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.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Costa Rica Specialists
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
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
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Alaska Careers 2011
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
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
Friday, January 7, 2011
International Visitation Up 11 Percent for First 10 Months of 2010
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
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
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Increase In Tourist Spending Indicates Positive Outlook For Those Seeking A Career In Tourism
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
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
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Insight Vacations
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
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
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Responsible volunteering: things to know before you go
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
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
Monday, November 22, 2010
Airport Security
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
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2010/11/18/holiday.travel.security.cnn
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
National Trust for Historic Preservation
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/
http://www.preservationnation.org/issues/heritage-tourism/
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Professional Tour Management Training
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
www.tour-guide-traning.com
Monday, October 18, 2010
Phone Apps for Travellers
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
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/10/18/helpful.travel.apps/index.html
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Collette has Announced a New Tour Package
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/
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/
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Win an Eco-Adventure
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
http://www.travmedia.com/north-america/pressrelease.php?id=62861&mo=3&referencekey=d66cd2092d34039ac4ad8d092024d19a
Friday, October 8, 2010
Free national parks field-guide phone app
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
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
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Tourism Progress and Peace Conference
“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
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
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