Finding Additional Programming Staff
Whether you’re looking for experienced trip leaders or in need of a “floater” to cover your COVID-impacted departures, consider turning to your sister industry
Okay, let’s not dance around the subject.
When it comes to describing your trips in the student travel, experiential education, and adventure travel niches, we don’t often hear the word “tour.” In fact, many of our community members would rather not be associated with that particular word - it doesn’t seem to encompass the transformative, slow travel, educational, or adventure programs that you work so hard to deliver.
However, we encourage you to think a little differently.
At the end of the day, you can describe your trips and programs as you wish, but the reality is that we could benefit from embracing the tools and resources now available to day and multi-day tour operators. With the right tools, an open mind, and experienced participant-facing staff, you can do great things.
Namely, with many of our community members asking how to find additional qualified staff (either to expand their operations in the future or to navigate the need for “floater staff” during COVID outbreaks on trips), it might be time to go “outside-the-box” and lean in by utilizing some of these shared tools.
Maybe you’re bootstrapping the return to travel and are unable to pay a full-time, in-destination “floater” who you may not even use. Perhaps you are having trouble convincing former staff to come back and work just 1-2 trips this summer. Or maybe, given the uncertainty of the industry over the last two years, your staff have found other careers and you’re back to square one. Whatever the case, consider expanding your network.
In particular, have you utilized services that connect operators to tour guides and directors? Far from simply offering a city tour, many of these “guides and directors” are highly qualified, trained, and ambitious independent contractors who seek out work in both the tour and long-term program space. Not only are these individuals likely independent contractors who make their living by searching out short- and long-term placements (perfect if you have a limited number of departures to offer a leader this year or next), but they also are adaptable - sometimes working for several experiential education and travel brands within a single season. Individuals who have sought out their own training and invested in their own certifications are also likely to be passionate staff who bring their own leading expertise and simultaneously adapt to your program’s particular needs.
When you’re looking for more staff, it’s prudent to consider where these individuals might be looking for YOU. Below, we’ve compiled a shortlist of some of the most popular training platforms where tour guides/directors/program leaders look to educate themselves and connect to operators like you.
Some of these organizations even offer the option to list last-minute staffing vacancies on their site or be included in an “emergency” mailing list to all their members - an ideal place to find floater staff in a pinch.
IATDG (& last-minute hiring email list): The International Association of Tour Directors and Guides (yes, it’s a mouthful) offers resources and leader-operator connections via curated profiles, networking events, and the opportunity to send out “last-minute” staffing vacancies to their mailing list of certified leaders. Leaders can join for free and get email blasts when operators are looking to fill staffing gaps.
Campfire: Joining Campfire provides you access to a job board and directory, giving you more access to qualified leaders (in fact, they’re likely on this platform to invest in their own training - a good sign!) and a boost in visibility as an operator.
ITMI: The International Tour Management Institute has a long history of training guides to be full-time tour directors (the equivalent of multi-day program leaders in the adventure/experiential education industry) and delivering thousands of qualified leaders to small and big industry names alike. Their updated job board is a great place to access the community of leaders looking to build out their own businesses by booking their calendars with trip leading opportunities.
Adventure & WFR Trainings: Require your guides to be WFR or WFA certified? Reach out to your preferred providers to determine if they host a newsletter or job board to help their graduates find work within the field.
ATTA: Consider posting to the Adventure Travel Trade Association’s network of jobs. ATTA also offers career advice for job seekers, so your audience is likely to be in touch with them. You can even contract to become a featured provider as a member of this organization.
Think like the job seeker. Where are the most ambitious and invested individuals training themselves? What additional certifications are they seeking and what resources do they use to look for work?
Expanding your view of the program leaders/trip leaders to include guides, directors, and tour professionals who know how to advocate themselves and adapt to multiple travel organizations within a single season can work in your favor. You’ll find dedicated, passionate, well-trained individuals who need to fill their calendars with departures and they’ll be able to benefit from joining your transformative travel organization. Think outside the box and you may be surprised by who you meet along the way!