USA Tour Pros debuted another industry first with the February 3, 2009, release of the new podcast series, Virtual Tour Director. These video podcasts feature frequently visited East Coast locations and allow a Tour Pro to get a sneak peak of an attraction and location before arriving with their group. Plans are to add locations throughout the country throughout the year as video shoots and editing are complete. After allowing the first to be viewed free of charge for all by following the blog entry below, we have since added four more VTDs to our video podcasts section: a Manhattan photo op from NJ, Pentagon Memorial, Buying/Using the Metrocard on the NYC Subway, and Taking the Staten Island Ferry. Enjoy the podcasts and let us know what you think of them!
USA Tour Pros is North America’s leading Tour Professional’s resource and social-networking Web site offering Individual and Business Members a “one-stop shopping” location for all aspects of the Tour industry, including the nation’s first collection of Tour industry-specific, video podcasts and the first travel industry online continuing education program, USA Tour Pros University. On February 3, 2009 we introduced the groundbreaking podcast series, Virtual Tour Director. Plus, where else can Tour Professionals post their very own video resumes and work-availability calendars?
Converse on our Forums with fellow Tour Professionals who are on-the-road in major cities across North America. Scan Job Opportunities, use our travel-planning Resources, and shop in our convenient Travel Store.
Visit our Membership page to review our annual membership packages for individuals and businesses as well as per-ad fees. So welcome home, stay awhile, take a good look around!
Tom Schoenewald
President
USA Tour Pros: Leading the Way.
I spent a recent Friday morning on Central Park West and the NYC DOT was out in full force, making sure motor coaches stay off its length. A major tourist drop-off location remains vacant at 72nd Street as the coach drivers, already made to feel as uncomfortable as a Democrat in South Daktoa, are told to stay off all the roads surrounding our Central Park. The reason given?
The wealthy.
You got it, the powerful tenants of the streets paved with old money are upset motor coaches are clogging their street corners. You know, the same street corners where public transportation busses frequent and motor coaches ARE allowed to drop-off and pick-up at. These tenants, if the DOT officers are actually telling the truth, are the reason we are being asked to drop anywhere but where the tourist want to frequent at this busiest time of the year.
It’s the same story in DC. They want to make sure no one has to see or hear the coaches, all the while asking tourists to leave as much of their green behind in order to keep the local tax rates at a manageable rate, or to assure the survival of Broadway shows - which make their living off of tour groups.
I’ve heard of the American Bus Association, the National Tour Operators Association, the DC Guild, the NYC Guide Association, etc, etc. But how powerful are the lobbyists for these organizations? Or, is there anyone even pushing our agenda to the powers that be?
It was an ambitious plan announced in February and this weekend it will begin to take shape in Times Square.
With a multitude of deadly motorcoach crashes in the past two years, it’s time for the U.S. Department of Transportation to require seat belts in every mootorcaoch.
Detailed major tour city information including neighborhood profiles, tourism hot spots, motorcoach parking areas and regulations, subway and airport maps, museum locations and hours, and all the most up-to-date news and traffic.
USATP offers the Internet's only up-to-date collection of Tour Industry-specific video and audio podcasts, featuring TDs, TOs, vendors, and leading voices in the industry.
A collection of thoughts and insights focusing on Tour Professionals and the tour industry
Promote yourself to the tour industry through an online profile, with a downloadable print resume, video resume, work-availability calendar, and more.
Scan for the latest Job Opportunities across North America from step-on work to tour management, meet-and-greets to receptive services.
USA Tour Pros University offers a wide range of highly interactive courses that you can take entirely over the Internet. All of our courses include expert instructors, many of whom are nationally known authors.
All registered members are welcomed to read, react, and post to hundreds of messages directly related to the Travel and Tour business. Join our continuous online discussions as we engage to promote a greater sense of community within the industry.
Find all your travel-related necessities such as maps, tour books, DVDs, first-aid kits, and toiletries. You’ll have the option to order your own business cards and stationery, while also browsing through travel-wear and goods for the tour season or your own private vacation.
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Registration and payment are required to gain access to the audio and video podcasts.
Getting around Philadelphia can be a snap, but in case you need a little help, here’s an easy way to get from the Betsy Ross House or The Bourse to Franklin Court by using our Virtual Tour Director (VTD) video.
There’s nothing like getting something free in Manhattan. Watch Virtual Tour Director (VTD) for a simple explanation on how take your group on a round-trip adventure on the Staten Island Ferry.
Fourth in a contuining series, USA Tour Pros latest Virtual Tour Director (VTD) video podcast instructs you on how to select, purchase, and use the NYC Subway Metrocard.
A third video in the Virtual Tour Director (VTD) series on USA Tour Pros shot and voiced-over by USATP Member Mike Showalter.
USA Tour Pros offers our second installment of Virtual Tour Director (VTD) with an idea for a fantastic photo op of Manhattan from New Jersey.
USA Tour Pros introduces their new Virtual Tour Director (VTD) series with a look at the Statue of Liberty Ferry location in Jersey City, New Jersey.
In Part III, Fran Boronski explains to new TDs that “diversification is key” in this business.
Veteran TD Fran Boronski explains a TD’s job is “to do it all!”
Education: Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario M.Ed., B.A., B.Ed.
Prior to tour directing, I worked as a teacher both internationally and domestically, spending 15 years living in numerous African countries—Chad, Namibia, Tunisia, and South Africa—and exploring many others. Dual Canadian and American citizenships have allowed me to live and work in both the U.S. and Canada over the years, and I have travelled throughout Europe and Israel, and to many parts of North America and the Caribbean. I speak French fluently.
Abroad and at home I have organized events and gatherings of all shapes and sizes, but the ones I’m probably most proud of have been those involving youth and children, including arts and recreation, conferences, and summer schools. Community service has long been a pleasure.
I am an ITMI-certified Tour Director looking to lead group tours both domestically and internationally. I have five years’ experience in the tourism industry and have traveled to more than 25 countries and lived in three. My areas of strong knowledge are New England, the Rocky Mountain States, and Southeast Asia, especially Thailand. I speak and read Thai and can get by in Spanish. I have over 20 years of business and customer-service background.
I was born and raised in Massachusetts, halfway between Boston and Cape Cod. For the early part of my adult life, I managed my family’s heating/air conditioning/plumbing business. I also sold real estate in Boston for three years (paperwork and forms galore!!) and worked for an Internet banking software provider, downloading bank files onto our servers for Internet viewing. This job involved lots of problem-solving when computer glitches occurred (which we all know happens all too frequently).
Bi-lingual Tour Guides are needed to serve as Niagara Falls Tour Guides.
A National Park in Alaska seeks individuals to willing to provide a high degree of service to guests through cordial interactions as well as accurate…
Local Memphis museum is hiring seasonal and part-time Tour Guides and greeters.
A local Hannibal, MO cave is now taking applications for Tour Guides, seasonal, weekdays and weekends.
Museum seeks volunteers to lead public tours of a 1905 Beaux Arts mansion in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C.
Mention you saw their ad on USA Tour Pros!
