Classes

It is important to note that, based on the current hospitality industry standards, the professions of Tour Director (Tour Manager) and Tour Guide require different training, knowledge and certifications. IGA has been doing this for 40 years. Earning your certification with IGA will give your resumé a competitive global edge.

All graduates receive a book specially prepared for that specific class which covers Getting Hired, over 155 specific Tour Operators that are looking to hire IGA graduates plus Cruise Lines contact information. Throughout the program, the participants are video recorded with copies to each student, role playing, actual motorcoach travel is included and more. With IGA you learn by doing.

 ALL programs are taught in English.

Tour Director April 21 - 28, 2013    Boston, MA area       Completed. Congratulations to our newest Tour Director graduates!

Tour GUIDE/New England Destination Awareness   Completed.  Congratulations to our newest Tour Guide and/.or Destination Awareness graduates!

Tour Director June 8 - 16, 2013 Denver, CO      Click here to enroll now   

Tour Director  August 10 - 18, 2013    Denver, CO     Click here to enroll now

Tour Director   November 1 - 15, 2013    Onboard the NCL Dawn      Click here to enroll now

We offer the lowest tuition and housing costs, the best curriculum in the industry, and you earn your certification in a shorter time frame. Lower cost and highest quality certification. Could you ask for anything more?

Class content is the same in all programs but course length varies due to length of the class day such as a shorter class day in Mexico and a longer class day on the cruise ship. Mansfield Course is 8 days in length.  Denver, Ottawa, Las Vegas, and Beijing Courses are 9 calendar days in length. The Cuernavaca (Mexico) Course is 13 calendar days in length. Class onboard the Norwegian ship is 15 nights/16 days with 7 full days of class while the Norwegian Dawn is at sea (no class is held while in ports).

Denver classes and motorcoach training begin on a Saturday, and end on the following Sunday. In addition to time spent in the classroom, you will participate in a motorcoach training trip and spend time outside of the classroom doing research individually and in small groups. Instructors are available for these individual and small group activities.  You are free to arrange your own housing in Denver if you wish. IGA has rooms available onsite for $79; and $89 per night plus tax.  Breakfast is included in this price.  Feel free to call for details.

TOUR GUIDE COURSE:

This course is intended for you if you want to work as a local Tour Guide. Tour Guides are knowledgeable within a specific locality such as a city, region, state or a specific geographic area. They provide walking tours, step-on guide service, local driver guide, on-site tours and may work special events, "meet and greets", etc. They are rarely away from home overnight. Scroll down for tuition costs.

What will you learn? The beginning modules in this certification program include Travel Industry Terminology, Tourism Industry Overview, Types of Assignments for Tour Guides, Conduct and Ethics, Dress Codes, Leadership, Commentary Skills, Research, Presentation Formats, Teamwork, Physical Aspects of Guiding, Public Speaking, Group Welcomes, Your Role as the "Local Expert", Industry Relationships, In-class Presentations and On-the-Road Presentations, Hiring Companies and their practices are identified and address the class, and more.... With IGA you learn by doing.

IGA is proud to offer you new 7-day Tour Guide programs with an emphasis in different areas of the USA.  These classes take place in class and onboard motorcoach touring throughout location specific areas of the USA.

The 2013 Tour Guide and New England Tour Guide/Destination Awareness program will be held April 29 - May 5.

The New England program starts and finishes in Mansfield, MA.  Some of the stops during training will include the Killington area, Woodstock, Stowe Village, Cold Hollow Cider Mill and a Ben & Jerry's tour, Montpelier, Morse Sugar Farm, the Cannon Mountain tram, Flume gorge, LL Bean, Portland, Cape Neddick Lighthouse, Gloucester, Salem and Rockport, a guided tour in the city of Boston, exploration at Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market, Plymouth and Hyannis with a local expert and historian, Providence, guided exploration of the Newport and Ten Mile Drive, and more... 

Join the instructors from the International Guide Academy and the owner, in addition to the office manager, of Sugar Tours aboard this "rolling classroom" through the 6 New England states.

Registration fee for upcoming Tour Guide Courses is $100 and the tuition is $1,595.00 for a total of $1,695.

We offer discounts for taking multiple courses with us.  Both courses are independent of each other and lead to separate career paths. They do, however, complement each other. Course content is different in both classes offered.

Tour Operators, Cruise Lines, Motor Coach companies, and Meeting Planning Companies hire our Certified International Tour Directors.

Destination Management Companies, Visitors Bureaus, Tour Guiding Companies, Event Planners, and Hotels hire our Certified Tour Guides.

Personal and Cashier's Checks, PayPal, or MasterCard, American Express, and Visa debit/credit cards are accepted. Each course carries its own certification leading to rewarding careers. All books, materials, etc. required are included in the tuition. Lifetime placement assistance is available free for all of our graduates.

Consider checking with your tax accountant or advisor to see if you are eligible for the IRS's Lifetime Learning tax credit.