitors spent $134.4 billion experiencing the United States in 2010, averaging nearly $1.2 billion more a month than was spent in 2009.

Americans increased their travel-related spending abroad, too. In 2010 Americans spent $102.7 billion abroad, nearly 4 percent more than was spent in 2009.

The United States enjoyed a $31.7 billion trade surplus for travel and tourism last year, 50 percent more favorable than the $21.1 billion surplus in 2009 and the largest trade surplus on record.

U.S. travel and tourism-related exports accounted for 25 percent of all U.S. services exports and 7 percent of all exports, goods and services alike.

Travel and tourism exports to the Asia/Pacific region increased nearly 18 percent, the largest increase of any world region; indeed, international visitors from China, Singapore, and South Korea increased their tourism-related spending by 39 percent, 31 percent, and 30 percent, respectively.

Six of the top ten markets for U.S. travel and tourism-related exports posted double-digit gains in 2010; of the twenty-one preliminary countries reported, twelve countries produced double-digit gains and six countries generated record-level spending in 2010.

In fact every single country and region reported gains in total travel and tourism-related spending in the United States in 2010, except France and Belgium/Luxembourg. U.S. travel and tourism-related exports to visitors from France declined 1 percent in 2010, while exports to travelers from Belgium/Luxembourg declined 5 percent last year.

To view the United States Travel and Tourism Exports, Imports, and the Balance of Trade: 2010 report in its entirety, please visit:
.

The Office of Travel and Tourism also released its Top 10 International Markets: Visitation and Spending report for 2009. To view this report, please visit:
.

The U.S. Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (OTTI) is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating international travel and tourism statistics for the U.S. Travel and Tourism Statistical System.

Student Tours

2011-05-13T10:05:00.000-07:00

The below company is looking for Tour Directors that can also work as Area Associates in the Tri States New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

College Campus Trips

Contact: Gillian Harper
Email: Gillian@collegecampustrips.com

Job Details
College Campus Trips is a leading provider of pre-designed and customized, fully-escorted trips to colleges and universities across the United States. Our tours minimize the stress and guesswork normally associated with the college selection process by providing students with first-hand introductions to the colleges that are of interest to them, their parents, guidance counselors and advisors. We offer a unique opportunity of escorting and managing your very own tours.

These key positions will be responsible for generating local and nationwide campus tours with high schools located within a defined territory in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. They will work closely with high schools and college counselors by providing the highest level of customer service and gaining revenue opportunities by securing new tours offered by College Campus Trips.

The Area Associates will be responsible for conducting their own tours and as a Tour Director they are accountable for leading and managing the activities of the group while on tour for three or four days, visiting various college campuses. This Independent Contractor position is part-time and offers flexible hours and it’s a great way of managing your own business from the initial contact with high schools through to a series of your own professionally escorted tours.

Responsibilities:

• Generate and expand relationships with high schools in the assigned territory to maximize new tour opportunities
• Determine, in consultation with the school counselors, the best tour elements and departure dates based on their needs
• Communicate clear requirements to Head Office for group planning purposes
• Presentation to the school in a timely manner, of a customized college campus tours with costs per person, as provided by Head Office
• Establish a service call plan for assigned territory
• Build strong relationships with the Counselors and Advisors within the high school to ensure the decision makers are being reached who can approve the tours and services being offered
• Consult and expand relationships with schools, Associations to reach a broad cross section of tour prospects
• Conduct Presentations at PTA meetings to encourage student participation if required
• Carry out pre-tour briefing for students and their parents at a high schools, if requested

Responsibilities as Tour Director:

• Review ‘Guide Book’ prior to departure and become familiar with contacts, departure times and ensures that complete lists of participants and contact details are included
• Become familiar with the tour components (hotels, Bus Company, security company etc.) and that all tour items have been fully prepaid.
• To take the leadership role at all times during the tour.
• Be responsible for verifying attendance throughout the tour.
• Perform a meet and greet with an official introduction and provide a brief overview of the trip with some basic rules.
• Brief the bus driver daily
• Take charge in the case of an emergency
• Meet the Security Guard each evening and provide instructions
• Call ahead if the tour is off schedule
• Conduct a pre-tour briefing for students and their parents at a high school meeting if requested
• Follows corporate expense policies and guidelines
• Represents themselves and College Campus Trips with the highest level of integrity and professionalism

Job Requirements:

• Ideally the candidate will have experience in the area of education and have previous contacts within high schools in your area.
• Individuals must be self-motivated and possess excellent communication skills
• Responsible individuals with effective time management skills

Applicants who do not already have legal permission to work in the United States will not be considered.

College Campus Trips
PO Box 11783
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33339
Gillian@collegecampustrips.com

Job Available: Immediately

Compensation:
Business Development is based on commission
Tour Director activities are based on a daily Fee

Please note that College Campus Trips does not accept compensation from any educational establishment for a placement of a student.

International Visitation Up Three Percent In January 2011

2011-04-23T09:39:00.000-07:00

The good news on Tourism continues. International US inbound Tourism has increased the last 16 months.

The incentives and meetings are also on the increase and doing very well. If you live in a popular tourist and or resort destination now is a good time to apply to the local DMC's. Southern California companies are so busy at least one is offering a finders fee for help in localing additional staff.

The U.S. Department of Commerce today announced that 4.2 million international visitors traveled to the United States in January 2011, a three percent increase over January 2010. January 2011 registered the 16th straight month of increases in total U.S. visits.
International visitors spent $11.7 billion in January 2011, 10 percent more than in January 2010. January 2011 marks the 13th consecutive month of growth in U.S. travel and tourism-related exports.

Highlights

Overseas Resident Visitation
January 2011 overseas resident visits (1.8 million) were up nine percent compared to January 2010.
Top 10 Countries
In January 2011, eight of the top 10 countries posted increases in visitation to the United States, with five of those countries posting double-digit increases. However, for the month, visitation from Mexico declined 10 percent, and visits from Germany dropped three percent.
Top 10 Countries
Country of Residence % Change January
2011 vs. 2010
Canada 6%
Mexico -10%
Japan 4%
United Kingdom 2%
Brazil 28%
South Korea 19%
People's Republic of China
(excl Hong Kong) 49%
Germany -3%
Australia 27%
France 19%

Top Ports: January 2011
In January 2011, visitation through the top 15 ports of entry accounted for 84 percent of all overseas visits-more than one percentage point lower than last year. The top three ports (Miami, New York JFK and Los Angeles) accounted for 40 percent of all overseas arrivals, about the same as last year. Eleven of the top 15 ports posted increases in arrivals in January 2011. Six of these ports posted double-digit increases.

Access to OTTI Data
Manufacturing and Services' Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (OTTI) collects, analyzes and disseminates international travel and tourism statistics from the U.S. Travel and Tourism Statistical System. OTTI produces visitation data tables, including a more detailed region, country and port analyses. To access this data, you are encouraged to visit the OTTI monthly arrivals page at .

National Export Initiative
To improve conditions that directly affect the private sector's ability to export and to boost employment recovery, on March 11, 2010 President Obama created the National Export Initiative (NEI). The automation of the arrival/departure form [CBP Form I-94W] for Visa Waiver Program travelers supports this initiative as the automated form will greatly improve the measurement of international arrival data to the United States. To learn more about the NEI, you are encouraged to visit .
Throughout this report, percent changes posted for international visitation to the United States for January 2011 were calculated by comparing data in January 2011 to data in January 2010.

http://www.travmedia.com/north-america/pressrelease.php?id=69882&mo=3&referencekey=d66cd2092d34039ac4ad8d092024d19a

Gifts and Tourism

2011-04-15T12:05:00.000-07:00

I've met so many interesting women offering wonderful gifts and services through Tory Johnson’s Spark and Hustle events. (SparkandHustle.com) I’m not involved in the gift market but I work in Tourism a market often misunderstood and over looked in the US. It is an industry which includes gifts, swag, decor, floras, services, events and opportunities for unique, upscale and personalized gifts and services.

Normally I’m an International Tour Director and Trainer. My students are leading international, domestic and local tours and programs. I can’t cover it all here but I want to give you an over view and basic understanding of the needs of the companies involved in tours, programs and events. If you’re looking for a new market, hopefully you‘ll be able to meet their needs in building your success.

I think everyone knows Travel Agents. They make reservations for travel, tours and cruises. Most like giving something special gifts to their clients. Some still do flowers but maybe you have something to offer that may be more specialized and appreciated that will remind them of their trip and the agent. Travel related gifts with the name of the agent? Travel bags? Personalized money pouches? Or?

I work for Tour Operators the companies with the beautiful brochures offering tours when you enter the travel agency. The tour operators also offer gifts to the travelers. When I started it was the old style flight bag with the company logo. It then went to fanny bags, document cases and etc. Their challenge is with repeat tour members and trying to come up with something unique. The tours may be domestic and or international. Do you have something unique to travel, the destination and or US?

I also give out gifts on my tours and cruises for repeat passengers, birthdays and anniversaries. The gifts have included pictures frames with the company name engraved, Kona Coffee, photo albums, make up bags with a Kangaroo logo, books and etc. Do you have something unique and easy for the Tour Director and passenger to pack?

The biggest market I see for gifts is the domestic market, especially the incentive market. Incentives are gifts offered to increase sales and production. It may be a special gift and or trip individually or as a group. Fortune 500 companies spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on their VIP’s, meetings, incentives and team building events. Think of the AIG meeting that received so much attention a couple years ago. Just the hotel bill was $600,000.

I recently assisted with coordinating a couple incentive events. The trip was a reward to the highest achieving sales persons. They stay at 4 and 5 Starr resorts. When they arrive they normally receive personalized bags and gifts. (As a person in and out of my car like a sales rep, I know something like the key finder we received at the LA Spark and Hustle would be appreciated.) They were awarded an iPad, watch and or diamond ring. The events are like staging a wedding each night with lighting, floras, plants, decorative curtains, luminaries, custom linens, entertainment, gifts and etc. Events may include an artist offering the guests a special gift to be sent to their home. These are all outside vendors. Think of producing a very upscale wedding with a theme. Each company producing the event tries to make it unique and very upscale. Do you have a gift and or service they may want to use?

Here’s where it can be a bit confusing. The Fortune 500 Company hires the Incentive House. The Incentive House works with the Fortune 500 Company to develop the program, keep track of the incentives, make the reservations and send staff to travel with the group. The Incentive House hires a local Destination Management Company in the location of the program. The DMC organizes and conducts the local activities, including arrivals, transportation, tours, events, team building and etc. (I train the staff that travels with the group and DMC tour directors and guides.)

I also want to mention services. Many of the smaller incentive companies, DMC’s, meeting planners, event planners and tour operators are owned by women. Do you have a service for them? Payroll? IT? Printing? Or?

Tourism is the largest and fastest growing industry in the world and the opportunities are endless. Fortunately, our industry is rebounding and especially the incentive and meeting market.

I hope this gives you ideas of new markets and helps in your success.
www.tourtraining.com

10 top augmented reality travel apps

2011-03-10T10:51:00.000-08:00

These are wonderful apps for Tour Directors and Guides. Now we may be able to answer all of their questions instantly!

(CNNGo) -- It is the curse of every curious traveler -- you're walking through a new town and you can sense the history, you can smell the restaurant, you can hear the train you're meant to catch, but you have no idea how to get there or discover more.
Thank heavens for augmented reality.
Now, with apps that cost from nothing to a few bucks, you can lay digital worlds over the top of the real world through your phone's camera view. Suddenly data on hotels, restaurants, shop offers, landmarks, social gaming, even menu translations, is at your fingertips.
Here are 10 fantastic AR apps that every traveler should know about.
1. Wikitude
Price: Free
Platforms: Android 1.5+, iPhone 4.0, Symbian with compass, Bada
Download link: http://www.wikitude.org/en/dedownloadendownload
Voted the best augmented reality browser of 2010 by readers of Augmented Planet, Wikitude comes with a multitude of "worlds" that can be overlayed onto the real world that you see through your mobile device's camera.
For example, the Starbucks World shows you if any Starbucks cafes are in the direction you're pointing your camera.
Check out all the various worlds you can access, including World Heritage List, Wildlife Parks in Asia, Irish Pubs Worldwide and more, by clicking here.
CNNGo: 10 best travel apps ever
2. Layar: ArchINFORM
Price: Free
Platforms: Android 1.5+, iPhone 3.1+
Download link: www.layar.com/download
A nifty AR layer for architecture buffs. ArchINFORM is available as a real-world-overlay on Junaio, Layar and Wikitude, but Layar's version comes with special features.
It's a huge database of interesting architectural works, existing and yet-to-be-built, that you can search for with architect names and/or keywords.
Within the 3D layer, there's an AR-view perspective map and a walkable pedestrian route can be shown for every listed piece of architecture within the specified neighborhood.
3. Lonely Planet Compass City Guides
Price: $4.99
Platforms: All Android
Download link: Available in the Android Market
This is for those who travel by the Lonely Planet gospel, but can't be bothered to lug around their tomes. Now all their expert advice for 25 key cities around the world is available on an Android screen complete with GPS-enabled maps and augmented reality camera views.
Selected cities include Amsterdam, Bangkok, Boston, Istanbul, Prague, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo and Vancouver.
CNNGo: DoCoMo's Android-powered iPhone killer
4. Etips City Guides
Price: $0.99-4.99
Platforms: iPhone 3.1+
Download link: iTunes.apple.com
Etips provides daily itineraries as well as GPS-enabled maps and on-screen recommendations of nearby hot spots using the camera view.
Etips provides 131 different apps for the iPhone and 49 different apps for the iPad, covering various cities worldwide.
Bonus feature: even if you're not connected to the Internet, much of the content is available offline.
5. BuUuk
Price: Free
Platforms: All Android, iPhone 3.1+, Symbian
Download link: buuuk.com
A restaurant recommendation app, not unlike Urbanspoon. You can find nearby restaurants in camera view as well as where special deals are available. The data is user generated (140 characters or fewer, with links to Twitter and Facebook), and users can accompany their reviews with pictures.
BuUuk covers primarily Asian cities, but is expanding with Sydney, Perth, Phuket and Jakarta being recent additions.
6. Sekai Camera
Price: Free
Platforms: Android 2.1+, iPhone 3.1+
Download link: sekaicamera.com
Real-time air tagging, where air tagging means things people have written, photographed or said (using the voice message system) about stuff. These then float in your camera view like digital sticky labels.
You can comment on others' air tags or just view the info about nearby restaurants, hotels and so on.
Sekai Camera also features augmented reality games through various Sekai apps such as Sekai Cafe AR, which allows you to "build" an AR cafe in a real location and do business with other users.
7. Metro AR Pro
Price: $0.99
Platforms: iPhone 3.1+
Download link: itunes.apple.com
Find the nearest metro or subway station in Seoul, Tokyo, New York, Chicago, Mexico, London or Paris.
Granted, it's possible to do this in Google Maps, but there's something fun about seeing the stations floating in camera view with the distance from your current location indicated.
8. Waalkz
Price: Free
Platforms: iPhone 3.0+
Download link: itunes.apple.com
Download informative walking tours and let them guide you through Singapore's heritage Arab Quarter, Boat Quay, Chinatown and Little India neighborhood.
Check out the opium dens of old, sit in souk-like cafes, wander through temples and mosques. See sites pop up in camera view as you walk and once it's downloaded there's no need to be online to use it.
Would be great to see this extended to other cities.
9. iButterfly -- Coupon & Entertainment
Price: Free
Platforms: iPhone 3.1+ (Japan iTunes store only)
Download link: itunes.apple.com
An augmented reality game created by advertising agency Dentsu that allows users to catch and collect "butterflies" that pop-up in camera view.
Once caught, the butterflies release offers for nearby shops and restaurants as well as other informative content.
Japan only at the moment, but soon to extended to the rest of Asia.
10. Google Goggles in Google Mobile
Price: Free
Platforms: Android 1.6+, iPhone 4.0
Download link: Android Market and iPhone
Google Goggles is still in Google Labs stage, but this is a visual search app to watch. Take a picture of famous paintings, wine labels or bar codes among other things and Google Goggles will return information on the image captured.
Of most practical use is the translation function. Photograph text (for example a menu item) in English, French, German, Italian or Spanish and have it translated into one of those other languages.
While slower than Word Lens, it offers the capability to translate more languages.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/03/08/cnngo.augmented.reality.travel.apps/index.html

A Growing Role for Tourism in Sustainable Development

2011-03-05T09:41:00.000-08:00

By TANYA MOHN Posted 4:40 PM 03/04/11 Economy, Green

Think of environmentally friendly businesses, and you probably think of things like solar power, green building and recycling. But according to a report released last week by the U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP), one of the most promising green industries -- at least when it comes to creating economic growth, reducing poverty, fueling job creation and addressing major environmental challenges -- turns out to be sustainable tourism.

It's an interesting conclusion because tourism isn't generally considered green. Airplanes and cars burn carbon, for one thing, and vacations are often more about indulgence and excess than about protecting the environment. Vacationers often contribute to the consumption of key natural resources -- by using valuable water for swimming pools or golf courses -- and leave waste. Plus, the construction of resorts can degrade the land.

But the U.N. report, titled "Towards a Green Economy: Pathways to Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication," finds that investing in sustainable tourism could play a big role in creating a green economy. The findings of the report -- which includes contributions from the U.N.'s World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), an agency that promotes sustainable tourism development, and economists and experts worldwide -- were presented to environmental ministers from more than 100 countries last week in Nairobi, Kenya.

"This is a landmark report. Advancing the sustainable agenda in tourism will allow the sector to strengthen its capacity to continue generating growth and creating jobs worldwide," UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai said in a statement. "The conclusions of this report corroborate what we at UNWTO have long been advocating for -- that the tourism sector can be a lead change agent in the transformation to the green economy."

Eradicating Poverty

The report's authors say the development of a green economy could improve human well-being and social equity while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. Environmentally friendly businesses could be a key catalyst for growth and poverty eradication in developing countries, where -- in some cases -- close to 90% of the gross domestic product is linked to natural resources, such as forest and fresh water, according to the report.

"With 2.5 billion people living on less than $2 a day and with more than 2 billion people being added to the global population by 2050, it is clear that we must continue to develop and grow our economies," UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said in a statement. "But this development cannot come at the expense of the very life support systems on land, in the oceans or in our atmosphere that sustain our economies, and thus, the lives of each and everyone one of us."

While tourism is one of the most promising generators of world economic growth, its development is accompanied by sustainability challenges, the report notes. But an investment of 2% of the global GDP per year to sustainable tourism between now and 2050 would allow the sector to reduce water consumption, energy use and carbon-dioxide emissions while continuing to grow steadily and contribute to much-needed economic growth, employment and development, according to the report.

The Economy and the Environment

The report proves that the idea of a "trade-off between economic progress and environmental sustainability was unfounded," says Sharr Prohaska, a clinical associate professor of hospitality and tourism management at New York University. Based on case studies, the report projects that destinations that plan for sustainable tourism and develop a green economy will outperform other destinations over the long term (meaning 2020 and beyond), even though green investment may initially reduce economic growth in the short term, she says.

See full article from DailyFinance: http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/un-report-green-tourism-economy/19867368/?icid=sphere_copyright

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9 easy ways to make a flight attendant go insane - An anonymous airline crew member lets rip on passengers' most annoying habits

2011-02-24T11:50:00.000-08:00

As professional Tour Directors we meet a lot of Flight Attendants. I've watched their jobs change from 'glamorous' to almost overwhelming. I think every new passenger should read this before getting on the flight. This Flight Attendant is straight forward and blunt, but it's her job to keep us all safe just like our jobs as professional Tour Directors.

9 easy ways to make a flight attendant go insane

I’ve put together a list of the nine things that really get under a flight attendant’s skin. Worst of all these crimes against aviation are so common sense -- yet they happen on every single flight.

1. Adopt an 'I paid for my ticket so I can whine all I like' attitude

“My seat is too small.”

“The flight is delayed.”

“The coffee is too hot.”

“The tea tastes weird.“

"The airplane is ugly.”

Stop it right there! I’m sorry your bottom is too big for the seat. Next time upgrade to first class.

And you know what? The plane is delayed because your fellow passenger couldn’t decide which bottle of vodka he wanted to buy at the duty free shop, so he was 30 minutes late to the gate.

Keep complaining and your next drink will be a gin and tonic stirred with a high heel.

2. Play it like Nintendo

Unless it's an emergency, for the sake of all flight attendants worldwide, just pretend that little call button doesn't exist.
Just keep on pumping that flight attendant call button. Mario & Luigi aren’t coming to rescue you but the angry King Bowser will.
According to international regulations, one flight attendant is responsible for up to 50 passengers. This means that, worst-case scenario, the cabin crew could be giving someone CPR or delivering a baby while you or your precocious little darling is jamming on that button.

Here’s my advice: just get up and walk to the nearest galley and ask for what you need. Stretching your legs, getting up and walking around the cabin may even help prevent complications such as blood clots, cold feet and the breakdown of your skin.

3. Pretend you’re in a restaurant

“Today, we have beef steak with lemon grass and barbecue pork with Japanese rice. Which would you prefer?” asks the beautiful flight attendant.

The man turns to her and says, “I’ll have fish. Do you have fish? I want fish. I can’t eat anything else but fish.”

First of all, a galley on a plane is not a kitchen. We do not cook.

Here’s how to get your fish: send the request when your book your flight if you wish to have a specific meal.

4. Ask unintelligent questions

The dreaded glass of mystery liquid. Also known as water.
When faced with a glass full of dark water with bubbles and ice, what do you think it is? That’s correct, it’s cola. How about that clear liquid? Yes, that’s water.
Let’s imagine the whole row is asking these mundane questions, even though they are sitting next to each other. After being asked by around 50-plus people, I am eventually so depressed I just stop answering.

A passenger once even asked me if we had iPads on board. I was speechless.

5. Laugh and whisper

Talking behind someone’s back is rude. It’s even ruder to look at someone and laugh in their face, and then whisper/giggle to the person beside you in your own language.

Last time that happened, I accidentally parked a drink cart in front of the restroom and trapped that funny man inside. Karma comes fast.

6. Talk on the phone after the plane has left the gate

"I'm pretending I didn't hear you tell me to switch off my electronic device as I think that whole 'communication interference' stuff is a load of poppycock."
Not turning your phone off is a surefire way to make the cabin crew go berserk. I have to admit, I take great pleasure in yelling at people to switch off their phones. I make a really serious face, then point at the phone and say “OFF NOW.”
The fact is: communicating with the control tower is difficult enough. Pilots aren’t sitting there chit chatting about fashion or pop stars. They are trying to take off and not get struck by another plane that might be landing seconds later, all while your phone’s signal is potentially interfering with communications.

7. Be an irresponsible parent

A young mother once asked me put some coffee creamer in her baby’s bottle. Really. For your information: formula can be carried onto the plane with you.

Meanwhile, some parents assume flight attendants will happily babysit their kids for them while they do something else, like nap or watch a movie.

That’s not in my job description. Not every flight attendant loves children. Babysitting you is already hard enough.

8. Complain that your bags are too heavy

Flight attendants are happy to close the overhead bins. Cramming things into them is another story. You came all the way from home, dragged your bags down the stairs to the door, put them in the trunk of the car, drove all the way to the airport, dragged them through security and all the way to your seat.
Suddenly, the bags are too heavy for you to put into the overhead compartment by yourself.

Passengers don’t realize that flight attendants don’t get compensated for any injuries that come of this common situation. The deal is: you brought it, shove up there yourself or we throw it out the door and under the plane.

9. Ignore the seat belt sign

“When the seat belt sign is on, please take your seat and fasten your seat belt.”

Pretty obvious, isn’t it?

Yet on every single flight there will be people getting up to go to the washroom when the seat belt sign is on. This is somewhat understandable -- if you’re about to wet your seat. Or worse.

And then there are the passengers who just want to walk around and talk to people.

When the sign is on during takeoff, landing or during turbulence, it’s very dangerous to be wandering off. Your face could be smashed into the sink or another passenger’s head.

http://www.cnngo.com/bangkok/visit/9-easy-ways-make-flight-attendant-go-insane-609432

://www.cnngo.com/bangkok/visit/9-easy-ways-make-flight-attendant-go-insane-609432

Request from Student Tour Operator

2011-01-24T14:10:00.000-08:00

Student Tours are a well established and growing part of our industry. Tours vary greatly. For example, you may lead a day tour for a high school band to Disneyland, escort a group to Washington DC and or escort a European tour. The procedures are basically the same as for adult tours following the training in the “Tour Director Training Guide” and online course. It is important to have the ability to work with younger tour members, their parents and teachers.

Liz Moran has suggestions in finding Student Tour groups in my August 2010 blog.

Request for Tour Director
I recently received a request from a Student Tour group with immediate openings for qualified Tour Directors. Below is a copy of their request, information and qualifications. I also recommend visiting their website, it sounds like a unique and interesting position. If you are interested in the position apply directly to College Campus Trips.

Hello Cherie,

We are looking for Tour Director in several regions nationwide. Is there a possibility that we can work with you to post our open positions.

Please let me know

Thanks

Gillian

Gillian Harper

Vice President Sales & Marketing

Direct: 954-933-2786

Ph: 954-567-5751 | Fax: 954-302-4995

P.O. Box 11783, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33339

www.collegecampustrips.com

BONDED • INSURED • VIRTUS CERTIFIED

Florida Seller of Travel Reg. No. ST37245

Tour Directors nationwide

College Campus Trips

Contact: Gillian Harper

Email: Gillian@collegecampustrips.com

Job Details

College Campus Trips is a leading provider of pre-designed and customized, fully-escorted trips to colleges and universities across the United States. Our tours minimize the stress and guesswork normally associated with the college selection process by providing students with first-hand introductions to the colleges that are of interest to them, their parents, guidance counselors and advisors. We are seeking candidate for the positions of Tour Directors in various regions in the United States. These key positions will be responsible for leading and managing the activities of groups of high school students and chaperones while on tour for three or four days, visiting college campuses.

Responsibilities:

Review ‘Guide Book’ prior to departure and become familiar with contacts, departure times and ensures that complete lists of participants and contact details are included

Become familiar with the tour components (hotels, Bus Company, security company etc.) and that all tour items have been fully prepaid.

To take the leadership role at all times during the tour.

Be responsible for verifying attendance throughout the tour.

Perform a meet and greet with an official introduction and provide a brief overview of the trip with some basic rules.

Brief the bus driver daily

Take charge in the case of an emergency

Meet the Security Guard each evening and provide instructions

Call ahead if the tour is off schedule

Conduct a pre-tour briefing for students and their parents at a high school meeting if requested

Follows corporate expense policies and guidelines

Represents themselves and College Campus Trips with the highest level of integrity and professionalism

Job Requirements:

Individuals must be self-motivated and possess excellent communication skills

Responsible individuals with effective time management skills

Available for tour leadership from the time of departure until the tour has ended.

Applicants who do not already have legal permission to work in the United States will not be considered.

Job Available: Immediately

Compensation:

A Tour Directors fee per day

Accommodation and expenses while on tour

Please note that College Campus Trips does not accept compensation from any educational establishment for a placement of a student.

Costa Rica Specialists

2011-01-16T10:28:00.000-08:00

Hi Cherie,

My name is Ben Lapidus and I am the Founder of a study abroad opportunity for University students from around the world. Our program, GREEN, is extremely new, only 18 months old, and focuses on renewable energy and sustainability education in Costa Rica. With superior success having brought almost 50 students in its infancy stages, the founders of the program, who had previously no tour guiding experiences, have been able to offload a lot of the travel operations to inspired students who have offered to work with us and run the programs as counselors.

We are currently in the midst of a test run of that now, and while these student guides are doing a great job, they lack training, insight, and grand scheme perspective. It has become apparent that we are in need of a trained professional interested in the country, our mission, and demographic of attendees.

Your name is all over the web as a professional trainer of tour guides and so I am reaching out to you in hopes that you have a database or listserv that you could detail our opportunity to you previous students.

I would be open to telling you more specifics about our organization upon your reply. You can check out more about us at greenworknow.com.

I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Kindest Regards,
Benjamin Lapidus
Global Renewable Energy Education Network
Director, GREEN Campus Tour
ben@greenworknow.com
888.558.0579 | http://greenworknow.com

Alaska Careers 2011

2011-01-08T20:48:00.000-08:00

Interested in working as a guide in Alaska this summer? Jill Hyatt, a past student. is hiring for Holland America-Princess Alaska/Yukon. Here's a copy of Jill's emails.

Hi Cherie,

I took your class about 8 years ago when it was offered at Santa Ana College on a Saturday. I was in a career that was well paying, but wanted into the travel industry. Your advice at the time was to seek out company's that would hire people with no experience. One of the companies that you recommended was Princess Tours. I went to work for Princess Tours as a driver/guide and loved it. I have now moved into more of a management position with Holland America-Princess Alaska/Yukon (the two companies combined their tour divisions several years ago). I will be recruiting for new driver/guides in the LA/OC area the week of the 17th of January. If you ever have questions about what type of jobs in the Alaska tour industry we offer, please feel free to contact me.

Thank you!!

Jill Hyatt
Assistant Manager, Transportation
HAP - Alaska/Yukon
Fairbanks Division
(907) 459-7963 Direct
(907) 479-9660 Reception

Hi Jill,

That's great. I'm so glad to hear about your career and that you love it. We are in the best industry in the world.

Thank you for letting me know about the your hiring. I'll post it in my Facebook pages, blog and in my classes. Are you also hiring outside of LA and OC? My online course is being offered throughout the US. Right now the enrollment is low due to the economy but I'll see what I can do.

I'd like to post your email as it is with your contact information. What's easiest for you? Do you want them to call? Email? Show up? Just let me know.

Thanks again Jill. I wish you all the best in 2011.

Cherie

Cherie Anderson
Professional Tour Management Training
www.tourtraining.com ;
cherie@tourtraining.com
www.tour-guide-training.com
www.facebook.com/tourtraining.com ;
www.facebook.com/protours ;
http://tourtraining.blogspot.com/ ;

Hi Cherie,
We do recruitment all over the U.S., and we have training programs in Provo, UT, Bellingham, WA, Phoenix, AZ and Los Angeles, along with Alaska. Many of our divisions have employee housing, although we do not in Fairbanks, which does seem to be a big issue for many folks. By all means people can contact me atJHyatt@hollandamerica-princess.com and go to our website to apply at www.alaskatourjobs.com. Once I know the exact locations of our recruitment events, I will forward it to you.

When guests and fellow employees ask me how I got into this business I always credit your class as getting me started.

Jill Hyatt
Assistant Manager, Transportation
HAP - Alaska/Yukon
Fairbanks Division
(907) 459-7963 Direct
(907) 479-9660 Reception

International Visitation Up 11 Percent for First 10 Months of 2010

2011-01-07T09:34:00.000-08:00

The good news on US tourism continues.

January 6, 2010

The U.S. Department of Commerce today announced that for the first 10 months of 2010, 50.4 million international visitors traveled to the United States, an 11 percent increase over the same period in 2009. In October 2010, 5.1 million international visitors traveled to the United States, an increase of nine percent over October 2009. October 2010 registered the 13th straight month of increases in U.S. arrivals.

International visitors spent $111.5 billion during the first 10 months of 2010, 11 percent more than the same period in 2009. In October 2010, international visitors spent $11.9 billion, 18 percent more than in October 2009. October 2010 marks the 10th consecutive month of growth in U.S. travel and tourism-related exports. Total travel and tourism-related exports have increased, on average, $1.4 billion a month in 2010.

Highlights

Overseas Resident Visitation

October YTD 2010, overseas resident visits (22.2 million) were up 12 percent compared to the same period 2009.

In October 2010, overseas resident visitation (2.5 million) was up 12 percent over October 2009.

Compared to the first 10 months of 2008, October YTD 2010 overseas resident visits increased three percent. Compared to the first 10 months of 2000, overseas resident visits were up one percent.

October 2010 overseas resident visits were up 13 percent compared to October 2008.

Top 10 Countries

In the first ten months of 2010, nine of the top 10 countries posted increases in visitation to the United States. October YTD 2010, the United Kingdom posted the only decline, registering a one percent decrease when compared to the same period in 2009.

In October 2010, all top 10 countries posted increases in resident visitation for the month.

Link to full article:

http://www.travmedia.com/north-america/pressrelease.php?id=65656&mo=3&referencekey=d66cd2092d34039ac4ad8d092024d19a

Increase In Tourist Spending Indicates Positive Outlook For Those Seeking A Career In Tourism

2010-12-04T12:28:00.000-08:00

Increase In Tourist Spending Indicates Positive Outlook For Those Seeking A Career In Tourism
Date: 2010-12-02
Industry: -Hotel-Restaurant-Travel- Category: Education

Statistics released by the U.S. Department of Commerce during the summer of 2010 revealed that tourist spending has increased over the previous year. The good news came not long after U.S. Congress and President Obama passed the Travel Promotional Bill in March, which is designed to promote U.S. tourism around the world.

Cherie Anderson of Professional Tour Management Training  (TourTraining.com) believes the bounce-back will mean more job  opportunities in the months to come for those seeking a career in  tourism.  According to these statistics, there were 33.8 million international  visitors to the United States during the first seven months of 2010,  which was a 12 percent increase over the same period in 2009. And as  for tourist spending, international visitors spent about $76.7 billion  during the first seven months of 2010, which was a 10 percent increase  over the month of July 2009. These studies indicate that the tourism  industry may be slowly but surely recovering from the recession...a  good sign for other economic sectors as well.

Through her Web site and e-book course titled "Tour Director Training  Guide," Anderson provides professional training for students of all  ages that are seeking a career in tourism, whether domestic or  international guides and directors. She also helps students that are  interested in other fields, but within the tourism industry, such as  accounting, administration, marketing, customer service, event  coordination, product management, etc.

Anderson states, "Many students have only one focus when they first  start thinking about a career in tourism - becoming a travel agent. I  help them to explore all possible options based on their skills and  career goals. Other careers in tourism can be lucrative, challenging  and fun."

Anderson also emphasizes that the tourism career sector isn't just for  the young. She says, "It's great for young people and the retired.  Many go into tour directing and guiding after their kids are grown.  Maturity is seen as an asset in this industry, especially for those  who will travel frequently."

Major tour operators including Globus, Tauck and Trafalgar have all  reported an increase in international travel for 2010. Some operators  within the European market are reporting 30 to 90 percent increases  over 2009! In the U.S., tourism job availability is also picking up.

With so many new doors opening for job seekers, Anderson's tour career  training e-book gives hopefuls a way to find out what jobs are  available that match their skills, which employers pay the best, how  to get their foot in the door, how to handle tour challenges or  emergencies and more. Students will learn how to get hired by cruise  lines, incentive houses, tour operators, sightseeing companies,  student groups, adventure companies and destination management  companies.  "

My experience is a goldmine for beginners in this field. If they  love to go on exciting vacations, staying in the finest hotels, and  experiencing life to its fullest, while getting paid, then this book  is a great starting point," says Anderson.  

About Cherie Anderson
Cherie Anderson is the owner of Professional Tour Management Training.  She has been training professional tour directors and guides since  1993. Her training is offered online through more than 2100 colleges  worldwide. She has also compiled all the training into an e-book  titled "Tour Director Training Guide," which is available for  immediate download.  Read more about tourism careers and tour training at the Web address  below:  
http://www.tourtraining.com/

For an interview or more information, please contact Cherie Anderson  by phone at (949) 830-8603 or by email: tourtraining@aol.com

Insight Vacations

2010-11-30T08:40:00.000-08:00

Insight Vacations is offering a new tour package, Gold program. It includes, "...stay in 5-star luxury hotels, dine in authentic restaurants, and enjoy leisurely touring with premium included sightseeing." If you're an experienced or new Tour Director you may want to contact them. Their tours sales are doing very well and I understand they are hiring.

http://www.travmedia.com/north-america/pressrelease.php?id=646

Here's the press release. It includes tour descriptions and a link to their website.

Insight Vacations Announces "Gold" Touring Collection
29 Nov 10
Top European Tour Operator Launches Deluxe Class Program

Insight Vacations is delighted to announce the addition of their new luxury Gold itineraries. An exceptional range of 7 uniquely-tailored deluxe tours, you will stay in 5-star luxury hotels, dine in authentic restaurants, and enjoy leisurely touring with premium included sightseeing. It truly is an entirely new perspective on classical journeys. Three Nile River Cruises have been moved to Insight's new Gold program, and they have added four completely new premium itineraries. As always, enjoy full Insight benefits: smaller group sizes, luxury coaches with more legroom, and included sightseeing escorted by an outstanding Insight Tour Director. Insight's new luxury itineraries truly are the "Gold" standard!

Insight Gold Itineraries for 2011

Britain and Ireland—This expertly planned itinerary evokes the Golden Age of travel as it follows one of the truly classic routes around Scotland, England, Wales, and Ireland. Experience all the age-old towns, historic sites and superb scenery while still leaving plenty of time for personal exploration. Insight has put together a collection of luxury hotels which tastefully fuse traditional charm and atmosphere with modern design. Highlights of the tour include Edinburgh Castle, Chatsworth House-- home to the Duke of Devonshire, Trinity College in Dublin to see the Book of Kells, afternoon tea with scones and Guinness Cake on a private farm for an insight into rural Irish life, and the Cobh Heritage Centre. 15 days, priced from $5435, land only, based on double occupancy.

European Masterpiece—With two-night stays throughout, this classic route through the Alps sets the perfect pace. In the cities, it allows for sightseeing in the mornings and free time in the afternoon. You'll travel on the high-speed TGV from Dijon to Paris, turning what is normally a full day on the coach into a more leisurely affair. Your exquisite hotels are mostly traditional or historic in character, yet they have all been renovated to provide modern facilities with a touch of class. Highlights of the tour include a visit to the Vatican and Sistine Chapel, wine tasting in Chianti, Michelangelo's David in Florence, a cruise across the Venetian Lagoon with lunch in the colorful fishing village of Burano, Mt. Pilatus, a ride through the French countryside on the TGV, the world's fastest train, and a privately guided tour of the Louvre Museum. 12 days, priced from $5050, land only, based on double occupancy.

Iberian Classic—This tour expertly blends just the right amount of touring with in-depth sightseeing and free time for personal exploration. The comfortable rail journey from Madrid to Barcelona also transforms what is usually a full day's drive into a pleasant few hours on the train. Hop off, relaxed and refreshed, ready for your Barcelona city tour! Your first hotel in Lisbon is contemporary, chic and stylish. Other properties are more classic in design with lavish, opulent interiors, combining a timeless elegance with state of the art amenities and friendly, helpful service. Highlights of the tour include Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon, a horse and carriage ride in Seville, the tomb of Christopher Columbus, a guided tour of the Alhambra Palace, the church of Santo Tomé in Toledo, and Barcelona Cathedral. 12 days, priced from $3650, land only, based on double occupancy.

Italian Vogue—As with all Insight Vacation's Gold itineraries, the tours have been planned, where possible, with two-night stays and later starts in the morning. In order to experience some of Italy's most secluded gems, you'll embark on a variety of ferries, hydrofoil, trains, gondolas and boats in addition to the usual armchair coach comfort. Your superb, traditional hotels are all excellently located, retaining the classic elegance and grace of their respective settings, but with a contemporary feel and friendly service. Highlights of the tour include a guided visit of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, a private tour of Pompeii, lunch and Frascati wine tasting in the Roman Hills, a visit to the Blue Grotto in Capri; Michelangelo's statue of David in Florence, and a cruise along the rugged coastline of the Cinque Terre with an included lunch in the village of Monterosso. 11 days, priced from $4350, land only, based on double occupancy.

Elegance along the Nile:

Insight Gold has three elegant Egypt cruises on the beautiful boutique river boat, River Tosca. The River Tosca is a newly purpose-built cruiser with all the modern conveniences, yet exquisitely decorated in fine Egyptian style. The roomy cabins are tastefully designed with chic, all-white armchairs, decadent fluffy beds and a luxury marble bathroom with separate bathtub and walk-in shower. And the sun deck, complete with pool and shaded cabanas from which to watch the Nile river gliding by, is downright bliss.

Elegance of Egypt—This relaxing three-night Nile cruise is book-ended with nights in Cairo. Your clients will unwind in style at the elegant 5-star Conrad Cairo hotel and marvel at breathtaking views of the Nile from the private balcony. 8 days, priced from $2425, based on double occupancy.

Elegance of the Nile—With seven nights on board the River Tosca, your clients have plenty of time to immerse themselves in the daily hubbub of the towns and cities, haggle with the hawkers and traders, and bear witness to the fascinating historic sites before returning to the sophistication and tranquility of their luxury Nile cruise. The two hotels, the Conrad in Cairo and the 5 star Winter Palace in Luxor, present an exotic mix of traditional and modern. 14 days, priced from $3725, based on double occupancy.

Elegance of the Pharaohs—A relaxed itinerary where travelers can watch ancient Egypt unfold before their very eyes from the French balcony of their deluxe river cruise suite. The two hotels on this tour both boast excellent island locations! The Marriott is in Zamalek, the heart of Cairo, while the Aswan Mövenpick is on Elephantine Island-- a welcome relief from the hustle and bustle of the city. The bar on the 13th floor of the tower has a fabulous panoramic view of Aswan and Elephantine Island! 11 days, priced from $2899, based on double occupancy.

Insight guests enjoy more intimate groups, limited to just 40 passengers, the services of an experienced tour director and the assurance of staying in top selected hotels which are centrally or scenically located. Travel in style on Insight's luxury reconfigured coaches with more legroom so the journey is as enjoyable as the destination.

Take advantage of the included sightseeing worth hundreds of dollars, ensuring your holiday budget goes further. With so many included meals, quality hotels and sightseeing experiences, you'll be astounded at the value of an Insight Vacation.

Insight Vacations has accumulated an international following by providing outstanding service and quality tour packages to the savvy traveler who seeks better accommodations, choices in dining, and smaller group sizes all while staying in the most desirable locations. For over 30 years, Insight Vacations has been the leader in premium escorted tours and cruises to Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean, Mexico, Canada and the United States.

Book now! For more information or reservations, please contact your local travel agent or call Insight Vacations at (888) 680-1241 .To order brochures or for more information visit Insight Vacations' web site at www.insightvacations.com

Responsible volunteering: things to know before you go

2010-11-28T13:06:00.000-08:00

This 'Lonely Planet' article has excellent suggestions for volunteering worldwide. Tourism and volunteers can help and or hurt. I've seen both on my tours and hope we're going in the direction of being more helpful to local populations.

Article:

When you visit a country, especially if it’s in the developing world, often you can’t forget what you’ve seen – and want to give back to a community. Volunteering is an increasingly popular ways for travellers to express that desire.

But a new report shows that if you’re not careful about how you spend your money or where you volunteer, despite every good intention you could end up hurting the people you’re trying to help. The study explores how ‘voluntourism’ – specifically relating to travellers providing short-term volunteering as caregivers to ‘AIDS orphans’ in sub-Saharan African – can negatively affect the children, not to mention encourage profiteering from orphanages.

The problems are many, writes Ian Birrell in The Guardian: ‘Wealthy tourists prevent local workers from getting much-needed jobs, especially when they pay to volunteer; hard-pressed institutions waste time looking after them and money upgrading facilities; and abused or abandoned children form emotional attachments to the visitors, who increase their trauma by disappearing back home.’

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t volunteer – it just means that you should arm yourself with the right information so you can volunteer in a positive way. So what questions do you need to ask? We spoke with Karen Leonard, founder of Lifestart Foundation in Hoi An, who gave us some great practical advice:

Do your homework. ‘What we want is for travellers to be informed. That way they can make decisions with the head rather than the heart once on the ground. Otherwise, they can be swept up by a tide of emotion. I used to buy the Lonely Planet guide a year before landing in the destination. It’s the same thing with volunteering. It’s not uncommon for our volunteers to prepare six months ahead for a two-week stay. So read up beforehand and make that part of your study. That way you can go with a plan rather than an impulse.’

Choose the right organisation for you. ‘Research organisations first rather than walking in off the street. Read their website and ask yourself: is that the kind of philosophy I want to align with.’

Check an organisation is legitimate. It can be really hard to tell from afar whether an organisation is reputable or not. ‘One of the best ways is to check the organisation’s credentials,’ says Karen. ‘Make sure that they’re registered in their country of origin and that they’re registered with the local government.’ Lifestart Foundation also requires police checks for volunteers, another indicator of an organisation seeking to protect the people it’s looking after.

Contact the organisation before going. ‘Don’t just drop in, email the organisation beforehand,’ recommends Karen. That’s better for everyone. ‘That way organisations can provide you with useful pre-departure information and information for when you land in a country. And you can find out in advance what hoops you need to jump through before landing – for example, you can’t get a police check once you’re in country.’

Ask the organisation what they need. Rather than superimpose your skill, ask what the charities need. Dream volunteers, says Karen, are ‘the ones that say “I’ve got two arms, what do you want done?” Basically, daily, hourly we don’t know what our needs are going to be. We had a flood last week and just needed people to shovel mud.’

If you can only volunteer for a short time, check that this makes sense. Most organisations would prefer longer term volunteers, says Karen. Otherwise, ‘by the time we do a short-term induction…the week’s over.’ That said, some organisations will be able to use even one or two days of help. Longer term is probably anything from a 3-month placement up.

Make sure volunteering is the best use of your time. What if you don’t have the time to volunteer – but still want to give something back to the community? Why not do some fundraising beforehand, suggests Karen. ‘Seek out a charity where you’re going to donate and contact them beforehand – see if they need anything brought over. That way you can do something very direct like a quick whip around at work before you go.’

Think about where your money is going. ‘Sometimes places can be kept looking poor so people delve into their pockets. But that money never goes to the children – or the improvement of an orphanage. The kids are just used as a pawn in this.’

Finally, always ask yourself this question when volunteering. ‘If it was your child, grandchild, brother or sister in that situation, what kind of volunteering would be ok/not ok? There are so many people who want to spend an hour at an orphanage,’ says Karen. ‘People take fluffy toys – and lollies – and go and kick a ball with the kids.’ But often this constant stream of people is of little benefit to the children – and creates a situation in which they’re just another sight on the tourist trail.

Despite the need to be careful about volunteering, Karen says she’s incredibly inspired by volunteers, particularly from younger generations. ‘I find more and more that young people are doing it earlier and earlier. It’s quite natural to do it in your forties and fifties but I find it quite incredible that young people want to do it earlier at a peak time for their careers back home.’

For Karen, starting Lifestart Foundation in Vietnam was a natural conclusion to a life of travelling. ‘I was always shocked by the disadvantage I saw but after returning home always got back into the groove of my normal life. But you get to an age where your children have grown and you think I don’t have to just be shocked about this now, I can do something about it.’

Karen Leonard is the founder of Lifestart Foundation, an organisation aimed at helping disadvantaged people in Hoi An become self-sufficient. She says that one of the best things to do in Hoi An is simply to drink a Vietnamese coffee on a plastic stool on Bach Dang St overlooking the river. For about 30c you can feel the pulse of the city; a great way to start the day…

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/asia/travel-tips-and-articles/76268

Airport Security

2010-11-22T10:26:00.000-08:00

I like this video on airport security. It shows clearly what's required, how to pack and what needs to be scanned.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2010/11/18/holiday.travel.security.cnn

National Trust for Historic Preservation

2010-11-10T11:18:00.000-08:00

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a wonderful resource for tour operators, tour directors and guides, volunteers and anyone interested in heritage tourism and in saving our US historic destinations. It’s also a good resource for developing informative and interesting narration.

http://www.preservationnation.org/issues/heritage-tourism/

Professional Tour Management Training

2010-11-09T08:52:00.000-08:00

The next online course, "Get Paid to Travel", training for Professional Tour Directors, Travel Staff and Guides starts tomorrow, Wednesday, November 10. To enroll click on the banner that says, "Online Learning.... any time....anywhere...."

www.tour-guide-traning.com

Phone Apps for Travellers

2010-10-18T11:09:00.000-07:00

Tour directing and guiding is getting easier and easier thanks to phone apps. I like all of these.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/10/18/helpful.travel.apps/index.html

Collette has Announced a New Tour Package

2010-10-13T11:41:00.000-07:00

More great news for those of us in travel and especially tour directors. Collette has announced, “...business — sales are up 61 percent from 2009 — the tour operator is launching a new brand of tours: Explorations. ...during one of Collette’s most successful years ...the goal of Explorations is to allow clients to taste, live, explore and connect to a destination, clients also receive the benefit of an all-inclusive tour.”

I recommend filling in the online application and posting your resume on their website asap. Collette normally starts their new hiring right after the Christmas holidays. With a new program they may start earlier.

http://www.travelagewest.com/travel/tours/Info/Collette-Vacations-Gains-Clients/

Win an Eco-Adventure

2010-10-09T18:47:00.000-07:00

Here's a way to donate to a good cause and maybe win a great adventure. "Prizes...include a seven-night cruise for two on a luxury yacht through the Galapagos Islands...a trek along Peru's Inca Trail to Machu Picchu...a stay at Nepal's Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge nestled deep within the Himalayas."

http://www.travmedia.com/north-america/pressrelease.php?id=62861&mo=3&referencekey=d66cd2092d34039ac4ad8d092024d19a

Free national parks field-guide phone app

2010-10-08T13:27:00.000-07:00

This sounds like a wonderful app for Tour Directors, Guides and leisure travellers. Sure would help with questions, animal sightings, plants and etc.

Free national parks field-guide phone app
By Kitty Bean Yancey, USA TODAY

No need to wonder what flora and fauna you're viewing at a national park or to lug a heavy guidebook.

New field guides to 50 of them can be downloaded free to your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch from iTunes, courtesy of the nonprofit National Parks Conservation Association.

The guides contain park info, show animals and plants; they even have recordings of bird calls, says the association's Megan Cantrell, who is senior coordinator of member engagement.

The idea is to make a park visit "more interactive," says Cantrell. And anyone who has ever been in a park, seen a strange animal and thought, "What the heck is that?" will be enlightened now. "There are a lot of maps" and park guides, Cantrell says. "But these are the first comprehensive field guides." You need to be in an area with cell service, though. And if you take an iPad or iPod touch into the field, you need a Wi-Fi connection.

Posted Oct 7 2010 12:15PM

Tourism Progress and Peace Conference

2010-10-03T17:45:00.000-07:00

“Throughout history humankind has looked into venues (other than war) to enhance sustainable peace and harmony in the world. Why not tourism? How?” These are the questions being discussed at the Tourism Progress and Peace Conference in Jordon next March.

Are you working on this in your travel career? Have ideas? The conference is looking for abstracts (a brief summary) of your ideas. The link will give you details on the conference. The link to submit an abstract in the upper left hand column.

I personally feel the importance of tourism and world peace has been greatly overlooked. I’m glad to see the conference.

http://www.tourismprogressandpeace.com/index.html

World Clock

2010-09-22T13:14:00.001-07:00

This is useful, educational and fun. It's a world clock that includes time and every kind of world statistic you can imagine. It easy to get lost in the spinning numbers.

http://www.poodwaddle.com/worldclock.swf

Traveling Cairo to Cape Town--Pam Barrus

2010-09-17T11:16:00.000-07:00

Many of my past students know Pam Barrus, a tour director, travel staff, author and adventurer. Pam traveled throughout Africa this year alone. The link below will take you to her blog.

Hi Cherie,

It's Pam Barrus, …the URL of the blog I ran during the Cairo to Cape Town trip this summer, so here it is: pamafricanqueen.blogspot.com The most entertaining part, imo, is in July with Somaliland, Las Geel, and Jubba Airways. :-) In October I'm giving a talk about the trip, but for only about 20 minutes on a panel to some university women's group. It's to encourage women to travel alone. Hopefully, they won't be scared off.

Have a terrific year, and I hope there's a new get-together soon!

xoxo
Pam

"Travel Abroad at a Young Age Enhances Education, Career Growth and Success"

2010-09-15T14:13:00.000-07:00

I agree! Some of my students have found the student market a great way to get experience in tour directing and guiding. It’s also a market that has done well in spite of the economy challenges. This is the time of year to start contacting the companies.
http://www.travmedia.com/north-america/pressrelease.php?id=61984&mo=3&referencekey=d66cd2092d34039ac4ad8d092024d19a

Good Resource for Tour Operators

2010-09-09T09:41:00.000-07:00

Travelage West has always been a good resource for new and experienced Tour Directors. It makes it easy to keep up with Tour Operators and their new tours and programs. I enjoy seeing new itineraries and the variety of interests covered, something for everyone and every age. It’s also a helpful resource for leisure travelers.

http://www.travelagewest.com/Travel/Tours/

Resume Suggestions

2010-08-30T10:03:00.000-07:00

Tory Johnson from ABC Good Morning America has some very good resume suggestions. I particularly like her suggestions on how to present dates. Many new tour directors and guides are mature but you don’t want to appear ‘old’ on your resume.

I’m often asked about ages. If you go to Collette’s webpage you’ll see a picture of their tour directors. A wide range of ages are represented.

http://t.co/kNhglZI

Student Tours

2010-08-26T10:50:00.001-07:00

Liz Moran has written a wonderful new section for the “Tour Director Training Guides”. on student tours. Here’s a section I think you’ll find very helpful if you’re considering student tours.

“A one-stop resource to finding a list of student tour operators can be found on the Student and Youth Travel Associate website at www.syta.com. On the home page, locate the tab “For Educators/Group Leaders” and from the drop down menu choose “Find An SYTA Tour Operator.” This will bring you to another page where you can search for operators by country, state or types of tours. Do not conduct a search under “Origination Locations” because it doesn’t matter where the tour operator is located! I work for student operators located in Northern California, Michigan and Illinois! Just conduct a broad search: Under “Destination Locations,” choose United States from the drop down menu. This will give you a list of ALL student tour operators who are members of SYTA.”

Tourism Continues to Rebound!

2010-08-21T12:52:00.000-07:00

Good news. Tourism continues to rebound in 2010. “...international visitors spent an estimated $11.1 billion ...marking the sixth consecutive month of growth ...spending has increased, on average, $732 million a month in 2010. ..Travel purchases of travel and tourism-related goods and services ...$8.6 billion during June, an increase of nearly 14 percent... Passenger Fare Receipts: 17 percent to $2.5 billion for the month, an increase of $362 million...visitors have spent an estimated $64.6 billion on U.S. travel and tourism-related goods and services year to date...an increase of 7 percent ...“

http://www.travmedia.com/north-america/pressrelease.php?id=61276&mo=3&referencekey=d66cd2092d34039ac4ad8d092024d19a

New Surveys Give Insight Into U.S. Travelers and Spending Trends

2010-08-13T11:36:00.000-07:00

Interesting survey on the direction of tourism. “Among men who were surveyed, the top destination was Australia, while most women chose Italy.” After seeing the Italy pizza scenes in “Eat, Pray, Love” I’m guessing Italy will become even more popular with women.

http://www.travelagewest.com/article_ektid44980.aspx

Eat, Pray and Love

2010-08-10T12:30:00.000-07:00

We’re all counting on the movie boasting international tourism. Tour operators are already adding “Eat, Pray and Love” tours. Should be fun tours to lead. I'm ready! I love Bali.

http://www.straitstimes.com/SME%2BSpotlight/Lifestyle/Story/STIStory_562318.html

New Travel Gadgets

2010-07-12T11:10:00.000-07:00

I like the solar charger and especially the Kodak Playsport. My cell video just isn't enough.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2010/07/12/whitfield.tech.for.travel.cnn

Tipping Guide

2010-06-30T13:32:00.001-07:00

Here’s a good resource for domestic and international tour managers on tipping. It’s always a ‘touchy’ topic for our groups. They want to know when to tip, the ‘average’ tip but never want to be ‘told’ to tip. This site also includes a downloadable Tipping Guide and a link to an Asia tipping site.

www.travelsense.org/tips/tippingetiquette.cfm

Travel Careers on the Rebound

2010-06-09T13:04:00.000-07:00

Here’s a copy of a recent press release on travel careers and good resource for tour operators, videos, sustainable tourism, faith tours, interviews, trip research, attractions, links and more.

http://www.grouptravelleader.com/Newsletter_Items/2010/June/Travel_careers_on_the_rebound.aspx

How to Become a Tour Guide : Overview of Tour Guide Career

2010-05-27T13:14:00.000-07:00

Tour operators report resurgence in international bookings

2010-03-23T11:40:00.000-07:00

By: Michelle Baran
March 05, 2010
Tour operators are seeing customers book more international trips for 2010, indicating that U.S. travelers are starting to invest more in their vacations again and are feeling secure enough in their jobs to leave the office for longer.

"Travel is the ultimate barometer of consumer confidence," said Steve Born, vice president of marketing for the Globus Family of Brands, which among several operators has seen long-haul international business returning after a year when close-to-home travel — or little to no travel — was often favored over pricier trips.

Bookings for Europe, a high-volume destination for most operators, reflect a sizeable increase in demand across the board.

"Europe is up more than 50%," said Richard Launder, president of TravCorp USA, the parent of several brands, including Trafalgar, Insight and Brendan Vacations. "That gets us back to 2008 levels and over. So in a sense, we’ve come back."

Complete article: http://www.travelweekly.com/article3.aspx?id=211122

Travel Promotion Act Faces Final Passage, Vote Expected Soon

2010-02-26T10:38:00.000-08:00

Contact Your Senators Immediately And Urge Their Support
23 Feb 10

The travel community is on the cusp of final passage of the Travel Promotion Act, landmark legislation which will for the first time create a public-private partnership to promote travel to the United States. The travel community is on the cusp of final passage of the Travel Promotion Act, landmark legislation which will for the first time create a public-private partnership to promote travel to the United States. After months of focus on other issues, including health care reform and jobs stimulus legislation, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has indicated that final consideration of this important bill is imminent. President Obama also touted the value of the legislation during his comments in Las Vegas this past Friday (click here).

We urge you to please start reaching out to your Senators today to ensure that when the bill is brought to the floor they are ready to support it. Speak to them about the immediate need to pass this bill in order to help our economy by attracting new spending, creating new jobs and reducing our national deficit, all at no cost to American taxpayers (see below for links to contact information and talking points).

In order to help you make the case, we worked in conjunction with Oxford Economics to develop a new analysis of overseas travel to the United States titled The Lost Decade which shows the failure of the United States to simply keep pace with the growth in international long-haul travel worldwide and how much it has cost our economy:

- 68.3 million lost visitors, each of whom on average spend well over $4,000 dollars.
- $509 billion in lost spending, including $214 billion in direct spending and $295 billion in downstream spending at restaurants, retailers, and scores of other small businesses.
- 441,000 lost jobs, direct, indirect and induced, in all regions of the country.
- $32 billion in lost tax revenue at the federal, state and local levels.
- $270 billion in lost trade surplus, export funding needed to rebuild our economy.

As you know, the Senate passed the Travel Promotion Act in September (S.1023) with a strong bipartisan vote of 79-19. The Travel Promotion Act was then unanimously approved by the House of Representatives in November as part of H.R.1299. Because the legislation creates "revenue" for the federal government, the Constitution requires that the Travel Promotion Act originate in the House. Therefore, the Senate must now take a final vote on H.R.1299.

It's important that every Senator who supported the legislation in September hear again from members of the travel community thanking them for their original vote of support and urging their continued support in the coming weeks for final passage of the legislation.

Your relentless grassroots advocacy for more than two years has moved the United States one giant step closer to its first multi-million dollar, nationally coordinated travel promotion program. Let's get the job done in the Senate with final passage.

Contact Your Senators TODAY

Call or email your Senator today and let him/her know that you value their support for the Travel Promotion Act.

International Tourism on Track for a Rebound after an Exceptionally Challenging 2009

2010-02-07T11:27:00.001-08:00

Madrid, Spain 18 January 2010

Growth returned to international tourism in the last quarter of 2009contributing to better than expected full-year results, according to the latest edition of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. International tourist arrivals fell by an estimated 4% in 2009. Prospects have also improved with arrivals now forecast to grow between 3% and 4% in 2010.This outlook is confirmed by the remarkable rise of the UNWTO Panel of Experts’ Confidence Index.

2009 – Last quarter sees return to growth

For a copy of the full report click on:

http://www.unwto.org/media/news/en/press_det.php?id=5361&idioma=E

Travel Director Suggestions

2009-11-11T15:02:00.000-08:00

5 Tips from This Week's Featured Travel Director

Rennette Grace - Duluth, MN
Rennette's Top 5 Travel Tips:

1. SMILE
Meeting Planners and attendees have business on their minds when they first meet you. Smile warmly to let them know you are happy to help them and put their minds at ease. Your ability to meet their needs and your advance preparation is a given; now just convey that with confidence and a smile. Smiles also help brighten the day for your co-workers and suppliers when you are in the middle of those long, long, long hours of a busy day.

2. PLAN your personal meals ahead of time.
Nothing can be more distracting while working than having your stomach rumbling with hunger and losing your concentration due to lack of nutrition. If you know you won't be getting enough time for lunch or dinner while onsite, pack nutrition bars, fruit, and a beverage in a tote bag so you will have something nutritious to eat when you get a 15 minute break.

3. BUY a laptop lock.
Too much valuable information is on your laptop to risk it "walking away" while you are out of the room. We know these things happen sometimes - just don't let it happen to you. Buy a lock and use it faithfully.
4. ALWAYS have paper and pen handy.

Even if you are just heading down the hallway to the restroom you may be stopped by the client, or an attendee, with a request or question that needs research. I keep small post-its and a pen in my pant's pocket so I'm prepared to take a note right then and there with a promise to get back to them as soon as possible. Having it written down, reminds me of the request and who needs the answer or action required.

5. REMEMBER why we are there.
As travel directors we are hired to assist the client in producing a smooth running program. While it may be pleasant for us to discover a new hotel, city or co-workers, these aspects of the job are something we take time to enjoy only if, and when, all of the daily work is done on time. Our number one priority for each day is to focus on the tasks that bring us closer to offering a successful "behind the scenes" operation that contributes to the success of the client's meeting or event.

Want to share your travel tips and be a Featured Travel Director or Tour Guide Member? Contact INTD for details at support@intdonline.org.

Source: International Network of Travel Directors: http://www.intdonline.org/

Green Jobs in Tourism

2009-11-05T11:44:00.000-08:00

I want to encourage those interested in having an effect on the world in tourism to consider a career as a Professional Tour Director and or Guide. We have encouraged countries, local destinations and our tour members in understanding, sharing and saved areas from destruction thanks to tourism. As a professional Tour Director I travel with the tour groups and have a big influence on my group’s experiences domestically and internationally.

There are so many examples and so many new possibilities. Think of the wildlife parks in Africa saved for tourism and now more profits enriching the local communities, tourism support of our National Parks, the Antarctic, Artic, Borneo and struggling destinations around the world. Tourists are interested in education and not just getting on and off the coach at popular tourist attractions.

I recorded a free video series on careers available at: http://www.ehow.com/video_2275923_overview-tour-guide-career.html. I also train tour directors, tour guides and travel staff online through 1700 colleges and through my ebook the ‘Tour Director Training Guide’. Since I work through public education my training is all very reasonable. Link: www.tourtraining.com

I love working in tourism and hope this helps.
Cherie

Job Posting

2009-11-02T09:34:00.001-08:00

Ann Lombardi from "thetripchicks.com" passed on the below job posting. Thank you Ann.

http://new-york-jobs.jobfox.com/education-training/library-information-/educational-tour-leader-nyc/4b7776ad-6f11-4fae-b0d6-8e47100d0eba?source=indeed0

American Chronicle Article

2009-10-28T10:27:00.000-07:00

Professional Tour Management Training mentioned in article:

http://americanchronicle.com/articles/view/125753

Free Online Videos on Careers in Tourism

2009-10-26T16:02:00.000-07:00

I recorded a free series of videos for eHow.com and ExpertVillage.com on careers in tourism. Topic include local, domestic and international careers for tour directors, travel staff (incentive industry) and cruise line positions.

The series will also introduce you segments of our industry most in the US know very little about, as careers with tour operators, incentive houses, destination management companies, student tours, adventure tours, faith based tours, receptive services, pier staff and more. Even if you’re not interested in leading tours there are positions in accounting, marketing, sales, operations, IT , administrative assistants, reservations and etc.

I love working in tourism and hope the series helps.

Link: http://www.ehow.com/videos-on_212_become-tour-guide.html

Cherie

Charge of the Bus Brigade

2009-10-19T12:01:00.000-07:00

Here's one of the most realistic articles on our career I've read. Thank you to Ann from "Thetripchicks.com" for passing it on. Ann met Rita while they were both on tour last year.
I hope you enjoy it.
Cherie

Charge of the Bus Brigade

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/14/AR2006071400444.html

Good News for Tourism

2009-09-06T09:12:00.000-07:00

The US Federal Government is one of the only tourist friendly countries that does not promote tourism. Many of the states, local governments and CVB’s (Convention and Visitors Bureau) have active promotions, but again not the Federal government.

We’ve been watching and supporting this bill for a long time. It looks it’s getting closer to passing which is good news for tourism and the millions of careers it supports. (Just in California tourism is an $86 billion dollar industry employing over a million people.)

Bipartisan Travel Promotion Gains Momentum as More than Half the Senate Supports Bill

Travel Promotion Will Create 40,000 U.S. Jobs, Add $4 Billion to U.S. Economy and Reduce Federal Deficit by $425 Million

WASHINGTON, DC -- The U.S. Travel Association announced today that S. 1023, the "Travel Promotion Act", now has the support of half the U.S. Senate. The bill will create thousands of new jobs and spur economic growth by attracting millions of additional international travelers to the United States.

Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA) and Senator Robert Bennett (R-UT), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, are the 50th and 51st U.S. Senators to support the legislation. Since 9/11, potential visitors have found ever-changing security policies and negative foreign press coverage to be a deterrent to visiting America.

"We are grateful to Senator Bennett, Senator Specter and the rest of the cosponsors for their bipartisan commitment to create thousands of new jobs and add billions to the U.S. economy by supporting the Travel Promotion Act," said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. "We encourage the Senate to capitalize on the bill's momentum and vote to pass it as soon as possible."

The "Travel Promotion Act," introduced by Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and John Ensign (R-NV) and co-sponsored by an additional 49 Senators from both sides of the aisle, creates a public-private partnership to promote the United States as a premier international travel destination and communicate U.S. security and entry policies. The bill specifies that travel promotion would be paid for - at no cost to U.S. taxpayers - by private sector contributions and a modest fee on foreign travelers who do not pay $131 for a visa to enter the United States. Nearly every developed nation in the world spends millions of dollars to attract visitors.

Overseas visitors spend an average of $4,500 per person, per trip in the United States. Oxford Economics estimates that a well-executed promotion program would attract 1.6 million new international visitors and would generate $4 billion in new economic stimulus and $321 million in new federal tax revenue each year. The U.S. Travel Association estimates that this program would create nearly 40,000 new American jobs in the first year. Additionally, the Congressional Budget Office reports estimates that the "Travel Promotion Act" will reduce the federal budget deficit by $425 million over ten years. A House companion bill, H.R. 2935, is co-sponsored by 41 members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

http://www.ustravel.org/pressmedia/pressrec.asp?Item=985

Thank you Elizabeth Moran for the update.

Port Lectures

2009-07-28T12:15:00.000-07:00

I received the below from one of our major cruise line. They are expanding their Port Lecture series. They are looking for experienced speakers that can share information onboard their ships. Right now they are looking for those with Asia knowledge or the ability to research and share the information. They also will need Port Lectures for South American, North America (East Coast and Alaska), Europe, South Pacific (including Australia and New Zealand) and possibly Mexico.

Hi Cherie,
It was great speaking with you. You sound like you have a good group of people and I appreciate your offer to refer some of your more promising graduates to me. Below is a brief paragraph explaining what qualities I look for in a successful Port Lecturer and attached is the actual job definition. Thanks again for your help.

"We look for speakers who possess extensive public speaking experience, a strong stage presence and an engaging style. Presentations should be delivered in an enthusiastic and confident style, and not in a monotone voice. Scripted words should be spoken by memory -- verbatim readings of prepared texts should be avoided at all costs. We are looking for lecturers who are familiar and well-versed with their topics so that information can be shared with the audience in a conversational manner that always sounds fresh. Maintaining good eye contact is key to connecting well with one's audience.

Typical port lectures are 45 minutes long and need to include a visual slide show (in PowerPoint). All our venues come equipped with full projection screen capabilities, sound systems and lighting, and are assisted by a production technician to handle the technology. We recommend port lecturers bring their own laptops to connect with existing equipment in our venues onboard. Lectures are scheduled by the Cruise Director or their staff."

I. RESPONSIBILITIES
Your responsibilities as Port Enhancement Lecturer include:

A. One 45-minute lecture for each port and/or related topics. These may be videotaped and replayed on the ship's television circuit. If you haven't already done so, please send to my attention in writing for our approval a list of your planned lectures. Once we agree on your program of lectures, we'll notify the ship of your presentations. Your lectures should cover the following:

Historical Overview - A synopsis of the port's history that passengers will be able to relate with their cruise experience. This portion shouldn't take up the entire lecture, but only enough fore passengers to be aware of the historical highlights. They will get additional information from the tour bus guides as well, so information shouldn't be redundant. This is also an opportunity to provide some historical or background information on the venues we cover in our tours.

Culture & Lifestyle - Passengers should be aware of current trends and lifestyles in the ports visited. What should they expect to see and experience once they get off the ship, what to observe, etc.

Practical Information - This could include a range of topics from the weather, shopping (recommended shopping while in town), local customs (customary greetings, do's and don'ts, etc).

Shore Excursions - It is very important that the Port Enhancement Lecturer should incorporate the venues we visit on our tours in his/her talks to promote shore excursions in an indirect by effective way. For example, if they wish to see the Grand Canal, then they can take two of our tours (highlight them). This is particularly helpful in selling tours that require a high minimum to operate. This is also an opportunity to promote our new tours.

B. Port commentaries from the ship's bridge as required. These are descriptive narratives on the port, sights of interest, etc. These commentaries occur while the ship is entering or leaving a port or other areas of interest. Your commentary is transmitted over the ship's public address system on the open decks.

C. Maintain regular desk hours (as directed by the Cruise Director) for passenger questions, often located at the Shore Excursions Desk or in that vicinity. Hours will not exceed 3 per day and may be split between morning desk hours, gangway hours, and early evening (pre-dinner) hours with the Cruise Director's approval.

II. COMPENSATION
In exchange for your services, you will be provided with the following:

The cruise, inclusive of a Fleet or Passenger cabin (tba) and all meals.

Regardless of cabin type, Port Lecturer receives full passenger status. If Port Lecturer is staying in a Fleet Cabin, then a separate Passenger Account Charge Card must be issued for Port Lecturer's use on the ship.

A guest privilege; you will be allowed to have one guest with you in your stateroom for the duration of this agreement.

Economy round-trip transportation to and from the major airport nearest your home to the ship.

An allowance of US $X per day, not to include final disembarkation day (payable directly to you on board at the end of each cruise).

Onboard daily gratuities (cabin steward, waiter, assistant waiter) to be charged to your shipboard account and will be covered by the cruise lines at the end of each cruise. Any remaining charges will be your responsibility. Please note that any monetary amounts paid do not include day of disembarkation.

Complimentary Laundry Service.

One complimentary ShoreEx Ticket per port, for lecturer only. 20% discount for lecturer's guest for shore excursions (booked onboard only), subject to availability.

25% alcohol and specialty beverages discount for Port Lecturer and guest in restaurants and lounges.

Internet Access as required and related to the duties and responsibilities of the Port Lecturer, to be accessed through the Shore Excursion Office or Purser's Department, whichever is available.

If you are qualified and interested in the position send your resume to: tourresumes@aol.com. You will be notified by the cruise line if they can use your services onboard. Contracts are normally from one to four months. If you don't hear from them right away, don't get discouraged the spots are limited. You might also resend your resume when you have updates.

The Real Job of a Local Tour Guide

2009-06-19T12:12:00.000-07:00

I’ve been leading international tours and training tour directors and guides for years. I love learning about cultures and sharing stories with fellow professionals. Last year I was privileged to get to know a wonderful professional Bulgarian local tour guide. Bobi, the local tour guide, took my online tour managementclass but I’m sure I learned as much from her as she did from me.
As a local guide Bobi has worked with groups from around the world. She has also traveled extensively so she has an amazing understanding and ability to express and share her experiences. Her insight has given my students a wonderful understanding of the what the local guides may be feeling as they work with visitors from around the world.
When one of my students expressed her concern and fear of delivering narration for the first time, Bobi shared her first experience. I think it’s good advice for all new tour directors and guides.
She said, “I can tell you a story about my very first presence in front of a large group from USA. I am a Bulgarian and English is not my mother tongue. On the other hand, at that time (I was 24 just graduated from the university and was very shy.) Bulgaria was a communist country and we did not really see Americans, nor we had any idea about the difference between British English and American English. Believe me there is a great difference. However, I had to talk in front of 42 Americans, who I did not understand at all. I was about to cry and wanted to hide, but I was at work and had a week ahead and a lot to talk about. I am sure everybody has his moments of being shy and feeling uneasy. Then the tour director (he was an American of Polish origin) came to me and said in Polish (yes, I know Polish) - he said - just talk, keep talking. Don't worry that you make mistakes, don't worry about how good or bad you sound. When you are talking people do listen. They will understand you and even will help you. That was all I needed. Just talk and don't think of what you look like and how you sound. You sound great and you look tremendous - I am positive about it. Wish you luck. Go for it.”
As tour directors and guides our jobs are never boring. No matter how prepared we are surprises and challenges still happen. I call it “job security”. If everything always worked perfectly, we may not be needed. Here’s how Bobi handled one of her challenges.
“I am from ex-communist country. Once in the 70s I had a group of Americans. That was very rare at that time. The group had two hours only for lunch before departure. We had the first course served and then the group was totally neglected because, imagine - the daughter of the Prime Minister had her birthday party in the same restaurant. All the staff went to serve her party. A Prime Minister's daughter is extremely important. We waited for more than 30 min. Nobody came to serve us. When I found out the reason and talked with the manager he dared not tell his staff to serve the Americans. Can you imagine how the tour members took that? They were hungry, did not have much time due to the departure time, were hurt, had pre-paid the tour and the food, were treated as a "second" class or even worse - enemies. I went to check out what was going on. With the bad news I came to the group (I was a guide but it was in my country and my city). I told the tour director the real situation and he presented it in such a manner that all the members laughed loud. With a very nice sense of humor he told them the situation. They laugh and laugh and that laughter brought the manager’s attention who came as pale as a white sheet of paper. He was begging for silence being scared for his position and promised the world to the Americans if only they won't laugh so much and so loud. We finally had an extremely fast and perfect service plus a good laugh. I am sure that the tour members remembered that for long time, told it to their friends, and laughed over and over again.” I’m sure she is right. I always admire Bobi’s professionalism and commitment that every one of her groups have a great experience. Her attitude is always positive and she never seems to complain and is always grateful. Here’s an example of why I am so impressed and feel privileged to call her a friend.
“As for me - I am well, as I always am - never tired, never hungry, never sleepy. My last trip ended this week and it too, was a good one. I worked for a Bulgarian small company dealing with agriculture. They had their American partners on visit. Two Americans who never came to our part of the world and 8 Bulgarians were on a week trip round Bulgaria.
The great weather and off season everywhere was so peaceful and nice. Right after that trip a one day conference and a city tour with 2 busses with doctors from Balkan countries. Tomorrow I'll meet two gentlemen from the UK for a short two days and next weekend another two day excursion.
That is all for now, but I am glad I have those.I better close the present or you won’t have chance to take a break. Best of luck,Bobi”
This makes me smile since she’s concerned about my break. I hope you think of Bobi as you travel the world meeting your local tour guides. They are dedicated and work hard to share their countries, cities and attractions with you. It may not always be as easy as they make it look. I now share Bobi’s stories and words of wisdom in my Tour Director Training Guide (http://www.tourtraining.com). She’s an excellent example of professionalism and what our career is really all about, helping others.

E-Petition Launches in Support of Meetings

2009-02-15T09:16:00.001-08:00

Feb 11, 2009 9:08 AM
Negative publicity has been churning in the media around the meetings and incentives industry because of the perception that events organized by companies receiving emergency relief money from the federal government were inappropriate. In reaction, a new electronic petition has been launched to draw attention to the importance of meetings in the U.S. economy and to give people a way to show their support for the industry.
The electronic petition, Keep America Meeting, is now live at http://keepamericameeting.com, allowing signers to “help send a message to our legislators nationwide that we need them to take the proactive step of publicly supporting the meetings and events industry in order to hasten the U.S. recovery.”
Keep America Meeting was created by TBA Global, a meeting and event marketing company, in partnership with the U.S. Travel Association and with support from the Event Marketing Institute. It is endorsed by a nonpartisan group of associations, publishers, and companies, including the MeetingsNet magazines.
Organizers plan to deliver the petition to the White House, Congress, and the leadership of the Fortune 200 companies, with a clear message of support for meetings. The petition says: “Corporate meetings enhance employee and partner performance, fuel company growth and profitability, support the needs of local communities, and aid the American economy as a whole.”
It continues, “We the undersigned believe meetings build businesses and are an important part of our nation's recovery. Meetings that are well executed and designed to meet specific company goals greatly contribute to company profits.”
Before its official launch, the petition had already gathered almost 1,000 signatures, many with thoughtful commentary about the value of meetings, events, and incentives as a business tool and as a critical element of our economy. The goal is one million signatures.
Best Regards,
Robbie
Robbie Glowczwski, DMCP Program Manager
ACCESS Destination Services949-454-2111 p949-454-9815 f 949-795-0730 cell www.accessdmc.com
HSMAI Orange County Chapter Board Member
Las Vegas Los Angeles Orange County Palm Springs San Diego

Reasons I’m grateful for being in the tourism industry.

2008-11-27T11:24:00.000-08:00

1. It’s the best industry in the world. It extremely positive, interesting and rewarding. I am grateful for the wonderful friends and associates I‘ve made over the years.
2. I have traveled the world and have complete faith in my country’s ability to over-come and succeed.
3. I went through 911 in tourism and watched how the federal, state, county and city governments’ pulled together to promote tourism. It was the first time we had their attention due to the number of jobs and income attributed to tourism. At that time we were had the fear of terrorist attack and a lower economy. By 2002 tourism had recovered and continued to increase.
4. People need time to spend with their loved ones, especially during times of stress. The major tour operators are very optimistic about the 2009 season. They are anticipating continued growth in the domestic and inbound market. Our lower dollar value is a bargain for visitors and US residents normally want to spend less and not have to worry about the lower dollar value overseas.
5. There’s a bill in Washington DC right now to assign a person to head US tourism for the first time. We’re the only country that doesn’t promote its tourism and even the Federal government is now realizing it’s importance.
6. The US has eliminated visa requirements for South Korea and a number of Eastern European countries which is expected to lead to additional inbound visitors.
7. Additional international flights, including the huge mega-jets, have been increasing US tourism, especially between the US and Australia.
8. As I write this the stock market is up for the third day in a row.
9. When leading escorted tours and working in the incentive market we are working in the upscale market. We work with people and companies that have funds. Even right after 911 the upscale market continued to travel.
10. My favorite reason of all? My students are getting hired!
I would love to hear your reasons too.

Networking

2008-10-15T13:48:00.000-07:00

I am hearing from so many tour directors, both new and experienced. I want to encourage you to use this area for networking. I know you'll be able to help each other out with challenges, hiring, resources and encouragement. Some of you are working for or will be working for the same companies. (I won't share your personal information without your permission.)

Do you have a special skill? Language skills? Sports? Interest? Location? Destination? City tours? Tour Directors are the best source for finding new or additional employment.

If you ever post anything you want changed or deleted, let me know. I can go into the blog file and help you out.

Cherie

2008-10-08T11:16:00.000-07:00

Please let me know the type of information you would like to see covered in our newsletters and blog.

I'm here to help.

Cherie

Travel Websites

2008-09-28T10:08:00.000-07:00

I want to invite you to share your favorite travel websites. Do you have a travel service you would like to share with fellow travelers?

Getting Hired

2008-09-05T10:27:00.000-07:00

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.

Stories

2008-09-03T16:24:00.000-07:00

Had any adventures lately? Tour challenges? Funny stories?

Experince the World and Get Paid!

2008-09-03T09:39:00.000-07:00

Hi Travelers, Tour Directors, Tour Guides and Cruise Hosts,

I'm here to network, keep in touch, answer your questions and have fun.

I've been real busy with my online class, face to face classes, updating my textbook to the new 2008 edition and enjoying the summer months. I'm now excited about working on turning the textbook into an e-book. I'll keep you posted on the progress.

I'm also working on a training tour. This is where I'm asking for your help and input. In the past many of you have gone on my training tours to Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego.

How about a training tour while on an escorted tour? I've talked to one of our major tour operators about an exclusive group in which we would be on tour with one of their best Professional Tour Directors. It would also be an opportunity for a reunion with past students and a way to meet your past fellow classmates. Of course family and friends are welcome.

Right now I'm looking at a tour of the Southern states in December or early January. The tours are affordable and warmer than the East Coast. I'd like to offer the training before the major tour operators start their new hiring in the New Year.

Sound interesting? Any suggestions? I'm short on time so let me know if you think you may be interested.

Where are you now? Who are you working for?

Need suggestions?

I look forward to keeping in touch.

Cherie

Welcome

2007-02-24T13:25:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our new blog. I've been a professional international tour director since the 1980's. I've lead tours around the world. I love travel, our industry and the people in it.

I train tour directors online and have meet tour directors and guides from around the world. (www.tourtraining.com)

Where's your favorite place to travel? Mine is probably Australia and New Zealand, except for the long, long, long, flights.