Position Summary – Tour Director
The role of the Tour Director is to provide a safe and unforgettable Alaskan experience to our guests. Tour Directors will be managing tours throughout Alaska and the Yukon, escorting guests between overnight destinations, airports, trains, and hotels. Tour Directors must be prepared to educate and entertain groups of up to 50 guests with regional specific commentary, storytelling, and games. Tour Directors must also be able to effectively sell optional land excursions to enhance their guests Alaska trip of a lifetime.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Primary responsibilities of the Tour Directors include but are not limited to:
- Manage, from start to finish, all on-road operations for assigned tours
- Articulate directions and commentary to tour members in fluent English
- Demonstrate expert knowledge of Alaskan tour products
- Handle various problems and emergencies related to tour members and tour conditions
- Communicate with tour suppliers and company office personnel
- Communicate any discrepancies in contracted services to controlling office immediately
- Travel for long periods of time away from home
Read, research, and write tour commentary and calculate basic math computations - Wear uniform if required
- Be available at any time to assist tour members in case of emergency, while directing an assigned tour
- Work closely with Tour Drivers with care of guests and handling of luggage
- Read and follow maps to communicate clear and concise directions to Tour Driver
- Resolve hotel/vendor issues
- Promote and sell optional excursions
- Collect all funds for optional excursions and complete tour accounting reports
- Accurately maintain and organize paperwork
- Performs other duties as assigned as deemed necessary by Tour Operations
Minimum Qualifications
Tour Directors must meet the following criteria in order to be considered as an applicant:
- A US citizen or can provide verification of authorization to work in the US
- 21 years of age at start of employment
- Possess a current drivers license and a good, safe driving record (no more than one moving violation or at fault accident in the last three years)
- Must be available to work and travel extensively from May through September
- Work early mornings, late evenings and/or week-end shifts
- Work independently and as a member of a team
- Ability to creatively verbalize historical, scientific, and factual data to create an interesting and exciting image of the area on tour
- Demonstrate the ability to enhance the enjoyment of the tour members visit to Alaska & the Yukon by using strong presentation and personal skills
- Possess a caring, open, understanding, and respectful personality and attitude
- Ability to separate personal beliefs and/or politics during tour commentary
- Experience in the Alaska visitor industry is preferred, but not required
Previous public speaking experience is preferred - Position base is Anchorage, Alaska
Minimum Job Requirements
While performing this job, it will require:
- The ability to walk on a moving motorcoach to assist tour members
- The ability to sit for a minimum of three (3) hours
- The ability to speak English clearly over a microphone
- The ability to lift suitcases (an average of 50 pounds) on and off a motorcoach/airline ramp assisting your driver
- The ability to walk, bend, sit, stand, climb as needed while conducting sightseeing tours
- The ability to travel on airplanes, cruise ships, trains, motorcoaches and other sightseeing vehicles and modes of transportation as needed
- The ability to recognize and point out sites of interest while on tour
- The knowledge and ability to respond to tour members questions
- The ability to assist tour members on and off motorcoach and assist in emergency situations
- The ability to be away from Anchorage for multiple night stays
A positive, upbeat attitude and a desire for travel