Student Travel Tour Manager

The tour manager’s primarily responsibilities are twofold: providing the educational background of the city and the sites and for the transitions from site to site, meals, to the hotel, and staying on time. Tour ManagerProvide historical and cultural background of Washington DC and each site visited.Work together with the lead teacher/parent to facilitate transitions between locations, including meals and hotel check-ins, and hotel check-out.Ensure the group stays on schedule throughout the tour.In conjunction with the bus driver and the lead teacher/parent facilitate the  logistics and coordination of daily activities.Serve as a point of contact for vendors and site personnel.Tour Manager Specific Guidelines and ProceduresThe goal for the Tour Guide is to make sure the school experiences their trip per their wishes and plans with student safety as the top priority,Pre-Trip Preparation·      Attend Pre-Trip meeting at Nowak Tours·      Review full itinerary and destination-specific notes.·      Check with the Nowak Lead Tour Manager to review each stop in the itinerary to determine educational talking points, the purpose of each stop, the length of time the group will be off the bus, and what the group will do while off the bus for each stop.·      Coordinate with other Tour Managers (if on a multi-bus trip).·       Request that a group communication text thread for the trip.·      Prepare educational content and talking points.·      Identify departure time from school and plan to arrive 45 minutes beforehand.·      Secure Nowak Tour apparel, accessories, and any resources related to your upcoming trip at the pre-trip meeting. (Not necessary for shadowing training trips)·      Plan to bring the following items: very comfortable shoes as there is a great deal of walking, bring an umbrella (Nowak Tours will provide one after your training trips), extra pairs of socks in the event rain is in the forecast, and a clipboard (or something similar) to use when recording your time log.On-the-Ground ResponsibilitiesLogistics·      Upon arrival at the departure destination meet and greet students and lead teacher/parent for your bus·      Prior to leaving from the departure destination, confirm the lead teacher/parent’s and bus driver’s name and cell phone number.·      Keep group on schedule to ensure that all named itinerary sites, locations, and activities are experienced. Parents expect their child to see what is outlined in the itinerary. In the event the itinerary needs to change due to unforeseen circumstances, be sure to communicate with the lead teacher/parent and the Nowak Lead Tour Manager.·      Communication with lead teacher/parent at each destination as to the time off the bus and the meeting point to board the bus.·      Confirm group meeting point and time estimate for each location.·      Prior to speaking to the students on the bus let the lead teacher/parent get the attention of the students.·      Before leaving the bus each time, review the following information so the students are prepared for what happens while they are off the bus:·      Let the students know how long they will be off the bus.·      Let the students know what items they will need to bring off the bus with them (cell phones, money, string bags)·      Let the students know if they will need to pass through a security checkpoint, which will affect what items they bring with them off the bus.·      For restroom stops, let the students know they are not buying food and/or souvenirs due to timing.·      Let the students know what will happen as soon as they all leave the bus – meet as a group before walking as a group or walking as a group at once and then stopping for more information.·      Students tend to do better when you begin speaking by letting them know how long you will need to go over directions and/or information (3-5 minutes).·      Based on where the bus stops and unloads, you more than likely will need to review the logistics information within ten minutes of your unloading location. Most often the bus needs to unload and pull away quickly.·      As each day nears the end of touring, be sure to have a conversation with the lead teacher/parent about the procedure for checking into the hotel each night, breakfast time and location, checking out of the hotel in the morning on the last day, and the schedule for the next day. Please make sure the students are clear with respect to what time they need to get up, be at breakfast, and where and time of morning departure.Education·      It is important that the educational information is neutral and apolitical in conversations with students and other adults from the school.·      Provide the students with educational content on the way to the sites and while at the sites.·      Be prepared to provide background information on each itinerary item.·      While traveling to the named itinerary sites, be prepared to provide background information on general landmarks and significant sites that are not on the itinerary.·      Keep information focused on big ideas vs specific dates.·      Facilitate student interaction and Q&A.·      Create your own trivia games while on the bus, which has proved effective for the students.Safety & Supervision·      Stay alert to environmental and situational risks.·      Maintain open communication with lead teacher/parent, other Nowak Tour Managers, and your bus driver.Multi-Bus Coordination·      Establish shared communication text thread.·      Synchronize timing for joint activities.·      Share updates on delays or changes.·      Stay in communication with Lead Tour Manager as to delays, challenges, and logistic adjustments.Post-Trip Wrap-Up·      Submit trip time log report.·      Share feedback with Nowak Tours office.·      Thank lead teacher/parent and school for their partnership.