on tour � marty de souto, ctc

AT SOME TIME IN OUR CAREER,it’s necessary that we sit down and decide what is the purpose of the tripswe offer and then think further as towhat is our role in bringing these travelopportunities to our participants. Arewe doing this as a lifetime career? Asrecreation? For personal fulfillment?

PURPOSE OF OUR TRIPSLet’s ask ourselves: (l) Is our travel

program to educate our travelers? (2) Is it to provide fun and enjoyment to those who might otherwise stay athome? (3) Is it perhaps to enlarge ourparticipants’ horizons and provide themwith a more global outlook? (4) Or is itto provide a social opportunity for ourtravelers to meet new people and per-haps form new but ongoing friendships?(5) Is it to make money for our sponsor-ing organization – and perhaps ourselvesalso? (6) Could it be to obtain publicityfor our organization so as to build itsstature? (7) Is it to attract new member-ship to our traveling club organization?

MANY MOTIVATIONSAll of the above can be viewed as

legitimate reasons for our trips. But wethen need to delve further and ask our-selves “Why am I here?” Am I here in-volved in this as a career, as a business?Am I here as a goodwill gesture to bringenjoyment, fulfillment and opportunityto others? Am I here because I lovebeing involved in the world of travel –meeting people from other places andstretching my world knowledge? Am Ihere simply for the “free trips” that I

manage to take and I just put up withall the work and headaches as a meansto an end – travel for myself? Am I herebecause I actually work for a travelagency or tour operator and only dogroup tours as a part of my daily job?I would guess that for many of us a

combination of some of the above moti-vations may strike a chord rather thatjust one of them. I have come to realizethat, as an educator myself, I enjoyspoon-feeding ongoing learning throughtravel. But I have also learned that ontour one cannot continually be teaching;

your travelers want activity and fun andfriendship woven throughout the day.

LEARN ABOUT YOURSELFI’ve learned a lot about myself. I’ve

learned that I enjoy designing the itin-erary; the creative process is what turnsme on. I do not necessarily enjoy es-corting tours designed by others. I’velearned that I can easily design andbook tours to certain areas of the worldthat I know well but that for otherareas I am not as well qualified andneed to put my travelers on a travelproduct such as a cruise or tour fromsome company that excels in that area.

LUSTING FOR TRAVELI’ve learned that I’d love to be able

to have a successful career in travel,but that financially it can be a roughroad to riches and very few “make it”as a financially-fulfilling life enter-prise. I see many involved in manag-ing travel programs as a second career;these are the individuals who, uponretirement, and with a basic retire-ment income, can then turn their en-ergies to what they really lust for – alife in travel. I’ve also seen those whohave found a way to continue their

present non-travel career but augmentit with the occasional tour or toursduring the year. Each of us will have our own moti-

vations and we need to be clear aboutthem. We also need to assess our indi-vidual strengths and weaknesses. Wecan then make the choices necessaryand direct our travel programs accord-ingly for success.

Tour Programming as a Career

Many factors, from “free trips” to learning about the world, motivate tourplanners. Some are in the business to bringenjoyment to others.

Marty is founder and chair of the travel industry

training program at Berkeley City College in

Berkeley, Calif., where she teaches all aspects

of group travel. You can reach her by e-mail at

josemarty@yahoo.com. For information on her

latest book, How To Plan, Operate, and Lead Suc-

cessful Group Trips, click on Premier Tourism Mar-

keting’s educational website, groupuniversity.com.

6 April 2010 LeisureGroupTravel.com

Call U.S. TOURS Today! 888-393-8687

Rates are in U.S. Dollars per guest, double occupancy, capacity controlled and cruise only. Restrictions apply. Ship’s Registry: Panama.

Carnival reserves the right to re-instate

the fuel supplement for all guests at up to

$9 per person per day if the NYMEX oil

price exceeds $70 per barrel.

Per Person Prices:

$698$698 Interior Stateroom

$748$748 Ocean View

$828$828 Balcony

CCaarrnniivvaall CCrruuiissee LL iinneess

ffrroomm NNeeww OOrrlleeaannss

The Queen of the Mississippi & The Carnival Triumph The Queen of the Mississippi & The Carnival Triumph

Jan. 20-27 and Jan. 29-Feb. 5Jan. 20-27 and Jan. 29-Feb. 5

This is a French Quarter Cruise & Play Tour. We've combined sightseeing in the Port of New Orleans with aThis is a French Quarter Cruise & Play Tour. We've combined sightseeing in the Port of New Orleans with a

“Fun Ship ” cruise through the Mississippi Delta south into the Caribbean. Experience first the soul of “Fun Ship ” cruise through the Mississippi Delta south into the Caribbean. Experience first the soul of

New Orleans from your hotel in the Vieux Carre. Feel the rhythm of Bourbon Street, hear the wail of JazzNew Orleans from your hotel in the Vieux Carre. Feel the rhythm of Bourbon Street, hear the wail of Jazz

Trumpets celebrating into the night and taste the flavor of a cuisine perfected by centuries.Trumpets celebrating into the night and taste the flavor of a cuisine perfected by centuries.

Then fall in love with the Carnival TriumphThen fall in love with the Carnival Triumph a ship packed with Balcony staterooms. You'll get a giant dose a ship packed with Balcony staterooms. You'll get a giant dose

of fun with Carnival's Seaside Theater , three pools, a waterslide and Spa Carnival. Oh, and mini golf. And of fun with Carnival's Seaside Theater , three pools, a waterslide and Spa Carnival. Oh, and mini golf. And

a sliding Sky Dome. Sailing into the Western Caribbean you can dive among Cozumel's famous coral reefs,a sliding Sky Dome. Sailing into the Western Caribbean you can dive among Cozumel's famous coral reefs,

ride a beach buggy or swim with a dolphin. Then at Progreso, Yucatan you can visit one of the new Sevenride a beach buggy or swim with a dolphin. Then at Progreso, Yucatan you can visit one of the new Seven

Wonders of the World - the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza.Wonders of the World - the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza.

Sailing twice a month year-round you can schedule this tour to fit your schedule. Prices vary with season.Sailing twice a month year-round you can schedule this tour to fit your schedule. Prices vary with season.

Note, we have great group rates secured in January. So, Hop aboard and get the fun started.Note, we have great group rates secured in January. So, Hop aboard and get the fun started.

U.S. Tours Cruise Tour Package includes:

• Two Nights Lodging in the French Quarter

• Dinner & Private Cooking Class at

the New Orleans School of Cooking

• Dixieland Jazz Brunch at Court of Two Sisters

• French Quarter Walking Tour

• Five Day Cruise on the Carnival Triumph

• Visits To Cozumel & Progreso Mexico

• Meals aboard Ship

• All Taxes & Fees on these services

• Luggage Handling at the Hotel & Pier

• One free berth with every 10 paid full fare guests

• PASSPORTS ARE REQUIRED!

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PlusPlusOne Free

One Freewith every

with every 10 Paid10 Paid