Classes
Let the International Guide Academy, the leading global provider of Tour Director, Tour Manager, and Tour Guide certification programs since 1973 give your career the direction it deserves. After you earn your certification you receive free lifetime placement assistance. IGA has their Headquarters in Denver, Colorado and the programs are available in Denver; Las Vegas, NV; Rutland, VT; Cuernavaca, Mexico; Ottawa, Canada; Beijing, China; and on the Norwegian Star (2012) while at sea.
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.
TOUR DIRECTOR COURSE:
This course is intended for you if you are seeking certification as a Tour Director or Tour Manager. People working as Tour Directors within the USA or other countries travel from city to city, state to state, country to country, with responsibilities for the smooth flow of a multi-day tour. Assignments can include motorcoach travel, cruise ship travel and trains. Scroll down this page for schedule and cost of program.
Click here to learn about our Tour Guide course
What will you learn? The beginning modules in this certification program include Travel Industry Terminology, a look behind the scenes as to how tours are put together and marketed by Tour Operators, Industry Trends, Profile of a Tour Manager/Director and your Pre-tour Departure Preparations. After this foundation your program covers Public Speaking, Airline and Airport Procedures, Baggage Handling and Control, Client Welcome preparation, content and delivery, Hotel Arrivals and Departures, Motorcoach Commentary, Cultural Practices, Being Environmentally Aware on Tour, How to Research, Leisure Days on Tour, City Tours (working with the local Tour Guide or doing it yourself), Motorcoach Travel, Destination Itinerary Planning, Discussion with a Motorcoach Driver and Teamwork, Optional Excursions (what they are, how to present them, operate them and money handling), when available a Tour Operator speaks with the class, Group Psychology, Passenger Emergencies, Industry Networking, preparing your resume, telephone interview techniques as well as Hiring Companies and their practices are identified.
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 - 29, 2012
Rutland, VT CLASS COMPLETED
**Tour Guide: April 30 - May 5, 2012 Begins and ends in Rutland, VT with an emphasis on New England
CLASS COMPLETED
Tour Director June 9 - 17, 2012 Denver, CO Click here to enroll now.
Tour Director July 7 - 15, 2012 Canada Click here to enroll now
Tour Director August 4 - 12, 2012 Denver, CO Click here to enroll now.
Tour Director October 21 - November 5, 2012 onboard the Norwegian Star. Click here to enroll now.
Tour Director February 9 - 22, 2013 Cuernavaca, Mexico 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. 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 6 full days of class while the Norwegian Star 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.
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.
The next Tour Guide program April 30 - May 5, 2012 in New England is currently in-session. Check back soon for more dates.
IGA is proud to offer you a new 6-day Tour Guide program with an emphasis in the New England area of the USA. This class will take place on a motorcoach touring throughout New England to allow you to earn not only your Tour Guide certification, but also a "Destination Awareness Certification: New England".
Your program starts and finishes in Rutland, VT. 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.
New England Tour Guide class:This course is intended for those wishing 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. Classes are 7:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. all day Monday - Friday and 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Saturday 5 May.
New England Tour Guide travel Itinerary:
Day One: Morning class. Depart Rutland, VT visiting Killington, Woodstock, Montpelier, ending in Lincoln, NH with class following dinner. (D)
Day Two: Breakfast is included today followed by morning class. Depart Lincoln driving along the Kancamagus Highway. Today we visit Conway, Wolfeboro, and Portland ending our day in Wells, ME. Dinner is on your own in Portland, followed by class in the evening. (B)
Day Three: Morning class. Depart Wells with coastal touring including Ogunquit, York, Gloucester, Salem, and Rockport. Our afternoon will be spent in Boston and we will stay in Boston overnight. Class will be held after hotel check-in. Dinner will be on your own.
Day Four: Morning class. Depart Boston and travel through Cape Cod, Plymouth, and Hyannis. This afternoon will include Providence and an informational session with the Rhode Island Dept. of Tourism with hotel check-in in Middletown, RI. Dinner is on your own, followed by evening class.
Day Five: Breakfast is included today followed by hotel departure to Newport and Ten Mile Drive. Then, return to Rutland, VT where we began. Class will be held this afternoon in Rutland, you will take your written exam, and we will all have a Final Dinner included (B, D)
Day Six: Morning class, Program Awards, Graduation. Class will end approximately 2:00 p.m.
Terms & Conditions: Registration fee for the New England Tour Guide Course is $100 and the tuition is $1,195 for a total of $1,295. Price includes tuition and books, 5 nights shared hotel (single supplement $199), 2 breakfasts (B) and 2 dinners (D), motorcoach transportation during the course, entrance fees to all sites visited, on-site and step-on guides (when used)
Registration fee for the Tour Director Course is $100 and the tuition is $1,525 for a total of $1,625.
Registration fee for the Tour Guide Course is $100 and the tuition for the 2012 Tour Guide course is $1,195.00 for a total of $1,295.
We offer discounts for taking multiple courses with us. This means you can take both courses for only $2,720. 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.
We are accepting registrations in all of the announced 2012 courses.
Class size is limited and we do not overbook.
Questions? Email us at admissions@bepaidtotravel.com or call:
303.780.0131 or 1.877.442.4862.