International Tour DIRECTOR & Tour leader certification

Let’s be clear: storytelling is everything. It’s the art and skill of knowing how to deliver material in a way that makes a place come alive. Knowing how to begin, where to go, and when to end. Our methods are our pride and joy, and we share them with you on our trainings, to put you above the rest.

We’ll help you learn the best strategies for understanding the nuts-and-bolts of how to prepare your tour routes while finding ways to wow your groups with special stops along the way. Learning how to get it all organized and timed correctly is the foundation of the job.

Leading bus tours of adults comes with lots of specific skills and knowledge necessary to accept a job offer from an adult tour company that will expect you to know specifics about optionals, technical itineraries, and so much more.

From body language and tone to your demeanor and personality, being the most engaging version of yourself is an important fundamental to the job. Boot Camp will show you how to be a dynamic, creative presence in front of your groups!

The bus is a basic tools of the trade, and often the main way you’ll communicate to your guests. We’ll help you learn to deliver great material and activities to make the time on the road a valuable part of the travel experience, plus cover fun stuff like bag pulls, seating rotations, parking and navigating.

Handling challenges that arise with grace is part of the core of your job. Dealing with people means knowing yourself, knowing how to interact with travelers in high-pressure situations, and not letting stress or emotions get in the way. Beyond that, your job as a tour leader is to provide an extraordinary experience to everyone on the trip, and we’ll show you how!

We are the leaders in using new technologies to enhance your tours. Technology has shaped what guests want out of a travel experience and you should master all aspects of it to best prepare for your trips. We’ll teach you best practices when using web and phone apps to collect and map your research, and implementing the use of tablets, wireless printers, custom movies, and A/V coach hookups to deliver an incredibly rich travel experience.

Everything we do comes down to what we call “wow” moments. It’s the parts of a trip that guests talk about once back home. Your preparation, storytelling ability, and real understanding of the places where you are leading trips all combine together to give you the ability to create incredibly unforgettable, unique experiences for your clients. In today’s travel market, this is what groups crave.

You’ll actually have interviews with tour companies during Boot Camp! And we’ll set you up for success by creating your resume, taking a professional headshot, and practicing interviews before the big day on Friday.

Learning how to lead a group through the streets, and project and lead confidently, are some of the most essential skills you’ll need in this business. We’ll work with you to make sure you can handle these situations confidently, and share our methods for making your walks engaging for everyone, no matter the age.

Working with young people is a staple in this industry, and not something to pass your time with, but a passionate pursuit that many tour directors never give up. It’s the possibility of changing young lives by inspiring them with experiences that will shape the choices they make for their future. Leading student tours requires special skills, and we bring in expert school teachers to tell you what they love and don’t love in a tour director.