INTERNATIONAL TOUR MANAGER/DIRECTOR COURSE: This course is intended for those that are seeking certification as a Tour Manager or Tour Director. People working as Tour Managers 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, 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, specific Tour Operators that are looking to hire IGA graduates and Cruise Lines. Throughout the program, the participants are video recorded with copies to each student, role playing, actual motorcoach travel is included and more.

Classes are taught in English unless otherwise noted.

April 9- 18, 2010 Denver, CO

June 4 - 13, 2010 Denver, CO You can combine this with the Tour Guide Certification program also (see below)

July 9 - 18, 2010 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

August 6 - 15, 2010 Beijing, China

September 12 - 24, 2010 Cuernavaca,Mexico

October 23 - November 6, 2010 Certification At Sea Our Tour Manager Certification program onboard ship for a 15-day cruise.

We offer the lowest tuition and housing costs, the best curriculum in the industry, and do it in a shorter time frame. Lower cost, Faster, and Better. Could you ask for anything more?

Denver, Ottawa, and Beijing Courses are 10 days in length. Cuernavaca Course is 13 days in length. Class onboard ship is 15 or 16 days depending on cruise schedule.

Denver, Ottawa, and Beijing classes and motorcoach training begin on a Friday, and continue Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday (evening), and the following Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. On Monday through Thursday (as well as before and after class) you will work in small groups for approximately 25 to 30 hours of additional research. Instructors are available for these individual and group activities.

Click here for Mexico course information, days, and hours.

Click here for Certification At Sea course information, days, and hours.

Below is the NCL Spirit where we trained our Tour Managers at sea in 2009.

Below is one of the facilities in the Denver area where we train our Tour Managers.



Below is where our program is held in Cuernavaca, Mexico

TOUR GUIDE COURSE:

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.

IGA is proud to announce our redesigned Tour Guide program. The Tour Guide course will be held over 5 days, Sunday 30 May through Thursday 3 June, 2010. For those wishing to attend both of our programs. The Tour Guide program is available to any person who will be taking the June 4 - 13, 2010 Tour Manager course, as well as to all of our prior Tour Manager graduates.

The Tour Guide course will be held Sunday 30 May through Thursday 3 June, 2010. Class will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday. On the final day of class, field training takes place with a guided walking tour. Students who have already completed our Tour Manager course and successfully complete the Tour Guide course will then be finished. Those who are taking the Tour Manager course following the Tour Guide course will then move on to the Tour Manager course starting Friday 4 June 2010.

Registration fee for the Denver, CO International Tour Manager 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 2010 Tour Guide course is $595.00 for a total of $695.

This means you can take both courses for only $2,320. 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, Motorcoach companies, and Meeting Planning Companies hire our Certified International Tour Managers. 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 at no charge 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.

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