Five Tips for a Great Tour Guide by The Tour Guide Training Corporation of Canada
Ever wondered if your guide is actually a good guide or simply in it for the free ride? Here are 5 tips to know that your guide is a professional and cares.
Chicago, IL, August 19, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Created by Kirsten Snowdon, Director, The Tour Guide Training Corporation of Canada
Kirsten has worked as a profession guide for over 18 years for companies such as Globus, Trafalgar, Cosmos and Senior Tours of Canada. She has guided in over 30 countries and continues to work in the industry as a teacher, mentor and guide today.
5 Top Tips for a Great Tour Guide
1. They have something of substance to say. This means interesting facts about the area that ecompass history, geography, local people, architecture, culture, current events and attractions. A nice balance of humour and fun should be added to this. Some guides rely jokes and charm to carry them through but a balance of fun and fact makes for the best guide.
2. A positive outlook on the area. Some guides seem bored or cynical about their travel destination. This does not contribute to a fun experience for the tourist. Even though many guides have spent years showing off a destination, they need to maintain enthusiasm for it.
3. Kindness shown to the passengers. Whether this means repeating things for the half deaf tourist or finding a cool place to sit on a hot day. The guide should be aware of what the passengers need and ensure they are provided for as much as possible. They should be able to give directions to attractions, know where the best steak in town is and always know where to buy cheap souvenirs.
4. Customer service skills. A tour guide must answer a multitude of questions and always have a smile on their face. They need to be patient with the requests of the tourist be them great or small. They need to provide them with information and generosity.
5. Gift shops should be kept to a minimum. No stops should be made in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do except buy souvenirs. We all know the guide will make commissions in this case. Guides need to have some self respect and provide a stop for tourists that is interesting. If it happens to have a gift shop (difficult to avoid often) then fine.
So when you find a great guide please tip according to the suggested rate. These guides are truly working for you, doing their job well, and providing a great service. A good guide will never seem like they work hard as 90% of their job is done behind the scenes.
Kirsten Snowdon
The Tour Guide Training Corporation of Canada
“Training that takes you places!”
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Kirsten has worked as a profession guide for over 18 years for companies such as Globus, Trafalgar, Cosmos and Senior Tours of Canada. She has guided in over 30 countries and continues to work in the industry as a teacher, mentor and guide today.
5 Top Tips for a Great Tour Guide
1. They have something of substance to say. This means interesting facts about the area that ecompass history, geography, local people, architecture, culture, current events and attractions. A nice balance of humour and fun should be added to this. Some guides rely jokes and charm to carry them through but a balance of fun and fact makes for the best guide.
2. A positive outlook on the area. Some guides seem bored or cynical about their travel destination. This does not contribute to a fun experience for the tourist. Even though many guides have spent years showing off a destination, they need to maintain enthusiasm for it.
3. Kindness shown to the passengers. Whether this means repeating things for the half deaf tourist or finding a cool place to sit on a hot day. The guide should be aware of what the passengers need and ensure they are provided for as much as possible. They should be able to give directions to attractions, know where the best steak in town is and always know where to buy cheap souvenirs.
4. Customer service skills. A tour guide must answer a multitude of questions and always have a smile on their face. They need to be patient with the requests of the tourist be them great or small. They need to provide them with information and generosity.
5. Gift shops should be kept to a minimum. No stops should be made in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do except buy souvenirs. We all know the guide will make commissions in this case. Guides need to have some self respect and provide a stop for tourists that is interesting. If it happens to have a gift shop (difficult to avoid often) then fine.
So when you find a great guide please tip according to the suggested rate. These guides are truly working for you, doing their job well, and providing a great service. A good guide will never seem like they work hard as 90% of their job is done behind the scenes.
Kirsten Snowdon
The Tour Guide Training Corporation of Canada
“Training that takes you places!”
###
Contact
The Tour Guide Training Corp. of Canada
Kirsten Snowdon
416.737.0616
www.traintheguides.com
Kirsten Snowdon
416.737.0616
www.traintheguides.com
Contact
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