Tour Director presso Denver, CO Corporate Office

COMPANY SUMMARY

At Holiday Vacations, our mission is to enrich lives with valued travel experiences. We offer inclusive guided tours led by professional Tour Directors to more than 70 destinations on six continents. We travel by air, motor coach, trains, and cruises on itineraries that bring the destination alive for our guests. We are headquartered in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and are a subsidiary of Xanterra Travel Collection, the largest national park concessionaire in the U.S. Xanterra also owns other tour operator and cruise line brands including VBT Bicycling Vacations, Country Walkers, and Windstar Cruises.

POSITION SUMMARY

Our Tour Directors play a crucial role in delivering on Holiday Vacations’ guest service promise. As the primary guide and main point of contact, the Tour Director ensures an exceptional experience for our guests and serves as an ambassador for the Holiday Vacations brand. This position involves guiding groups through airports, restaurants, attractions, and hotels, adhering to a structured itinerary, and solving unexpected travel situations. The Tour Director researches and provides insightful commentary and information on the historical, geographical, and cultural aspects of the destinations while on tour.

WELCOME TO “THE HV WAY”

• Honesty & Integrity: We act with honesty and accountability, building trust with every guest, partner, and teammate. We keep our promises.
• Create Community: We create community by treating each other and our guests like extended family, fostering belonging, celebrating, and supporting one another.
• Surprise & Delight: We go beyond expectations to create meaningful experiences. We make every effort to exceed expectations.
• Grow Together: We embrace curiosity, feedback, and continuous learning – always striving to be better and do better.
• Innovate Boldly: We seek fresh ideas, adapt to change, and look for ways to stay ahead in a dynamic travel landscape
• Protect What Matters: We prioritize safety and sustainability for our people, our guests, and the places we explore.
• Celebrate the Team: We succeed together, value each person’s gifts and contributions, and take time to enjoy the journey along the way.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

• Lead the tour from start to finish, taking full ownership for on-tour delivery and creating a safe, smooth, and memorable experience for every guest.
• Navigate all on-the-ground travel logistics and day-to-day tour operations; execute the structured itinerary; coordinate transportation, hotels, and meals; manage check-ins and departures; and ensure all guests are accounted for at each destination.
• Provide exceptional guest service by clearly communicating daily plans and expectations; sharing destination and cultural information; answering questions; and offering ideas for optional activities during leisure time.
• Communicate with guests, suppliers, and vendors with enthusiasm, clarity, and professionalism; represent Holiday Vacations in a positive, service-minded manner; and resolve issues in a calm, solution-focused way.
• Communicate tour changes, updates, and other important information to guests in a timely manner through the HV Traveler’s app and other approved communication methods.
• Use sound judgment and established Holiday Vacations emergency protocols to respond to issues and incidents; assess the situation and determine the appropriate response; follow defined procedures and documentation requirements; and contact Holiday Vacations support for complex situations or medical emergencies.
• Complete pre-tour preparation, including reviewing contracts, itineraries, and other pertinent documents; confirming hotel, restaurant, attraction, and transportation reservations; and conducting pre-tour calls to all guests.
• Participate in pre-tour briefing meetings with the Tour Director Manager and Destinations Team to review tour details, align expectations, and share insights that support continuous improvement of itineraries and the guest experience.
• Use Holiday Vacations technology tools with confident proficiency, including a Surface device, Microsoft Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, the HV Traveler’s app, and electronic expense and reporting systems, to access tour documents, communicate updates, enter data, create PDFs, and upload electronic files.
• Submit timely, accurate, and detailed tour expense reports, payroll information, evaluations, and any other required documentation.
• Complete all required training and certifications and attend the annual Tour Director Summit and other scheduled training or development sessions as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

CORE JOB COMPETENCIES

• Relationship Building: skilled in establishing and maintaining positive professional relationships, an ability to create a connection with others, an ability to quickly build trust and rapport by displaying warmth, caring, and empathy.
• Decision-Making: demonstrates the ability to make sound, timely, and well-informed decisions, even under pressure or in uncertain situations. Skilled in analyzing information, weighing alternatives, and considering potential outcomes to select the best course of action. Effective decision-makers balance logic and intuition, remain calm under stress, and take responsibility for their choices while ensuring alignment with organizational goals and guest satisfaction.
• Attention to Detail: exhibits thoroughness in reviewing and verifying information to ensure completeness and accuracy. Meticulous attention in checking work to ensure all aspects of the experience meet high standards of excellence.
• Adaptability to Technology: an ability to quickly learn and effectively use new technologies and software applications with confidence and ease.
• Communication: an ability to convey information clearly and effectively through appropriate channels, ensuring mutual understanding and engagement with the audience. This includes proactive communication with guests, tailoring communication style to meet the needs of the situation and maintaining composure while communicating under stressful conditions.
• Storytelling/Presenting: gifted in delivering information and ideas to an audience in a clear, engaging, and professional manner. Effective storytellers captivate their audience while making information memorable and impactful. The ability to present with clarity and confidence with a well-structured and dynamic delivery.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE

• Prior Tour Director experience or graduation from a professional Tour Director school, or relevant travel experience, is required.
• CPR certification is required; Holiday Vacations will either pay for the certification or provide certification classes at the corporate office.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Ability to thrive in high-pressure situations and adapt quickly in an ever-changing, fast-paced environment.
• Strong active listening skills and the ability to communicate with clarity and compassion.
• Ability to maintain high levels of energy, enthusiasm, and professionalism throughout the tour.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with an eagerness to learn new things.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Teams is preferred, or a demonstrated willingness to learn and use Microsoft Teams is required.
• Ability to legally travel and work domestically and internationally is required.

 WORKING CONDITIONS AND ARRANGEMENTS

Work Location: Work is performed in various destinations throughout the United States and Internationally. Pre and post tour work is performed remotely. PLEASE NOTE: Tour Directors’ primary residence must be in one of the following states: AR, AZ, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, LA, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, NH, NV, SC, SD, TX, UT, VT, VA, WI.

Schedule: Tour Directors are expected to be available for travel throughout the year, particularly during the peak season from June through October. Tour Directors are typically assigned four to seven tours each year, with tours typically running for 9 to 14 days. Workdays are typically long and can be strenuous, 10 to 13 or more hours per day. This is an intermittent role with stretches in the off season (November through May) where no tours may be assigned.

Physical Requirements: The job requires the ability to stand and walk at a brisk pace for extended periods of time while leading a large group of people, the ability to sit for extended periods of time in cramped quarters (airplane, rail, cruise, or motorcoach) for extended periods of time (frequently for 8+ hours per day). The position requires the ability to speak frequently and for continuous stretches throughout each day of the tour. Requires bending, twisting, stooping, grasping, and reaching outward or above shoulders, lift/carry and push or pull up to 50 lbs.

EEO: Holiday Vacations is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. We are an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected status.