1. Communicate Early (and Often!)
Whether through email before tour or in person on the first tour day, establishing a clear line of communication with your Tour Director is vital. “I love it when Group Leaders talk to me about their background, about what they want to focus on, how much they want me to ‘talk’ and how much they want to teach themselves, and what the Group Leader’s free time policies are,” says veteran Tour Director Marianna Xylinas. “That way I can deliver exactly what the Group Leader wants and meet his or her expectations.”
2. Keep An Open Mind
We know that teachers often choose their tour destinations based on their own experiences in that particular city, country or region. And while Tour Directors love that teachers want to share their passion for said destination with their students, they also offer this bit of sage advice: view your tour through your students’ eyes. “In my time as a Tour Director, the best Group Leaders I’ve worked with are the ones that get excited watching their students’ amazed faces,” notes Kris Achten. “It may be the fifth time the teacher has ascended the Eiffel Tower, but you’d never know it!”
3. Be Flexible
Flexibility was undoubtedly the most commonly referenced ‘key’ during our conversations with Tour Directors. When itineraries need to adjust because of unforeseen events, the ability for Group Leaders to show both flexibility and trust in their Tour Director to come up with solutions can often lead to unexpected positive results. Our favorite example comes from Tour Director Thomas Marks, who was leading a tour affected by a recent train strike in France:
“Our night train from Paris to Florence was cancelled, so Explorica arranged an overnight bus as alternative transportation. Although we were all tired, at first light I arranged with our driver to stop in the beautiful town of Nice for breakfast. After grabbing a quick bite at the only open café, I gave an improvised guided tour of the town, ending the tour at the beach, where the kids enjoyed a quick swim in the warm Mediterranean waters before hopping back on the bus. It’s a city they never would have seen, and an experience they never would have had, were it not for the flexibility shown by the Group Leader.”