Tour Directing Video
Interested in learning more about becoming a Tour Director and if it's the right career for you? Watch a four minute video Baby Boomer Lifestyle Video and other insightful tour directing videos.

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- 2008 Symposium Brochure for Tour Operators (PDF)
- 2008 Symposium Brochure for Tour Directors (PDF)
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- Preferred ITMI Sponsors Symposium 2006

"Congratulations Denise you are now a certified Tour Director!" Beaming from ear to ear I accepted my certificate after completing two wonderful but stressful weeks at the International Tour Management Institute in Los Angeles, California. Although I knew I was doing the "right thing," as I proceeded back to my chair thoughts were racing through my mind. "How do I get my first job?" Will I really be able to make a living doing this full time? "Where do I start?" Even though my heart said "you can do it," of course my mind was a bit nervous to say the least.

Immediately I got to work in my home office. Persistence, patience and hard work are the best advice I can give anyone and that goes for anything one does in life! An additional benefit would be that you love something so much you see yourself actually doing it and dedicate yourself to that passion until it comes true! With that in mind I began to work on my long term goal. My first project was printing on to nice paper my resume that had been put together during school. Everything you do must look as professional as possible. Using my own paper I composed various cover letters to target the different areas of the tour industry such as destination management, corporate incentive and national and international "over the road" travel work. Taking the list of tour operators I was given by ITMI I called each one to make sure I had the correct name and address of the person in charge that could help me on the path to my dream job. Every person I spoke with was put on to a note card that went into my reference file.

Then the whole process began! I sent over one hundred resumes and cover letters via e-mail and the regular mail following up with a phone call a couple of weeks later. Believe me this was no overnight sensation. I worked on it for weeks whenever I had a chance.

After the initial follow-up call I made it a point to contact everyone about once a month to keep my name in front of them. Remember I said persistence is the key! Being creative I would try different ways of approaching the tour operators. I left messages on their voice mail. One time I sent custom designed picture postcards. Another month I e-mailed short "don't forget me" messages. Use your imagination but just don't give up! Never loose sight of the end result that you want. Make sure you are always pleasant, upbeat and of course professional. Whether you talk on the phone or write a note always have a beginning, middle and an end. Let them know who you are, what you want and why you would be good for their company. Stay positive for Rome was not built in a day! Don't take rejection personally because everything happens according to timing. Your day for that exciting job offer will come.

This entire process of contacting tour operators is a continuous one. Even today starting my third season as a Tour Director, any time I hear of a new company I add a new card to my reference file.

I was lucky to have my first company offer me a series of jobs only a couple of weeks after sending out my first batch of resumes. But I still had to keep persisting for remember my goal was to do this full time. Each time I did my monthly sales promotion of myself a few more people would respond which gave me a "natural high" to keep pushing forward.

Seven months later a second company gave me numerous bookings. Two months after that a third called for work. Then one month later another new company and most recently I received a work call after fourteen months of persisting with one particular company.

Receiving your job does not mean that you can stop your pattern. You must continue to build relationships whether they are new or existing ones. After every job given me I always thank my employers. Even if I have previous bookings and can not accept the offer I still thank the company for thinking of me. You must always keep yourself in front of everyone in the industry so they will remember you. Every new job added to your resume opens doors for future employment.

Often I recall my ITMI graduation day remembering all the many questions that were running through my mind. Where do I start? How do I get my first job? Will I be able to make a living doing this full time? All the answers are right here and I have to pinch myself because my dream has come true! As a full time successful Tour Director what a wonderful feeling seeing what persistence, hard work, patience, determination, and passion can create! I smile when I think of all that I have accomplished, yet I continue to strive towards high future goals knowing there is even more out there to be conquered! I so enjoy doing what I love and being in full control of when I work and I play! The variety of my work style keeps me from getting bored! The satisfaction I feel from receiving a job offer after the promotion of myself is beyond words!

You can do it too! Just put your mind to it! Remember be persistent, work hard and have patience! Be creative and keep on learning as you watch your business grow step by step. Set your goals high and continue to reach for the stars! Keep believing in yourself and your dream will come true!

Published in the IATM (International Association of Tour Managers, LTD)
April 2006