Our Mission
At ITMI, we believe that travel is the passport to peace in our world.
The way we elevate travel and expand perspectives is by identifying and training world leaders and ambassadors of goodwill who bring travelers, history, and unforgettable experiences together.
Tour Certification Training
Graduating Industry Leading Tour Directors & Tour Guides Since 1976
The ITMI Tour Director and Tour Guide Certification Program is taught in World-Class destinations. Classes are held San Francisco , Boston, Vancouver, Canada or Washington D.C.
San Francisco
JANUARY 27 – FEB 8, 2020 *CLASS FULL
MAY 8 – MAY 17, 2020
JULY 17 – JULY 26, 2020
Vancouver, Canada
MARCH 27 – APRIL 5, 2020
Washington DC
SEPTEMBER 25 – OCTOBER 4, 2020
ITMI Student Tour Master Class
ONLY 1 SPOT LEFT!!!
Washington, D.C. | February 28 – March 2
ITMI Signature Master Classes are open to all Tour Directors, Guides, Industry Professionals, Family & Friends.
Attendees do not need to be graduates of ITMI
Have you heard? Student tours companies have been hiring professional tour directors like crazy!
Whether you’ve been wanting to lead student tours or you’ve just been hired to lead your first student tour we can help!
You are invited to join us for the upcoming ITMI Student Tour Master Class.
Instructors Carol Kendrick and Skye MacLean as they teach you their tips, strategies, and secrets to leading countless successful student tours that get them hired by top tour companies again and again.
2020 Master Classes
Southwest National Parks
NOVEMBER 10 – 14, 2020
Vancouver & Canadian Rockies
Date Coming Soon!
Meet Some of Our Graduates
“Being a Tour Director is such a remarkable turn in my life’s journey. Perhaps a dream come true. Thank you so much for what you have done on my behalf, and what you continue to do for so many others!”
— CRAIG SMITH, ITMI ALUMNI 2013
The highest-quality, hands-on training in the industry.
At the International Tour Management Institute (ITMI), we help people realize their travel dreams by turning their passion for travel into a fulfilling career as a Tour Guide, Tour Director & Tour Manager.
ITMI has been training and certifying our students to become tour and travel professionals since 1976, and was the first American school designed specifically to train professional tours directors and tour guides.
Since its inception, ITMI has proudly graduated over 8,000 students from around the world with a 92% graduate job placement rate.
Many tour operators will only hire ITMI graduates because they recognize that our graduates have the highest quality, hands-on training in the industry.
Andres Bonilla, ITMI Alumni 2014 Zip lining in Costa Rica
Encourage others to explore, stretch their limits, grow and do something they’ve never done before.
Photo taken by Lori Bodkin, ITMI Alumni 2018, on tour in the the Canadian Rockies
Are you passionate about travel, building a solid career and making a difference in the world through travel?
Why Tour Operators Hire ITMI Graduates
Education
Proven curriculum providing the leading edge advantage in the travel industry.
Mentoring and coaching from active tour director & tour guide professionals.
Classroom preparation with real-world scenarios, storytelling, mapping and tour research.
Hands-on learning method & re-creation of an actual tour experience on a motorcoach.
Training on the latest technology and apps to make your job efficient and effective.
Focus on building community with your fellow classmates.
Career Connections
Your success is our success; therefore, helping you reach your personal and professional goals is our priority.
We help you accomplish your goals so you can get your dream job.
Through our partnerships with over 700 tour operators, we know how to get you started, whether you’re interested in adventure, student, intergenerational, faith-based, cultural food & wine, eco, motorcycling tours and so much more.
Join us for ITMI’s Annual Symposium at NTA featuring education, networking and in-person job interviews.
Access the Exclusive ITMI Alumni Membership Area, join an ITMI Signature Master Class, ITMI Fun Familiarization tours or sign up for an ITMI Online e-Course.
Community Outreach
As tour directors and tour guides, you make a difference as stewards of the environment and by giving back to your local community.
Many of our alumni generate awareness of issues affecting our global community.
We are proud of what ITMI alumni are doing around the world to give back and create a sustainable world for current and future generations to enjoy.
Community
Your travel community begins in the classroom and will continually grow.
After graduation, you are welcomed into the largest network of tour directors and tour guides living and working on all seven continents.
As an alumni, you are invited to join our private Facebook group, an on-line community where you will find job leads, news, upcoming events, meet fellow alumni in your local area and around the world, receive immediate help when challenges arise or simply meet up.
Through this common bond you will enjoy instantaneous friendships to enjoy on or off the road.
Our Programs
ITMI’s reputation is built on 40 years of being the leader in the Tour & Travel Industry. We are proud that ITMI is a trusted brand. Tour companies, motorcoach companies and travel leaders look to ITMI for our ability to provide the most comprehensive curriculum and field experience in the travel industry.
ITMI Tour Director & Guide Certification Program
The ITMI Tour Director & Guide Certification Program is the most comprehensive curriculum and field experience available in the travel industry. The course gives you the credentials to start your travel career. Classes are held in your choice of location: San Francisco, Boston, Washington D.C. and Vancouver. This course is only available in-person and is not offered online. Whether you are new to travel or are an already established guide or travel director, come be a part of the world’s largest community of tour directors & guides that will help open doors to another level of touring.
ITMI Motorcoach Driver Customer Service Training
A powerful one-day Certification that will give your drivers the tools and skills to provide customer service excellence. Your ROI includes re-energizing drivers, increasing morale, productivity, sales and profits. It will inspire drivers to be your Brand Ambassadors.
Build-Your-Own Program
ITMI develops customized programs for tour operators, suppliers, event planners and other members of the tourism industry. Customized training identifies and meets the specific needs of your organization. We design your curriculum to provide the experiential learning that will prepare your employees to meet the day-to-day challenges of their job.
Components may include how to organize a tour, how to plan itineraries, pre and post-trip preparation, domestic and international trip planning, communication skills, the psychology of group travel, dealing with difficult situations, problem solving, crisis management and more. We develop courses that span from a one-day seminar to a two-week intensive program.
