Hiring Tour Guides for Alaska, New York and Miami!

Many of us in Southern California will be spending our New Year's assisting groups attending the beautiful Rose Parade and or Rose Bowl Game in Pasadena.  Tour operators bring in groups and alumni from around the country.  The events offer opportunities for experienced and new Tour Directors and Guides.  Many of my past students started their careers working the Rose Bowl Program. It's always fun reconnecting with friends we may only see once a year. Christmas is over so now is the time to start contacting the tour operators for Tour Director/Tour Manager position in 2014.  Most are starting their hiring process.  Interviews normally are conducted January through early March.  The tour operators have their staff meetings and training in March and April with their busiest season starting in May.  This is also a good time to connect with Student Tour operators.  Their busiest season is in the spring when schools have their class trips, band trips to Disneyland and Disneyworld and graduation trips.   Assignments range from a couple days to weeks in Europe.  It's also a good way to start getting experience.  Liz Moran covers Student Tours in detail in the "Tour Director Training Guide" including how to find tour operators and hiring in Lesson 2.  Local tour operations with a busy summer season normally start their Tour Guide hiring in the spring.  This is Florida's busy season, I've posted a local tour position in Miami below.  The hourly rate is low but the tips and experience should make it worthwhile.    Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year! Cherie
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Coordinator, Guided Tours and Group Sales
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc. - New York, NY Reporting to the Manager, Visitor Services, the Tour and Group Sales Coordinator is responsible for all administrative aspects connected to the Lincoln Center Guided Tour Program and Groups Sales. Tour Related:  Book, invoice and maintain master schedule for group tour bookings via email and phone Maintain relationships with tour operators and travel partners Coordinate and assist in dispatch of pre-booked group and walk-up tours Assist with the Guided Tour Program budget (including quarterly revenue and expense projections and analysis) Support marketing initiatives that expand Tour takers Identify and report on tour trends Assist with collecting qualitative and quantitative Tour metrics via surveys Support Manager, Visitor Services with overseeing approximately 35 paid, union-represented Tour Guides as well as administer policies and practices in accordance with collective bargaining agreement; includes training, disciplinary records, updating manuals, etc. Schedule guides and venues on a weekly basis Cultivate relationships with Lincoln Center venue management to ensure Tour venue access. Group Sales Related:  Research, develop and implement group ticket sales packages, including sales calls, order processing, customer relations and promotional opportunities to group markets Solicit and identify new target interest groups for Lincoln Center programs Monitor and evaluate group ticket sales and revenues Prepare, administer and monitor group sales contracts; evaluate group sales revenues against established goals Coordinate the production of sales-related materials and manage the distribution of materials to customers Maintain sales database to support and facilitate sales monitoring and management Serve as group sales liaison to the Lincoln Center box office Other Duties:  Staff occasional performances at the David Rubenstein Atrium, maintaining a safe capacity and high standard of customer care Staff performances at various Lincoln Center and offsite venues to assist with customer care Contribute to VS efforts to improve visitor experience Assist with supervision of interns Other duties as assigned  http://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=ff34c94cbc03bcb8&from=tellafriend&utm_source=jobseeker_emails&utm_medium=email&cd%20-=tell_a_friend
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Tour Guide
Miami Open City Tour is hiring tour guides for their double decker sightseeing tour. This is a full time position that is available immediately. Tour guides must be able to engage guest in a fun and energetic way. Have a sense of humor, and enjoy people's company. You will need to be comfortable with speaking for extended periods of time. Overall Responsibilities: - Have a good general knowledge of Miami and its history - Good public speaking skills - Willing to work weekends and holidays (our busiest time!) - Acting experience a plus. - Ability to stand for extended periods at a time. - Must speak English, foreign languages a plus http://www.barefootstudent.com/miami/jobs/full_time/tour_guide_148013?utm_source=Indeed&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Indeed
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Multiple Positions on Summer Season Trains!
HAP Alaska Yukon Rail Operations Anchorage, AK 12/20/2013 JOB DESCRIPTION Alaska Experts Wanted! HAP Alaska Yukon Rail Operations is now hiring Tour Guides, Bartenders, Cooks, Dishwashers and Food Servers to work aboard our exclusive train cars for the summer season. We are looking for committed, professional, hard-working, enthusiastic applicants with strong customer service skills and food and beverage experience. We offer competitve wages and overtime. Interested candidates should apply online at www.alaskatourjobs.com .
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Driver/Guide in Alaska
Holland America Line & Princess Cruises - Bellingham, WA Spend your summer experiencing Alaska! What will your next adventure be? Come work and play in Alaska! Holland America Line and Princess Cruises are currently seeking outgoing, motivated individuals ready to put their customer service skills to the test in Alaska! Come experience Alaska as you showcase our great state as a Driver Guide! We offer paid CDL training, competitive wages, potential overtime, bonuses, discounted travel and tours, a fun team-oriented workplace and much much more. This is a great opportunity to get into one of the largest Tourism Operators in Alaska so apply today and start your journey! Job Requirements: Ability to safely drive a motorcoach while speaking to passengers, answering questions and providing narration, while working in a team or group environment. Ability to communicate clearly, verbally and written, with customers, employees and management. One year of experience in positions involving customer service. Current, valid CDL is required (may be obtained through a paid Company training course in Alaska; Bellingham, Washington; Las Vegas, Nevada; Rexburg, Idaho; Provo, Utah and Phoenix, Arizona.) Minimum age of 21 is required. Must be certified as physically qualified through a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical and drug screen. The Alaska season runs from May thru September. Apply today at www.alaskatourjobs.com and don't miss this opportunity of a lifetime!
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Fast Track Classroom Training for Tour Directors, Travel Staff, Tour Guides and Cruise Hosts 

When:  January 11, 12, 13, and 14, 2014 *

Time:  9 AM to 5 PM

Where:  Laguna Hills in beautiful South Orange County, California

Question?  Contact Cherie at:  cherie@tourtraining.com or call 949-830-8603 PST

*The hotel offers discounted rates for AAA Members, Federal Employees, seniors and more.  

Enrollment:  $545.00

$85.00 Non-Refundable Deposit

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=F9E56LZZ65P7E

Payment in full.

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Full Newsletter:  http://archive.aweber.com/tourtraining/BeSJn/h/Hiring_for_2014_.htm

Video Series - Travel Careers on Land and Sea  TourTraining.tv         

Hiring Tour Guides in Zion - TSA PreCheck - Christmas Tours - Tour Guide Training 2014

First I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year!  I hope your holidays are full of love and fun.  I'll be spending it with my family for which I am grateful.  My mom's Christmas request was always to have me home for Christmas.  I loved being home but I also love travel.  December means leading tours below the equator...the South Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, South America and where ever December means summer.   Tough to give up! If you're leading a tour this holiday season it's fun to take along a few items to help your group celebrate with a 'taste of home'.  I like taking Christmas cards and small boxes of candy, like the little Sampler boxes.  It's also fun to take the light cardboard cut-outs to decorate the motor coach and or dining room.  They pack easily in the bottom of my suitcase.  It's simple and the tour members are always thankful and grateful for the small personal reminders of the holiday. The good news for travel continues.  According to the UNWTO, United Nations World Tourism Organization, tourism in the US and around the world continues to grow even more than anticipated.   They state, "...Last year a record 845 million worldwide in the first nine months increased by 5 % to almost 41 million more than in the same period, (over) international tourist arrivals in 2012." The US increased 11%.  Here's the link to the full article: http://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/ihg-rewards-club/ Here are a couple links you may find helpful if you're leading tours, a business traveler and or if you're a frequent traveler.  The following links are to articles which will give you suggestions and help in obtaining the TSA PreCheck Entry Application:   http://petergreenberg.com/2013/12/04/new-way-apply-for-tsa-precheck-live/ The second article compares it to the Global Entry: http://petergreenberg.com/2013/08/20/global-entry-vs-tsa-pre-check-which-is-worth-it/ You'll find postings below for a few guide positions.  The first couple are for Zion National Park. They're only hiring one or two new adventure guides so if interested apply ASAP.   The second tour operator, ATI, is looking for a Dutch and or Flemish speaking guide to lead US tours.    The 2014 Fast Track Classroom Training dates are set.  Enrollment is open for each date. When you enroll please email your contact information and the exact date you're interested in attending so I can hold your space.  If you any questions let me know.  Send the information to: cherie@tourtraining.com.  The 2014 dates are: Jan. 11-14 Mar. 1-4 April 24-27 June 19-22 Aug. 9-12. Share our newsletters with others in travel, looking for a new career in travel and or love travel too!  Wishing you all the very best! Cherie

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4X4 Tour Driver in Zion

Zion Adventure Company - Springdale, UT 4x4 Tour Driver  For 2014, we anticipate hiring 1-2 new staff for this position.  We are seeking gregarious, entertaining, and intellectually-strong historian and geologist type characters, who are savvy vehicle drivers with some off-road driving experience. This combination of diverse skills is used as you navigate our 2012 Mitsubishi Fuso 4wd vehicle on dirt roads, mesas and drainages of the southwest Zion Plateau, offering interpretation on flora, fauna, human history, and geology along the way.  Responsibilities:  Overland Tour Guide responsibilities include, but are not limited to:  o Driving courteously, avoiding risks which could harm passengers, vehicles, or the environment  o Facilitating meaningful, helpful, informative, and pleasant conversations with customers  o Offering knowledge, anecdotal stories, and interactive communication with clients on flora, fauna, geology, local history, and natural history during tour routes.  o Educating clients in the principles of Leave No Trace travel  o Solving problems with grace and efficiency  o Maintaining the tour vehicle for cleanliness, fueling, fluid checking, and communicating maintenance needs to the vehicle fleet manager  o Helping connect clients with other ZAC guided events, outfitting for the Narrows, or other Zion activities  o Building an impressive knowledge base of the recreation oppurtunities, roads, hikes, canyons, and hidden secrets of Zion National Park and the surrounding area on personal time  o Enhancing the Overland experience by further developing and improving the tours.  Full Posting:  http://www.getaplumjob.net/jobs/view/4x4-tour-driver-in-zion/ Application Deadline: January 25, 2014  Apply online: http://www.zionadventures.com/about/career-opportunities/job-application/

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Multi-sport Lead Guide in Zion

Zion Adventure Company - Springdale, UT Lead Guide For 2014, ZAC anticipates hiring 2-3 new staff members for this position. We would like one of our new guides to be skilled in the art of climbing and able to lead multi-pitch routes with clients, and also enjoy guiding lots of canyoneering, and some hiking and/or biking. Southwest Utah is a North American mecca of canyoneering, rock climbing, and mountain biking, and ZAC guides introduce these exciting sports to aspiring adventurers from all over the world. However, introducing new sports and terrain to clients is a minor part of any guided event.Relationship building is the primary responsibility of a ZAC guide. We focus on helping our clients develop strong relationships with: o their environment o our curriculum o objective and subjective risk o Zion Adventure Company's mission The first and most important quality we look for in our guide staff is a highly-developed sense of self-worth (self-esteem), embodied in a gregarious, loving, humble personality. Teaching ability and communication skills are the next most important qualities in a ZAC guide. We seek not just canyoneers, climbers, or bikers with long and impressive resumes, but rather impassioned teachers who love exploring the natural and human experiences of our desert environments. ZAC guides deliver trips in a way that helps clients: o Learn about themselves as humans, interacting with their fears, hopes, and passions o Learn how to solve problems as an authenticated explorer o Understand the value and poignancy of learning through experience o Take greater responsibility for themselves and the outcome of any given moment o See that the client, him or herself, is a defining character in the unfolding story of their life  Full Posting:  http://www.getaplumjob.net/jobs/view/multi-sport-lead-guide-in-zion/ Application Deadline: January 25, 2014 for positions starting March 3. .

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Dutch Speaking Tour Directors

Americantours International, LLC - Los Angeles, CA Work while traveling the USA! We seek enthusiastic Dutch or Flemish speaking Tour Directors to join AmericanTours International, LLC (ATI). ATI offers a large variety of motorcoach tours, including exclusive Dutch speaking tours. As a Tour Director, you will lead a group of 20 to 50 Dutch speaking individuals for 7 to 21 days on a motorcoach excursion of the United States. Previous experience as a tour guide, although welcome, is not required, as ATI offers a comprehensive training program. We are looking for great communication and interpersonal skills, fluency in Dutch or Flemish and in English, and an interest in taking excellent care of our passengers on tour to ensure they have the most enjoyable vacation possible. Tours are assigned from one of three departure points: Los Angeles, Orlando or New York. The applicant should be able to report to the departure point on his or her own. The role of a Tour Director is to oversee every facet of the travel experience. Acting as a Field Representative for ATI, the Tour Director must exercise independent judgment and deal with every situation in a professional, well-informed, and timely manner. As a link between ATI, the passengers and the various service suppliers, the Tour Director performs a critical public relations role by responding to passenger needs and resolving any issues that may arise during the tour. While the tour itinerary is outlined ahead of time, the overall planning of each day on the road is the responsibility of the Tour Director. Therefore it is essential for the tour director to be well-organized, to be capable of real-time decision making, and to possess excellent problem-solving and communication skills in Dutch and English, including pronunciation and diction. The ability to think on your feet and make independent decisions, as well as to communicate fluently in Dutch or Flemish and English is essential and critical. Full Posting: http://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=8b4c31af64d69d42&from=tellafriend&utm_source=jobseeker_emails&utm_medium=email&cd%20-=tell_a_friend

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Fast Track Classroom Training for Tour Directors, Travel Staff, Tour Guides and Cruise Hosts 

When:  January 11, 12, 13, and 14, 2014 *
Time:  9 AM to 5 PM
Where:  Laguna Hills in beautiful South Orange County, California

Question?  Contact Cherie at:  cherie@tourtraining.com or call 949-830-8603 PST
*The hotel offers discounted rates for AAA Members, Federal Employees, seniors and more.  
Enrollment:  $545.00
$85.00 Non-Refundable Deposit
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=F9E56LZZ65P7E
Payment in full.
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=68VME98F27BG8
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Video Series - Travel Careers on Land and Sea  TourTraining.tv      

http://archive.aweber.com/tourtraining/Ejt2n/h/Pro_Tour_Management_Training.htm

European Tours and Work Visas

Some of the major US tour operators have already started hiring their new tour directors for their European tours in 2014.   I've listed some their postings below along with a link at the bottom for more information and how to apply for each.  The majority of tour operators will start their new hiring in January.

Due to security issues since 911, Western European countries and the US now often require work visas for tour directors working in the destinations over 90 days.  This has added to hiring challenges for outbound and inbound tour operators.

The US inbound tour operators have always had challenges finding good US bilingual tour directors to lead their US tours.  For years they have hired European tour directors for their high season, May through October.  Due to the work visa requirements it has made it more difficult to hire Europeans.  The result has led to more of a need and opportunities for US based bilingual tour directors.   Their tour directors are not all bilingual but language skills are an asset in getting hired.

Outbound tour operators now have the added challenge of meeting the work visa requirements for their Western European tours.  Some will require the tour director to be 'eligible' and then help obtain the work visa.  Other tour operators require the tour director to obtain the work visa on their own.  I recommend contacting the tour operator and or state department to confirm procedures to obtain the work visa.  If you already live in Europe and or have a European passport then you are probably already qualified to work.

US State Department for visa information: http://travel.state.gov/visa/

This requirement normally does not apply to most of the other countries in the world.  We are usually considered visitors and not there for business purposes.

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a holiday season full of lots of love and fun!!

Cherie

Trafalgar

Travel Director

The role of seasonal Travel Director for Trafalgar is a challenging yet rewarding one. Based in Europe, and working on a contract basis, you will be responsible for the seamless day to day delivery of our guided holidays and vacations throughout the UK or mainland Europe. You will escort our guests who travel from various English-speaking countries such as Australia, Canada and the USA etc. from city to city, bringing Europe to life, but also taking them off the beaten track to enjoy exclusive experiences and revealing the unique people, places and sights that make each destination so memorable.

This is an excellent opportunity for people with passion and personality who are customer focused, friendly and attentive and who have the skills to deliver an award winning service for a leading Tour Operator.

Contiki

Tour Manager - Europe 2014

The role of Tour Manager for Contiki is a demanding yet fulfilling one. Our Tour Managers are responsible for the day to day running of our European tours - getting our clients from city to city, pointing out the best sights and sounds of Europe and making sure everyone has a great time along the way. We look for people with personality and passion, who are fun, friendly, and approachable and most of all who enjoy looking after other people.

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 travelling to some of the most exotic destinations in the world 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 over 50 years and that's where we intend to stay!

Contiki

On-site Team Member 2014

 Want to call Europe home for a summer?

 Aching for a chance to live like a local and experience the language and culture of another country? Gaining a much sought after position as a Contiki On-site Team Member at one of our Contiki Villages, Sites or Stopovers is one way of doing just that!

We are looking for people who are not afraid of physically demanding work, who are full of enthusiasm, and who love dealing with people, to fill a number of positions which are available for our Summer season. You' ll be based at one of our Sites in either France, Austria, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy or Greece, and together with other team members you will be be responsible for looking after our clients during their stay. Positions vary from site to site, but include cooks, assistant cooks, bartenders, housekeeping assistants and grounds/maintenance staff.

 

Economic Education Tour Guide (Part-Time)-233824

Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Primary Location  NY-New York City

 Part-time

The Economic Education function aims to educate the public about the Federal Reserve System and its role in implementing monetary policy and ensuring financial stability. We are seeking part-time professionals to serve as lecturers/educators in the museum.

This is a Part-time role for approximately 17 hours per week (benefits eligible role)

The primary responsibility will to conduct public tours and lectures in the museum and assist with other projects to support the function's mission to educate students, teachers, and general public in the museum at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Uniworld

Concierge on board a river cruise ship in Europe

This is an exciting opportunity to join us on a journey of a  lifetime with the only authentic boutique river cruise line. We are offering a competitive remuneration package with regular holidays, contracts according to Swiss law with all social security benefits and full medical insurance, as well as on-going development opportunities with the possibility to progress within the organisation.

As Concierge you are providing assistance to guests with regards to special requests in a 5* manner, and provide relevant itinerary information to our guests. You work closely with the on board Cruise Manager to ensure guest satisfaction.

Key responsibilities and duties of this position include:

Assisting guests with information for individual exploration

Responsible for correct transfer lists in conjunction with vendor and flight information

Being responsible for transfer operation in liaison with the Hotel Manager, including the preparation and checking of transfer lists with flight information and vendors.

Assisting guests with any unforeseen difficulties and emergencies such as lost luggage, flight changes and any other assistance that might be required

Updating "Travel tips when you get there" and issuing  information on cultural /sports events in each port

Being a personal contact for our guests

Destination Concierge

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. - United States

Celebrity Cruises is looking for inspired global professionals who believe in success through commitment and pride to join our expanding family. As an industry leader in service and innovation, we provide a working environment that fosters career growth and development for our onboard team members. With a fleet of innovative cruise ships, each offering guests a premium vacation experience, there are almost countless opportunities to join us at sea.

The Destination Concierge is responsible for promoting, marketing and selling tours to high end premium guests onboard the vessel. This position ensures the achievement of company targets revenue, guest satisfaction, shareholder value, employee satisfaction, and other key results areas.

Click here for additional information and to apply:

http://archive.aweber.com/tourtraining/Bs3AX/h/Pro_Tour_Management_Training.htm

TREK TRAVEL - Bike Tours

Do you want to bike around the world while getting paid? AWESOME! We have just posted our 2014 Hiring and Training Dates and can't wait to hear from you:

TREK TRAVEL, the world's leading cycling tour company is currently looking for individuals who are passionate about people, cycling and travel to lead unforgettable bicycle vacations for us this season in North America and Europe. Our main season runs from April through November. We are hiring individuals fully available during these months, especially interested in candidates with strong bike mechanic skills, and French, Italian and/or Spanish language skills. Completed applications are reviewed and processed in the order they are received. If you are interested in finding out what it takes to be a Trek Travel Bike Guide, please click the following link to read the full job description and apply online: http://www.trektravel.com/employment/be-a-guide/

DEADLINE for Applications: Friday, December 13th, 2013 -- Apply Early -- spots will fill fast!

Major Tour Operators Start Hiring Process for Tour Director and Adventure Guides

Fall Hiring Season

The fall is a good time to start getting ready for the new hiring season for the major Tour Operators.  Most begin their hiring process right after the New Year.  Last year some started in November and it looks like that may be the pattern again this year.  This is the time for those wanting additional work and or new hires to start preparing. I've posted a number of the sites now accepting online resumes and applications below.  I recommend posting your resume and then refreshing at least once a month. Keep it updated with additional related experience.  When the Tour Operator sees a resume that has been untouched for several months they may assume you're no long interested in the position. I wish you all the best.  I look forward to you updates.   Cherie

Tour Operators

Collette Vacations is now accepting resumes for our 2014 season.  We will begin reviewing these in the fall of 2013. As a Tour Manager you will Conduct escorted tours in assigned destinations by delivering exceptional customer service, seamless operational management and knowledge of destination. Balance business excellence, quality passenger experience and professional expertise. RESPONSIBILITIES:  COMMENTARY & COMMUNICATION o Research historical, social & cultural information of assigned destination o Effectively present researched information to passengers o Point out sites seen on route and provide information on sites visited o Effectively communicate all pertinent information of tour to passengers o Professionally communicate with Collette operational departments regularly o Complete necessary forms and paperwork to communicate tour incidents  LOGISTICS & EXPENSES o Confirm all reservations: hotels, meals, attractions and transportation o Coordinate all aspects of the tour in accordance with specified itinerary o Track luggage and coordinate check-in & check-out with hotel staff o Complete and submit all required paperwork in a timely manner o Manage tour expenses and vendor payments responsibly o Negotiate and execute contracts on behalf of Collette Vacations for service recovery and emergency purposes as they arise o Comply with all company policies and departmental procedures  SERVICE & FUN o Provide exemplary & personalized customer service to every passenger o Accompany passengers to all included tour attractions o Handle all passenger needs as required on the tour o Develop & employ a variety of entertainment activities and interaction on tour o Facilitate an atmosphere of fun and learning on tour o Insure proper branding of Collette Vacations and/or partners with regard to signage, handouts and recognition o Act as the "Face of Collette Vacations" in a public relations role o Maintain positive and professional interaction at all times with passengers and vendors Read More: Collette Vacations (Job posted 8/30/13) https://collettevacations.tms.hrdepartment.com/cgi-bin/a/searchjobs_quick.cgi?kand=&kor=&kquote=&knot=&category=11457&qty=25&sj=1&order=jobs.timedate+DESC&search=Search+Jobs General Information about Tour Directing with Tauck Tauck Directors enjoy the benefits and resources of employment with a company that has been at the cutting edge of guided travel since 1925. We take great pride in these front-line representatives of our professional Worldwide Operations team. Our reputation for excellence and integrity was built on the exceptional quality and service of our Tauck Director staff and the support provided behind the scenes by our office staff in Norwalk, Connecticut. We currently employ approximately 250 Tauck Directors worldwide. Most Tauck Directors typically work between the months of May and October, when our tour season is at its height. All Tauck Directors are expected to be available for work assignments throughout September and October. Individual schedules vary, of course, depending on the combination of sales, itineraries assigned, language skills, personal interests, performance history, and seniority Read More: http://www.tauck.com/~/media/Files/Careers/TauckDirectorPosting2014.ashx Apply: https://home.eease.adp.com/recruit2/?id=827771&t=2 Backroads (Sports and Adventure Tours) Dear Leader Applicant, Thirty-four years ago, I was inspired to start Backroads by the belief that traveling actively, under one's own power, was the most rewarding way to experience the world. Researching and leading those first trips was an education and a challenge. But most of all, it was fun. And it's still fun. After more than three decades of being intimately involved in the growth of Backroads into the world's #1 active travel company, I'm more excited than ever about where we're headed. It's an honor to lead a company composed of such talented, motivated and fun-loving individuals who are so passionate about and dedicated to creating extraordinary guest experiences. Backroads exists to treat our guests to a style of travel that is unparalleled in the travel industry. The foundation of our extraordinary guest experience is legendary service-and we go so far as to guarantee the quality of our trips. This is where you come in. Fulfilling this commitment is not an easy job, and it's not for everyone. It may be for you, however, if you can share our passion for this unique mode of travel and the quality of experience for each Backroads guest. Both the challenges, and the rewards, are abundant. Do you have "the right stuff" to be a Backroads leader? Although leaders enrich each trip with unique personality, they share certain critical qualities as well. Our goal is to accommodate guests' individual needs and desires for their vacations in a personal and flexible manner. Every person at Backroads, myself included, works toward this goal. As the company grows, we're looking for more natural leaders who can do a world-class job with style and professionalism. Please review the list below, and the information provided in the sidebars. Consider not just whether you are right for the job, but if this job (really, a lifestyle) is right for you. Sincerely, Tom Hale Founder & President Please visit this page again on November 1, 2013 when we will begin accepting applications for the 2014 season. http://www.backroads.com/leaders/ Adventures by Disney Part concierge, guide and storyteller, Adventure Guides make the journey unforgettable! No one tells a story like Disney. No one makes magical memories like an Adventure Guide. The Adventure Guides are a critical component of the overall adventure experience, impacting guest satisfaction and intent to return. In addition to serving as the primary contact and liaison for guests, Adventure Guides coordinate trip logistics (including transportation, luggage, meals and hotel accommodations), communicate daily itineraries and facilitate pre-arranged activities. http://www.adventuresbydisney.jobs/ . Read More

http://archive.aweber.com/tourtraining/9XHHT/h/Pro_Tour_Management_Training.htm

Cherie Anderson Helps Those Who Seek Employment In Tourism

USA– 2 August 2013- Good news for people who are seeking employment in the tourism industry, as you can now get a comprehensive and dependable training program in tour management. With the advent of Cherie Anderson’s eBook and training guide called Tour Directors Training Guide, you get to learn everything that Cherie Anderson has learned and experienced in her 20-year career as a Tour Management Professional. As a training guide, Tour Director Training Guide tackles everything you need to know to help you increase your chances of landing a lucrative job in the tourism management industry. If you are interested in buying this innovative training manual, navigate to http://tourtraining.com/.

The tourism industry is doing fairly well these days. According to recent surveys and research, approximately 430 million travelers from around the world are expected to travel during the summer season in the Northern Hemisphere. With this surge as well as the continuous progression of the tourism industry, a lot of cruises, tour companies and travel operators are now hiring professionals in tour management.

As an industry, tourism offers a lot of wonderful career opportunities to everyone. Whether you are planning to work internationally or domestically on programs, cruises or tours, having a career in the tour management industry can be a rewarding endeavor for you. Careers in the tourism industry are, for the most part, lucrative, flexible and interesting. In addition, tourism careers offer a lot of medical benefits. On top of it all, a career in tourism gives you an opportunity to travel in many intriguing destinations and pristine natural attractions. Not everyone, however, can get a career in the tourism industry. In order to work in tourism, you need to enroll in a renowned and trusted professional tour management training course.

Cherie Anderson’s Tour Director Training Guide is basically an eBook or manual designed for people who are looking for a career in the tourism industry. With the Tour Directors Training Guide, you will get to learn the complete tour management procedures for international, domestic, local tours, cruises and programs. In addition to that, it provides information regarding the best places to find employment, the incentives you can receive, the places to look for incentives and the best employers.

Heidi L, a graduate of Cherie Anderson’s program, said “I want to express my deepest appreciation to you and to your excellent classes in tour management.  I can truly say that you have changed my life!!Through your all-encompassing resources, I received the names of tour companies and cruise lines and learned the best approach to apply for a variety of tour-related jobs.”

Unlike other traditional tour management training courses, the Tour Director Training Guide from Cherie Anderson can be yours for a very affordable and reasonable price. For the most part, tour management training courses would cost you $3,000 or ever more. With the Tour Director Training Guide, on the other hand, you get an exceptional tour management training guide for less than two hundred dollars. So, if you are looking for an affordable and cost-effective way to increase your odds in finding employment in the tourism industry, get Cherie Anderson’s training guide at http://tourtraining.com/ or call her at 949 830 8630.

Shout out: Cherie Anderson, tour trainer extraordinaire

Posted by De Tour - Matt Smith

I chatted last week with Cherie Anderson, who offers a well-respected training in tour management. She’s worked for over 20 years as a tour director and cruise director, and has been training tour directors since 1993. I learned the business from her. If you’re interested in this work, I’d recommend her course.

About the training: Cherie covers procedures really clearly. It’s everything from how to check a group in and out of the hotel, to how you can assign seating in a bus to prevent conflict, and even what to do if someone dies. Really thorough, practical, well-organized and common-sense.

She also talks about the attitude and qualities that make a tour director successful. And she offers stories to illustrate the challenges tour directors can face. So her training wasn’t just a bunch of checklists, what to do when. It also helped me understand what matters when you’re running a tour and how to think about things.

Cherie measures her success as a trainer by how many of her students get hired. Her course includes information about the industry and companies she recommends applying to. She has relationships with many of them, so mentioning you’ve had her training actually means something to them. She also sends out email bulletins to announce open positions she hears about. For example, I got an email last week about a company she’s helping to recruit tour directors. Otherwise, I’d never have known about the positions they’re trying to fill.

The last thing I’ll mention is, Cherie’s a sweetheart and truly invested in her students. She actually had a career as a teacher before becoming a professional tour director. It shows – both in how well she presents information and in how she engages students. While chatting with her last week, I realized I’d recommend her to anyone… and that’s when I decided to give her this shout out!

To learn more, check out her website: http://www.tourtraining.com/

Matt's Website:  http://www.godetour.com/blog/2012/09/shout-out-cherie-anderson-tour-trainer-extraordinaire/

Growth in US tourism enhances International tourism industry prospects!

The international tourism market along with the Asian inbound tourism experiences a steep upsurge in the recent times as the fiscal value of dollar and the promotion of global tourism helps the Americans to plan their leisure and business trips comfortably. The Asian destinations including, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and Australia are some of the most sought after destinations as per the recent reports of the US travel association. Moreover, states like New York, California are providing a lot of job opportunities related to the tourism industry. The headlines of the international tourism news is definitely serving a world of good for travel industry experts and research associates of global tour operators in the world.

The travel and tourism sector grew at an annualized rate of 6.8 percent in the first three months of 2013. In the same period, the U.S. economy grew at an annualized pace of 2.4 percent, according to the US department of commerce, Bureau of economic analysis. Not only is the U.S. travel and tourism industry growing more than three times as fast as the rest of the economy, it’s doing so despite a slowing in growth in prices. Moreover, the travel and tourism industry is also hiring people at a much faster rate than other sectors of the U.S. economy. Employment in this sector grew 2.3 percent in the first quarter of 2013, 0.4 percentage points faster than the pace at which the rest of the U.S. economy added jobs — 1.9 percent.

Passenger flights, which grew 19 percent in the first quarter of 2013, were the biggest contributor to the increased spending in the travel and tourism sector. Other transportation-related industries, like car rentals, also saw increased spending. However, growth in spending in restaurants, bars and hotels slowed down.

 The rise in US tourism has also augmented a lot of local businesses in the Asian countries. Similarly, the travel trends and jobs related to the tourism industry are showing new lights of human resources and promote tourism worldwide. Recently, the state’s tourism industry is busy with job creation machine that cannot be outsourced or replaced by technology, said Caroline Beteta, CEO of Visit California, in response to an employment report that showed tourism led the state in new jobs.

“California’s travel and tourism industry is a leading economic engine for the state. As the industry continues to grow it’s no surprise that the largest component of the travel and tourism industry – leisure and hospitality – has recently added 9,000 new jobs, more than any other industry,” Beteta said, in a release.

Read the full article:

http://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/us-tourism-enhances-international-tourism-market-growth/

Fellow Td's and friends!

Source: tourtraining.com via Professional Tour Management Training - Cherie Anderson on Pinterest

Fellow Td's and friends!

Tour Day at Work!

Source: tourtraining.com via Professional Tour Management Training - Cherie Anderson on Pinterest

Sailing on the Spirit out of Dana Point Harbor is one of my favorite activities.  My groups always love it.

Duffy Boat Training - Newport Harbor

Duffy Boats - For Cruising and Sightseeing in Newport Harbor 21'  Electric Boats Seat up to 12 people  What:  Duffy Boat Training When:  Monday, June 3, 2013 Time:  10 AM to 1 PM Where:   2001 W. Coast Hwy              Newport Beach, CA 92663 The first Duffy Boat was built by Marshal Duffield in Newport Beach in 1970.  You'll see by the photographs it's come a long way!  Duffy's are now popular around the world in fresh water lakes, waterways and harbors.   Each boat holds from eight to twelve passengers including the driver.   We have over 5,000 Duffy's in our Newport Harbor.  I personally love leading the Duffy Boat tours of Newport Harbor.   We are hired to drive the individual boats escorting the corporate groups around the harbor sharing the harbor history, stories, celebrity homes and life styles of the truly rich and famous.  (Bacal, Bogey, Wayne, Cage, Lauper, Jagger, Nicks, Keaton, Woods, Nixon, Kennedy and many more.)  It's great fun.  The tours are very popular with DMC (destination management companies) groups and tours visiting the California Rivera.   Our tours usually last from 45 minutes to two hours.   Recently I've been asked by DMC's for recommendations for new drivers/guides due to this growing popularity.   We need new guides and the DMC's are bringing in guides from Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego.  (Most companies pay mileage and a five hour minimum.) The training isn't only for those in Southern California.  Duffy Boats are around the world.  I'll cover working with DMC's, procedures, safety, harbor mapping, working with individual groups, variety of activities, scavenger hunts, celebrity's homes, stories and give you practical experience with narration and the opportunity to drive the boats.   I'll also include a list of DMC contacts.   The training takes place on June 3, the day after the next Fast Track Classroom Training.  (May 29, 30, June 1, 2, 2013).  Space is very limited due to the size of the boats.  I will give first priority to those coming in for the Fast Track Training since their time may be limited. If you are attending the Fast Track and wish to also attend the Duffy Boat training, I need to know asap.    Corporate Rental: http://bcove.me/qq59cur0 History of Duffy Boats: http://www.duffyboats.com/about/history Enrollment - Non-Refundable  $150 Paypal:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=WUCVUZJZXEBUN

Cruise Director Position

American Cruise Lines - Louisville, KY

Company Description:

The Newest and Most Environmentally Friendly Ships.

The Largest Fleet of Small Cruise Ships in America

Six Small Ships Carrying 50 to 150 Passengers

The Largest Staterooms with Interior Entrances and Large, Opening Picture Windows

Private Balconies

Elevator Service to All Decks of the Ship

Open Seating Dining Allows You to Eat at Your Leisure, all Meals Prepared Just the Way You Like

35 Cruise Itineraries to 28 States in America

A True All-American Experience. American Built, Flagged, and Crewed Ships

The Only Cruise Line with Two Authentic Paddlewheelers

--Queen of the West and Queen of the Mississippi

Complimentary Cocktail Hour Hosted Every Evening Before Dinner

Complimentary Wine and Beer with Lunch and Dinner

Gracious Hospitality and Personalized Service

--That is the Hallmark of American Cruise Lines

Many Spacious Lounges and Public Spaces on Each Ship

--Perfect for Congenial Camaraderie or Quiet Relaxation

Exquisite Cuisine From our Staff of Highly Trained Chefs

Entertainment Each Evening

Historians, Naturalists, or Local Experts Join Every Cruise

--Daily Lectures Ranging from History & Ecology to Quilting & Cuisine

Exciting Shore Excursions

--Show You the Best of Each Area We Visit

Job Description:

Cruise Director

(This is an onboard position for 1 of our 6 ships)

Job Description:

American Cruise Lines is the leader in the small ship cruising industry. We are seeking enthusiastic Cruise Directors to live and work on board our luxurious ships. This one of a kind opportunity is ideal for recent college graduates or industry professionals and is a great opportunity to begin a career in the cruise ship industry. American Cruise Lines offers a competitive salary, a comprehensive benefits package and great travel opportunities.

American Cruise Lines operates American Flagged Vessels and carry no more than 120 affluent guests on board. The crew has a passion for personalized service and the ability to know every guest on the cruise while catering to their needs. American Cruise Lines provides our guest with the best small ship cruising vacation available. Cruise Directors will enjoy a typical work rotation of 6 weeks on and 2 weeks off while traveling along the East Coast of the United States.

http://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=300d5078a989de6a&from=tellafriend&utm_source=jobseeker_emails&utm_medium=email&cd%20-=tell_a_friend  

Comments Made by Tour Members

From Thomas Cook Holidays - listing some guests' genuine complaints:

1. "It should be explained in the brochure that the local store does not sell proper biscuits like 
    custard creams or ginger nuts."

2. "It's lazy of the local shopkeepers to close in the afternoons.  I often needed to buy things 
    during 'siesta' time - this should be banned.."

3. "On my holiday to Goa in India , I was  disgusted to find that almost every restaurant served 
    curry.   I don't like spicy food at all."

4. "We booked an excursion to a water park but no-one told us we had to bring our swimming 
    costumes and towels."

7. "The beach was too sandy."

8. "We found the sand was not like the sand in the brochure. Your brochure shows the sand as 
    yellow but it was white."

10. "Topless sunbathing on the beach should be banned. The holiday was ruined as my husband 
      spent all day looking at other women."

12. "No-one told us there would be fish in the sea. The children were startled."

13. "There was no egg slicer in the apartment..."

14. "We went on holiday to Spain and had a problem with the taxi drivers as they were all Spanish."

15. "The roads were uneven.."

16. "It took us nine hours to fly home from Jamaica to England it only took the Americans only three 
      hours to get home."

17. "I compared the size of our one-bedroom apartment to our friends' three-bedroom 
      apartment and ours was significantly smaller.."

18. "The brochure stated: 'No hairdressers at the accommodation'. We're trained 
      hairdressers - will we be OK staying there?"

19. "There are too many Spanish people in Spain. The receptionist speaks Spanish. 
      The food is Spanish. Too many foreigners now live abroad."

20. "We had to queue outside of our hotel with no air conditioning."

21. "It is your duty as a tour operator to advise us of noisy or unruly guests before we 
      travel."

22. "I was bitten by a mosquito, no-one said mosquitos could bite."

23. "My fiance and I booked a twin-bedded room but we were placed in a double-bedded 
      room.  We now hold you responsible for the fact that I find myself pregnant. This 
      would not have happened if you had put us in the room that we booked.."

They walk amongst us and they vote!!! Be afraid!

Jobs for Tour Guides, Tour Directors and Adventure Guides

I have more requests for US Tour Director and Adventure Guides.   The request is listed below.  You are welcome to contact Suzanne directly.  Be sure to tell her if you have completed my training through the “Tour Director Training Guide” and or the other courses.  All the best!

Hi Cherie

How are you?

For this season we are still looking for the following:

1- French speaking tour directors that would love to guide hiking and camping trips through the West's National Parks

2- Italian speaking guides for our active bus tours.........

3 - Spanish speaking driver-guides for our Spanish hiking tours, hotel based

All of our tours are in the Western USA.  We conduct both small group tours, where the tour director is also the driver, as well as a few bus tours. 

If you have qualified guides, please have them send their resume to us at this email, as well as their availability schedule

THANK YOU

Kind regards / herzliche Gruesse / attentamente / cordiali saluti / merci

Susanne Lorenz, President

- Official Receptive Operator -

Adventure Travel West, Inc.

PO Box 12181

Denver, Colorado 80212, USA

www.at-west.com

phone 303-697-6688

fax 303-697-5384

toll free 888-233-1297

Looking for the "Best Guides"for TV Documentary!

This morning I spoke to Blake the casting associate for Punch in the Head Productions out of NYC.  Funny  name?   The name represents their ability to educate people in an interesting and entertaining manner.   You may have seen some on their documentaries, programs and or commercials.   Here's a link to their website: http://punchedinthehead.com/about/ Punch in the Head Productions is developing a new TV show, "The Best of the Best Tour Guides in the US".  It sounds like a wonderful opportunity to introduce viewers to our professional and skilled US guides. Blake describes their casting needs below.  We discussed the wide variety of types of tours, programs and cruises guides may work.  Right now she is looking for US guides as well as a few international tour directors and or guides. I highly recommend sending Blake your resume and maybe a cover letter why you are the 'best' ASAP.  Please list tours you actually lead and consider yourself a true expert.  This is not a time to exaggerate your resume.  It will only hurt the production and you want to shine if cast.  If you know someone that may be a good fit and interested please forward this information.  You are welcome to contact Blake directly. If you trained through my "Tour Director Training Guide" and or other classes and you're applying please let me know. The project is moving forward quickly.  They hope to have it completed and presented to the network within the next month.   Blake plans on contacting about 40 individuals for a telephone interview.  Approximately 15 will then be interviewed by Skype I'm excited about the project.  It sounds like great fun for the guides, production team and the viewers.  I wish you all the best.  If you have any questions you let me know. I'll be watching! Cherie Blake's Request: Hi Cherie, It was great speaking with you on the phone! I'm so glad that you share our excitement for this project. I look forward to speaking with some of your past students and colleagues. I've included below a lot of the same information we spoke about on the phone. Feel free to share the below information with anyone who you feel would be a good fit for this TV show. I am a casting associate here at Punched in the Head Productions. We are currently casting a show that will follow the best tour guides, the guides that put a new spin on things. Punched in the Head Productions is a doc reality TV production company based in New York. Our bread and butter is MTV True Life which if you haven't heard of it is a documentary series and each episode tackles a different topic. The new series will follow tour guides across the country. We're very excited because we feel that people don't know very much about the inter-workings of the tour guide profession. There's so much to learn about this profession and all the greatest places in the U.S. We're looking for guides with big personalities that know how to lead a tour that makes everyone laugh. The first step of the process would be to speak on the phone and see if we feel you'd be a good fit for the show. You can reach me by email blake@punchedinthehead.com or call me at                718.422.0704       EST  ext. 117. I look forward to hearing from you all!  Blake Cherie Anderson Professional Tour Management Training  ( 949) - 830 8603-PST www.tourtraining.com   cherie@tourtraining.com