community tour leader

• E-NEWSLETTER

Community Tour Leaders Corps .

Become a community tour leader today, and you'll be the public face of peralta hacienda historical park, the birthplace of oakland.

Tour Leaders get the opportunity to participate in an exciting training program led by artists, historians, and Peralta Hacienda staff. Trainings teach California's past and the fascinating story of Peralta Hacienda, as well as preparing you to explore your personal history and connections to historical themes.

Learn public speaking skills from the best, take pride in your own history, and have a lot of fun!

Tour leaders volunteer on a flexible schedule, offering museum tours and supporting special events.

If you are interested in being a Community Tour Leader, please call (510) 532-9142, email [email protected]

The Community Tour Leaders Corps is made possible by the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail and the Institute for Museum and Library Services .

Film by Luis Flores

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Become a Tour Leader.

Our tour leaders    .

Our leaders are the best folk to show you the heart of a destination, they are not only travel experts, but teachers, travel gurus and enthusiastic purveyor of grassroots experiences.  As a local leader with Intrepid you’ll guide our travellers through authentic, experience-rich travel - all with a smile.   

What we look for in our Tour Leaders  

An important part of our customer experience is that they fully immerse themselves in the destination with authentic experiences, so our leaders are true locals. They know the urban legends behind every town square, the shortcuts down timeworn alleys and the traditional dishes you wouldn’t find on the tourist menu.  Our leaders come from strong customer service backgrounds and are incredible at building relationships with a broad range of people.  

But most importantly, our leaders are passionate and love sharing the joy of travel.  

Our Leaders  

Our leaders are the best folk to show you the heart of a destination, they are not only travel experts, but teachers, travel gurus and enthusiastic purveyor of grassroots experiences.  As a local leader with Intrepid you’ll guide our travellers through authentic, experience rich travel - all with a smile.   

What we look for in our Tour Leaders

We work with Local leaders in our destinations, it is an important part of our customer experience that they fully immerse in the destination with authentic experiences, so our leaders are true locals, they know the urban legends behind every town square, the hand shortcuts down timeworn alleys and the traditional dishes you wouldn’t find on the tourist menu.  Our leaders come from strong customer service backgrounds and are incredible at building relationships with a broad range of people. 

But most importantly, our leaders are passionate and love what they do. 

Hend | Cairo, Egypt

How long have you been an Intrepid Tour Leader?

What is one thing travellers must do in Eqypt?

Spend a night under the stars on a felucca on the Nile.

What is the best thing about being a Tour Leader?  

Getting people back travelling and sharing my country’s history and beauty with all my travellers.

Darlene | Nairobi, Kenya

What is one thing travellers must do in Kenya?

Sleep under the stars in the Maasai Mara.

What is the best thing about being a Tour Leader? 

Learning from travellers around the world. I learn so much from them.

Ibrahim | Amman, Jordan

What is one thing travellers must do in Jordan?

Walk through the Siq and visit Petra.

Bringing people together. We’re all one big family at the end of the trip.

Hend | Cairo, Egypt

The world needs intrepid people, global, united, fun .

Our Tour Leaders are Intrepid, they are the heart of our customer experience, and it is because of them, that our travellers have truly authentic experiences, whether that be finding the tastiest mole in Mexico, seeking the best merchants through the bazaars of Morocco, or getting you from A to B like a local.  Tour Leaders are united with their passion for travel and love of their country and region - and our travellers. If you'd like to learn more about our legendary leaders, you can meet some more of them here! 

Benefits of Tour Leading with Intrepid 

At Intrepid, we understand our Leaders are the core of our customer experience, and in return, we offer a range of benefits that vary from destination to destination. You can expect:  

• Variety of work/tours   
• Flexible scheduling  
• Discounts off your own travel with Intrepid  
• E-learning platforms to further develop your skillset  
• Full training is provided before you even begin 
• A wealth of career opportunities throughout our global business  
• High levels of on-ground support   
• Reward & recognition programs with company events 

Become a Tour Leader

If you’d like to become a Leader with us, we’d love to hear from you!  We encourage you to check out our  current opportunities  to look over and apply for any opportunities in your region!  Our recruitment is seasonal and each region has different specific requirements for you to lead with us 

If there are no availabilities in the regions you'd like to lead, you can express your interest below and register to receive updates for when we do start recruiting. 

If you’d like to become a Leader with us, we’d love to hear from you! We encourage you to check out our  current opportunities  to look over and apply for any opportunities in your region!  Our recruitment is seasonal and each region has different specific requirements for you to lead with us 

If you’d like to become a Leader with us, we’d love to hear from you!   We encourage you to check out our  current opportunities  to look over and apply for any opportunities in your region!  Our recruitment is seasonal and each region has different specific requirements for you to lead with us 

we are intrepid

We are intrepid.

Our leaders don't simply read from a guidebook, they share who they are, their passion, their love of their culture and region every single day, and they are as unique as the destinations we visit.  Every single day they create positive change through the joy of travel and every day our local leaders change the way travellers see the world.

We recruit for leaders seasonally, if there is nothing advertised for your region and you'd like to hear from us when we start recruiting, we encourage you to express your interest below.

_________________________________________________________

As an Australian-owned business, we acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to their Elders past, present and future.

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10 Tips for Organizing a Community Tour

• More: Preservation Tips and Tools
• By: Sarah Heffern

T wo days of sunny, 60-degree weather this past weekend has me thinking about one of my favorite warm-weather activities: playing history detective in my hometown. Washington, D.C., where I live, offers an amazing variety of tours, from the neighborhood-centric Capitol Hill House and Garden Tour to citywide Walkingtown DC , and pretty much everything in between.

These kinds of historic tours can be a great way for local history-lovers and preservation groups to bring a community together around beloved places (or the desire to sneak a peek inside that big house on Main Street). Are you interested in coordinating one for your town? Here are 10 tips to get you started.

1. Know your goals. If you’re planning a tour on behalf of an organization, make sure your planned activity ties back to your organization’s mission and has a clear focus, whether it’s fundraising, awareness-building, or inspiring action.

2. Decide on a format. Most communities offer myriad options for historic tours: homes, neighborhoods, gardens, etc. Each comes with a unique set of challenges -- including timing and staffing -- so being specific early on will help keep you on track.

Tip: If doing an organized tour seems too daunting, consider the “If this house could talk” model pioneered by the Cambridgeport neighborhood of Cambridge, Mass., in which homeowners shared their history on handmade signs.

3. Identify partners. A homes tour can be a massive undertaking requiring many volunteers and supporters, and partnerships can help ease the burden. Consider reaching out to your local government, civic organizations, schools, and cultural groups for help.

4. Determine oversight. Establish a steering committee with members of the sponsoring organization and partners with the authority to approve budgets (both expenses and projected income), plan schedules, recruit volunteers, and the like.

5. Develop a marketing plan. The only way for your event to be a success is for people to attend, so it’s important to determine who your audience is for the tour, and how to let them know it is happening. Reaching out to local media, preparing signage for participants and local businesses, and getting the word out on social channels should all be part of your plan.

6. Select the homes/gardens/walking tour stops. There are many ways to handle the selection process, but having a theme -- an architectural style, era, neighborhood, or other unifying thread -- makes it easier to choose places. Once you know what you’re looking for, you can solicit nominations or make selections based on appropriate criteria.

7. Research the history of the places selected. Homeowners, in many cases, can shed some light on the story of their house, but a trip to the local library to find additional background on any relevant details (architect, prominent past residents, role in local history) is going to provide a richer experience for tour attendees. ( Check out these additional tips on researching a property’s history .)

8. Prepare the tour brochure. Take all those great historic nuggets you’ve unearthed and turn them into a brochure that highlights the theme of your tour. Include a map and any information the tour-taker will need to successfully navigate the tour. Be sure to include a hashtag for the tour to make it easy to find and share photos and tweets about the event during and after the fact.

9. Recruit and train volunteers. Start with a job description for each of the volunteer positions, including docents (who can either lead formal tours or be available for ad-hoc questions), greeters, ticket-sellers, and any other positions you need to fill. Hold a training session before the tour to make sure everyone is comfortable with their role.

10. Manage logistics. On the day of the tour, be sure to have supplies -- including a cash bank, tickets, a contact list, volunteer assignments, refreshments, first-aid kit, etc. -- on hand in a central location so they can be dispatched wherever needed on short notice. Have a few extra staffers or volunteers on hand to cover any gaps in coverage.

And, of course, the unspoken number 11hope for perfect weather! It’s entirely outside your control, of course, but a pleasant day can make all the difference.

Sarah Heffern, the National Trust's former director of social media, embraces all things online and pixel-centric, but she’s also a hard-core building hugger, having first fallen for historic places in a fifth grade “Built Environment” class.

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This May, our Preservation Month theme is “People Saving Places” to shine the spotlight on everyone doing the work of saving places—in big ways and small—and inspiring others to do the same!

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You can really get to know the locals

A local leader is more than just a guide – they’re your key to mingling with the people. Whether it’s dropping in on the village baker in Assisi for a chat, or meeting a nomadic Berber in Morocco , our leaders are the bridge between you and the friendly locals.

Learn what it means to be a local

Our leaders are true locals – they know the urban legends behind every town square, the handy shortcuts down timeworn alleys, and the traditional dishes you won’t find on the tourist menu. With plenty of stories and tips to share, you’ll feel like an adopted local in no time.

Discover the hidden highlights

Don’t want to miss out on the key sites? Our local leaders will still show you the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain and Roman Forum, but after the tourists get back on the bus and leave they’ll take you down a hidden laneway and show you the 400-year old pizza restaurant that most tourists don’t get to see.

Never run out of ideas for free time

Nothing compares to that feeling of really exploring a city at your own pace; it’s even better when you’ve got a few handy pointers from a local. From tango classes in Buenos Aires to watching a sumo match in Osaka , our leaders can suggest the best ways to fill in your free time at each destination – and even help arrange it for you!

Getting from A to B couldn’t be easier

Our local leaders make your trip as seamless as possible – they’ll book train tickets and bus passes to get you from one destination to the next, make restaurant reservations, organise museum passes and sort the technical details. Most of all, they give you peace of mind so you can spend less time looking at time schedules and more time soaking up the views. 

'Every time I take my group somewhere, I get them to interact with the local people. I have a lot of friends so sometimes I arrange for them to meet my friends – or we go to my house and see my mother. I once had a girl who wanted to try homemade food so she went to my mother’s house and they made it together!'  – Manuel, Peru

'Many people think you put 10 people on a bus and show them some Wikipedia. In reality, we go together to local areas and not many touristy places. We take our travellers to home stays and they have home cooked meals. We give them a local insight and it is honest.' – Emir, Turkey

'Most people that travel with us expect to get the true local Vietnam experience – not only the itinerary but the local customs, local habits in each region, local food. We give them the chance to practice daily Vietnamese life. They can even learn to make rice paper rolls and candy.' – Vinh, Vietnam

Moving towards equality

At Intrepid, we know that our greatest strength lies in our diversity. This is why we strive to promote equality and inclusiveness at every level of our business – whether it’s staff treading the boards at Head Office or a guide leading a group through the back streets of Tokyo . While 21% of our current leaders are female, our goal is to double the number of female leaders globally by 2020. It’s an exciting challenge spanding many countries and cultures, but it's all part of an ongoing effort to promote gender equality and women's independnece. 

Read more about our female leaders

Experience the local difference on our tours

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How we're giving back

When you think about it, working together with local people makes a lot of sense. Not only does it create work opportunities, it also ensures we respect local cultures and support local economies. Tourism is a large source of income for many countries – and we strive to help locals make the most of that.

'I love this job because I can support my family without needing to go abroad. I also love to see people from different parts of the world. Tourism is developing in Myanmar and this is good for the economy. I think Intrepid is great because of our responsible tourism. We are always reducing the risk of negative impacts and the money is always going back to the local people.' –  Joseph,  Myanmar

The Intrepid Foundation

While working with local leaders is a major cornerstone of our business, we believe there’s always more we can do. That’s why we established The Intrepid Foundation . The Foundation works with more than 70 grassroots projects from around the world, supporting initiatives in healthcare, education, gender equality, sustainability and human rights.  Every donation made to The Foundation is matched dollar for dollar by Intrepid Travel.

Here is just one of the organizations The Intrepid Foundation proudly supports:

The Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP)

KPAP is a local organization in Tanzania that supports porters working on Mt Kilimanjaro. Unfortunately there are porters in the industry who work for reduced pay and in poor conditions, often without adequate clothing or equipment. With the assistance of The Intrepid Foundation, KPAP is able to support Kilimanjaro porters by providing advocacy and education. KPAP also works with the travel industry to maintain safe climbing practices for hardworking porters.

You can find out more about KPAP or make a donation by clicking here .

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How to Become a Community Leader

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Community members can improve their livelihood in meaningful ways through community development. (Syme & Ritterman, 2009). Community leadership helps develop and nurture grassroots innovations that improve the quality of life of the community members through active engagement toward common goals (Martiskainen, 2017). Evidence shows that community leaders effectively support, foster, and enable community development (Kirk & Shutte, 2004). The following questions are key to uncover the need of a community and lead changes.

• Are you interested in your community improving?
• What should improve in your community?
• In what way can you contribute to these changes or improvements in your community?
• Is there someone already leading these changes?

What does community leadership mean?

Community leadership is different from the traditional understanding of leadership because community leaders are representatives who ask, persuade, and influence followers (Sullivan, 2007). Community leadership is less hierarchical (Onyx and Leonard, 2011) and often based on volunteer action (Zanbar and Itzhaky, 2013), involving the creation of social capital (Riley, 2012) and improving community members' lives.

Community leaders are usually informal, local, non-elected, and non-exclusive leaders (Bénit-Gbaffou and Katsaura, 2014).  Usually, more than one leader in the community takes voluntary responsibility toward common goals or leading changes. Community leaders must be part of the community in which their leadership operates. Community leadership can exist in various sectors, including health, education, security, and community member emotional support.

How can you start a community care network?

The AARP organization developed a guidebook to help community members to initiate a local care network. The essential seven initial steps are summarized below:

• Learn about your community and its needs. Meet and talk with your neighbors every chance you have to learn about their current situations.  You might collect ideas to improve your community. Also, ask whether people would like to meet and discuss developing caring community teams. A survey might be a helpful option to collect ideas and opinions.
• Find collaborative team leaders. Recognize the main things people want and decide on a few teams to cover those things. Organize those who want to help into those teams and identify someone who can be the team leader.
• Engage team leaders and the whole community . Once you have identified teams, hold a get-together to discuss how the teams might implement some easy ideas generated from the survey results. Please encourage them to find an effective communication method to keep connected and keep the community informed.
• Offer help and invite your neighbors to join various projects. Be sure to tell them whom to contact if they need a hand. Even if specific needs are not apparent, you can start planning a community project like establishing a safety or emergency protocol.
• Start helping. Organize a team to cover specific community needs; if the project exceeds the capacity of your teams, ask additional community members to lend a hand. Usually, people are willing to help for special causes. Be sure to make all those requests in a way that is comfortable for the person you are helping.
• Build on what you started. Reflect with your teams and community about how you reached the goal or fulfilled the need. Ask for honest and constructive feedback. Keep your community constantly connected through social meetings and events.
• Inspire others to create more caring communities. You can also be a mentor to others on their leadership pathways.

Becoming a community leader.

Few people are born leaders. Usually, individuals learn how to lead over time. Some of the ways a person can learn to lead are by:

• Immersion into practice
• Observing other leaders
• Having a mentor
• Reading, taking leadership classes, or training.

Common Qualities Displayed by Good Community Leaders.

The role of a community leader is not to fix all the community's problems but rather to work together with the community members. Community leaders mobilize and guide others, facilitate the problem-solving and decision-making processes, and innovate to benefit the community itself.

The following qualities are the most common qualities displayed by successful community leaders. These qualities were summarized from the community toolbox (2021):

Integrity: To trust you, people need to know that you act according to what you say and are reliable.  If people trust you, they will likely follow and collaborate with you on your initiatives and projects.

Courage: Leadership constantly involves challenges, where taking risks and showing others the appropriate path is crucial. Challenge yourself to speak the truth - even when it is not popular.

Commitment: Commit to a task when you sign up for it, no matter how hard it could be. If you need to, find help to complete it or find strategies to make it more doable. Your commitment can be a positive model for your community members.

Care about others: People will follow and respect you when you care and raise your concerns about community members and local issues. The greater your ability to care about others, the more confidence and collaboration you will receive from community members.

Creativity and flexibility: Be prepared for change, develop alternative plans and new solutions.

Bénit‐Gbaffou, C., & Katsaura, O. (2014). Community Leadership and the Construction of Political Legitimacy: Unpacking Bourdieu's 'Political Capital' in Post‐Apartheid Johannesburg.  International Journal of Urban and Regional Research ,  38 (5), 1807-1832.

Kirk, P., & Shutte, A. M. (2004). Community leadership development.  Community Development Journal ,  39 (3), 234-251.

Martiskainen, M. (2017). The role of community leadership in the development of grassroots innovations.  Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions ,  22 , 78-89.

Onyx, J., & Leonard, R. J. (2011). Complex systems leadership in emergent community projects.  Community Development Journal ,  46 (4), 493-510.

Syme, S. L., & Ritterman, M. L. (2009). The importance of community development for health and well-being.  Community Development Investment Review ,  5 (3), 1-13.

Sullivan, H. (2007). 'Interpreting' community 'leadership' in English local government.  Policy & Politics ,  35 (1), 141-161.

Zanbar, L., & Itzhaky, H. (2013). Community activists' competence: The contributing factors.  Journal of Community Psychology ,  41 (2), 249-263.

AARP- How to Build A Caring Community Network (PDF)

The community toolbox - Section 1. Learning How to Be a Community Leader

Guide for Conducting Community Leader Interviews (PDF)

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Tour Operator Terminology

On this page we’ll try to clearly define the terms you need to know to run a tour business, and interact in our  Tourpreneur Facebook Group .

General Tour Industry Terms

• Tour This is a catch-all term that implies a type of travel experience that takes place over time, generally visiting multiple sights. It could last 1 hour or 30 days, and be done as a walk, or in vehicle. It could be a solo traveler or a group of 50 people. Other words might be used to describe the same thing:  tour, experience, journey, excursion , etc. It usually implies something organized, either by the traveler themselves, or a tour operator, who designs and delivers a tour for a traveler or group of travelers.
• Guest/Customer/Client/Passenger/Participant/Traveler Thanks to Disney,  guest  is what we generally use to refer to our customers. Why the difference? “Customer” implies a financial relationship, whereas  guest  relates more to a personal connection and a sense of welcome and hospitality. But it’s the same as customer, passenger (PAX), traveler, etc., and different companies will prefer different terminology.
• Guide / Tour Guide / Tourist Guide “tour guide” is used more often in Anglophone countries, especially in the U.S., whereas “Tourist Guide” is used in Europe and elsewhere globally.
• Tour Leader/Tour Director/Tour Manager/Tour Escort/Trip Leader This role goes by many different names. It refers to a guide who works over multiple days, usually traveling with a group of guests to multiple cities or regions. In addition to delivering commentary about the locations visited, a tour leader also handles the tour logistics, including working with the motor coach driver, staying on schedule, checking into hotels, meals and activities on time. 
• Interpreter A guide working often at National Parks or heritage sights; interpretation theory is a 100-year old body of theoretical work focused on strategies for helping individuals make their audience connect with and care for the site that’s being interpreted.
• Docent The name sometimes used for a guide usually in a museum or cultural heritage sight.
• Day Tour A type of experience that begins and ends in the same day. Usually used to distinguish an experience from a multi-day tour.
• Multi-Day Tour Any type of experience that lasts for more than one day. Often includes hotels, meals, short activities, and a form of transportation.
• Package Tour A kind of experience (usually multi-day) in which several different components are bundled together: it may or may not include airfare, hotels, guided experiences, meals, etc.
• Group Tour You’ll see these terms used differently to a kind of experience in which separate individuals or smaller groups come together to share an experience. Group tours can be  public  or  private .
• Public Tour As the name implies, this is a tour that’s open to the general public to sign up. The tour therefore consists of a variety of people who don’t already know each other. A public tour is usually offered at a set time and day.
• Private Tour A tour that is sold specifically to an already-organized group of travelers who don’t wish to experience the tour with others. A private tour might be a couple, a small group of friends, or a large church group. Private tours might be at a set time, or organized according to group’s specific needs.
• Custom Tour A custom tour is usually also a private tour.  Custom  refers to the operator crafting an experience customized to the specific demands of a client. A tour operator might be engaged by a client to design a unique experience, for one person or a large group.
• Pre-Formed/Affinity Group These are commonly used terms in the multi-day tour space to refer to a group tour not made up of individual solo travelers & couples, but instead of an alread-formed large group of travelers. An “affinity group” shares a common trait—they belong to a church, a retirement community, or a family reunion traveling together, for example. A pre-formed group might also be created by a “Group Leader” who sells a tour  for  a tour operator ,  often in exchange for a free trip or a commission.
• Escorted Tour Used most often in the multi-day tour space, an escorted tour means you’re traveling with an escort (old fashioned term), more commonly referred to today as a tour manager, tour director, tour leader, or trip leader. The TM’s job is to handle the logistics of keeping the group together, checked into hotels, arranging meals, etc. They work  for  the tour operator.
• Guided Tour In short, an organized excursion led by an individual or individuals. “Tour Guide” is the generalized term, but a guide could be a museum “docent” or an adventure guide, tour leader, etc.
• Self-Guided Tour This has two different meanings, one related to technology, one related to nature. When talking about mobile phone apps, a self-guided tour is one usually done in-destination using audio recordings and GPS data to guide an individual along a tour route, sharing recorded stories. In the world of adventure tours, a self-guided tour happens when an individual hires a tour operator to provide guidance in the form of itineraries, maps, possibly technology, all to facilitate an extended journey involving walking, hiking, biking, etc.
• FAM Tour A “familiarization” tour, focused on helping one set of professionals (travel agents, for example) learn about a destination, or about vendors in an area. A group of tour guides might take a FAM tour to a new attraction that opened in town, to become familiar with it. A group of travel agents might sign up for a FAM to a destination that they’ll then sell to clients.
• FIT Tour Very confusing term. It’s evolved over time. It once meant “foreign independent travel” but now is more often thought of as “flexible independent travel.” The goal is to distinguish this kind of independent traveler from someone who buys into a packaged group tour. FIT is more associated with a client who engages with a travel agent or operator to design something that suits their specific customized needs. 
• Activity An activity is usually different than a tour in that it is less about guided sightseeing and more about doing something, well, activity based. Examples might be watersports, biking, hiking, etc.
• Attraction Think amusement parks, museums, and the Eiffel Tower. What do they all have in common? They require tickets, they’re single place-based experiences, and rather than do them in groups, thousands of people pour in at once, with no specific booked time requirements (unless doing so for crowd control or pandemic related reasons).
• “Tours & Activities Industry” This is just one of many ways to talk about our industry. You’ll also hear Tours, Attractions & Activities, 
• DMO/CVB/Tourism Board A Tourism Board or Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) or Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) are all essentially the same thing. — an organization (public, private, or a mix) whose goal it is to promote a destination, be it a city, region or country. Examples include  NYC & Company  and  Visit Scotland .
• MICE Pronounced like the animal, stands for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events. From a tour perspective, this is where an operator might work with a CVB (see above) to organize tours for business customers hosting or attending a conference in a location. Incentive tours are reward experiences that a company offers a group of employees.
• B2B Tour operators who work with other operators 

Types of Tour Operators

• Tour Operator A business that organizes and sells tours. They sell to a customer, and possibly work with vendors (hotels, restaurants, vehicle companies, etc.) to create an organized tour experience. In short, operators do the grunt work.
• Travel Agent/Agency In general, an agency works with travelers, and books travel components to relieve the traveler’s burden of figuring it out on their own. An agency might book a tour operator’s tour as part of the services they provide the travel, in exchange for a commission from the operator.
• [insert word here]  Operator Tour Operator is a general term, but that’s not the only kind of operator out there. You might also be an adventure operator, watersports operator, ATV rental operator, you name it. But in all cases, you’re not an agency booking someone else’s service, you’re providing the service yourself.
• Day (or Multi-Day) Tour Operator Both are subsets of “tour operators” in general. It might be used in the Tourpreneur community when we’re referring to the specific challenges of a specific kind of operator, since the products and challenges of each type of tour can be very different.
• Inbound / Receptive Operator /  DMC (destination management company) These are all versions of the same thing, with terminology that is sometimes preferred over the other words for various reasons. This kind of tour operator creates experiences in a certain location (often a specific city or a region or country), working B2B with tour operators or corporate entities needing local knowledge and connections.  Receptive operator  is an older term meaning they “receive” clients who are coming in (or inbound) from somewhere else.
• Outbound Operator This version of tour operator (usually multi-day) designs experiences that take guests elsewhere. An outbound operator might be based somewhere (Australia, for example) but focus on creating trips that send their Australian customers outbound to other countries.

Sales, Marketing & Software Terms

• SEO Search Engine Optimization—the art of optimizing your website and online presence to bring your content to the top of search engine results (principally Google).
• PPC Means “Pay-per-click” and references the kind of digital advertising done by companies like Google: you create an advertisement to appear in search engine results, for example, and you pay for that ad a specific market rate each time someone clicks on your link.
• OTA Online Travel Agency—this is a catch-all term for a wide variety of online marketplaces servicing the travel industry, selling everything from rental cars to flights to hotels to tours. An OTA in the general industry might refer to big players like Expedia or Booking.com; in the tour industry, it refers to companies like Viator (the largest tour OTA) and GetYourGuide. There is a long tail of “niche OTAs” that serve specific types of tours and activities (like watersports) or a specific region.
• Online Marketplace / Platform This is a more general term for the kind of website platform (like Viator) that sells a wide variety of tours online. Think Guide Marketplaces like ToursByLocals or Withlocals, companies that curate large amounts of guides, but aren’t traditional OTAs like viator.
• Restech/Booking Software You’ll hear “restech” (alternately reztech, rez-tech, etc…) as a fast way to refer to the software industry centered around creating helping tour operators accept online bookings, and keep those bookings organized. The largest companies in this space work mainly with day tour operators.
• Tour Operator Software Different than booking software/restech, TO software offers an extended suite of features meant to help operators across their whole business, from operators to itinerary proposals to budgeting and pricing. This software may include a booking/payment component, but is a much more fully integrated and holistic (and expensive) solution.
• SaaS Short for “Software as a Service” — this is how the tech industry refers usually subscription-based websites or software that help you do something. Examples of SaaS include booking software and CRMs.
• Supplier In the language of selling tours to customers on a platform, tour operators are suppliers; you  supply  tours that are then  re-sold  by the platform.
• Connectivity This is the dark art of how you, the operator (supplier) connect to sales channels.
• Distributor/Reseller These are sales channels that sell tickets to your tours on behalf of you. They could be everything from an online marketplace like Viator and GetYourGuide, to a personal travel agent or hotel concierge..
• Channel Manager This is software that helps you manager all your different sales channels in one place.

Organize a travel group

What’s better than traveling the world? Doing it for free. Our Group Coordinator program lets you share your passion for travel (and food, and history) with others—plus awesome perks, including a free spot on tour for every six travelers who join you.

How it works

Our Group Coordinator community is a diverse crew with one thing in common—a passion for sharing the world with others. Whether you’re the person in your circle who plans all the fun, a leader of your book club looking to visit the setting of your favorite novel, or a lifelong educator, you could be the perfect fit. Here’s how we can help you make your travel dreams a reality.

We’ll match you with a Tour Consultant who’ll share the details of becoming a Group Coordinator and help you plan your trip. Count on them for help every step of the way. Call us at 1-800-438-7672 to get started.

Choose from 200+ immersive, guided tours with curated itineraries that your group members will love (Spoiler alert: They’re all pretty dreamy.) We take care of everything, from accommodations to zip lining.

The more travelers you recruit, the more rewards you’ll pile up. (It takes effort, but we’re here to help you succeed.) So, invite friends, family, neighbors—anyone with an appetite for adventure—to hit the road with you.

Enjoy all the sightseeing and pasta-twirling—and do it all over again thanks to our travel rewards . Our community is here to help you dream up a travel program you (and your travelers) will keep coming back to.

Rewards and perks you won’t get anywhere else

Inspiring fellow travelers and stoking their travel fire is half the fun of being a Group Coordinator. It’s also real work that we love to reward. That’s why we offer our Group Coordinators the best travel loyalty program and perks out there (and tons of resources and support to make it all happen).

Free spot on tour

For every six travelers you bring, you’ll earn a free spot on tour—with no limit to the number of free spaces you can earn or tours you can take. You won’t find this offer anywhere else.

Personalized benefits that go far (just like our 200+ expertly planned guided trips)

Earn commission.

We’ll help you find the commission structure that makes the most sense (and fun) for the program you want to build. Flexibility is built in.

Discounts you can share

Sweeten the deal for your travelers with discounts on tours, as well as unforgettable add-ons. Did someone say sunset Santorini cruise?

Stellar rewards that add up fast

Our unmatched loyalty program, Global Rewards , lets you earn points to redeem on Convention Tours, on-tour experiences, and more.

Exclusive Convention Tours

We design special trips—to spectacular places—just for Group Coordinators, so you can swap everything from travel stories to recruiting strategies.

Meet some of our Group Coordinators

The fun friend who plans themed movie nights and hosts epic dinners. The bon vivant who lives for bringing people together. The adventurer who’s always dreaming up a new escape, whether to the next town over or a time zone half a world away. These are a few of the folks who make up our Group Coordinator community—a bunch of curious, adventurous explorers who share a passion for travel. And if you’re anything like them, you’ll fit right in.

Get to know some of our Group Coordinators →

We’re all curious and interested in learning. We love to discover. And we’re a little irreverent. Word of mouth just spreads when you’re all enthusiastic and passionate about the same things.

—Group Coordinator Dan

Working with Go Ahead, I can see the change that has been made in so many of my friends’ lives.

—Group Coordinator Debbie

Now that you know how it works, let’s talk support

As a Group Coordinator, we’ll never ask you to go it alone. We’ve got your back with dedicated consultants and mentors (who started out just like you) to inspire you and guide you as you make travel happen.

A Go Ahead team just for you

Your dedicated Tour Consultant will help you choose the right trip, or plan a Private or Customized Tour to suit your group. Your Account Manager will be at the ready to assist with everything from travelers’ payments to insurance options and so much more.

Mentorship opportunities

You’ll meet and connect with our Global Ambassadors. These veteran Group Coordinators have learned a thing or two over the years, and they’re eager to share their expertise—and experiences—anytime you need it.

Our free mobile app

You can use it to recruit travelers, view group members’ account status, track progress toward your group-size goal, and communicate with your group members before and during your tour—to name just a few of its handy features.

A personalized tour website

Share the link to inspire potential travelers, spread the word about your trip, and keep existing group members up to speed on your tour’s details.

Recruiting materials

To help you recruit travelers, we’ll send you personalized flyers, posters, and presentation templates to spread the word. You’ll also have access to the Group Coordinator Handbook and an online toolkit with trainings and resources.

A private Facebook group

Sign in to ask questions, share tips and strategies, post on-tour photos, and chat all things travel with other members of our Group Coordinator community .

Ready? You’ve got this. And we’ve got your back. Call us at 1-800-438-7672 or request details now.

Your best picks for epic trips

Check out handpicked tours Group Coordinators and their crews love, brimming with experiences they’ll never forget. Hot-air-balloon rides high above the Nile and rainforest kayaking in Costa Rica? Built right in.

4.6 out of 5 stars

4.7 out of 5 stars

4.8 out of 5 stars

4.9 out of 5 stars

4.4 out of 5 stars

Frequently asked questions

Here are some questions that potential Group Coordinators often ask.

As a Go Ahead Group Coordinator, you’ll earn one free spot on tour for every six travelers you bring with you. The easiest way to earn your free spot is by recruiting at least six full-paying travelers for your trip, but we also offer a variety of other options to fit your group’s unique needs that you can discuss with your Tour Consultant. Call us at 1-800-438-7672 to find out more.

Many Group Coordinators have existing networks of potential travelers. Think: friends, family, neighbors, colleagues, book club members, hairstylists… you get the idea!

Your dedicated Tour Consultant and Account Manager will support you throughout the process of planning your tour and growing your group of travelers. Our team will create a personalized website, flyers, slideshow, reservation forms, and business cards that you can use to spread the word.

You’ll also receive access to an online Group Coordinator Toolkit, which is full of resources that make creating and growing your group of travelers easy.

When you join EF Go Ahead Tours as a Group Coordinator, you become part of a supportive travel community.

You’ll be paired with a dedicated Tour Consultant and Account Manager who’ll help you with every step of the process. We’ll also make you personalized materials to help spread the word, like posters, business cards, and your own webpage. Plus, you’ll have access to an online Group Coordinator Toolkit full of helpful resources, info, and advice about getting travelers to join you on tour. Give us a call at 1-800-438-7672 to get started.

Choosing EF Go Ahead Tours means exploring the world on expertly-planned guided tours, sharing your travels with others, and earning rewards along the way. We’re backed by over 55 years of experience and the EF Education First global network, educational heritage, and local-everywhere expertise.

As a Group Coordinator, you’ll:

• Earn the industry’s best benefits, including free travel
• Enjoy the perks of Global Rewards , our industry-leading loyalty program
• Be part of a supportive community of passionate travelers & Go Ahead staff
• Travel the world on culturally immersive tours guided by experts

We offer more than 200 expertly-planned guided tours across the globe. Each includes staff-vetted hotels, comfortable transportation, sightseeing with local guides, authentic meals, an expert Tour Director, and much more. There are a few different ways you can join us to explore the world as a Group Coordinator.

• You and your travelers can join any of our 200+ pre-planned itineraries .
• With 10 travelers or more, you can make any of our trips a Private Tour . That means your trip is exclusive to your group, and you can choose the departure date that works best for you.
• With 14 travelers or more, you can dream up your own Customized Tour tailored to your group’s interests.

We partner with organizations looking to make a difference in their members’ lives, whether it’s on alumni travel tours, trips with local banks, special interest tours through community organizations, or spiritual tours through religious organizations.

We offer flexible benefits packages so you can choose what works best. You can generate revenue for your organization, earn a free spot on tour for a community leader, or create a custom benefits package that suits your group’s needs. Read more about our corporate partnerships .

Zurich Classic of New Orleans

TPC Louisiana

Avondale, Louisiana • USA

Apr 25 - 28, 2024

25 - 28 Apr 2024

ISPS HANDA - CHAMPIONSHIP

Taiheiyo Club, Gotemba Course, Gotemba, Japan

DP World Tour Partners

Claudia Looi

Moscow Communist Tour: A Two-Hour Walking Tour in Moscow

By Claudia Looi Leave a Comment

Follow the leader in Moscow Communist Walking Tour

As the tour name implies, the Moscow Communist Tour highlights the history and places impacted by communism from 1917 to Perestroika. Everyday at 4pm just before the evening rush hour, travelers gather at Lubyanka Square, in front of the Solovetsky Stone Monument to meet the Communist tour guide.

We were asked to do the same.

To get there we took the metro to Lubyanka metro station located just under the square. At 3:45pm when we arrived at the square no one looked like tourists at all. I was a little nervous because all communication was via email with Moscow Free Tour Company the day before. Did the group leave without us?

A woman forced us to take her brochure in Russian. It had something to do with an election. As I sat on the green bench, another lady came over and sat next to me. She didn’t look like a tourist to me. Meanwhile my husband and teens were exploring around the park.

The communist walking tour started when Irina arrived with several tourists who already joined her earlier on another tour called the free Moscow walking tour. The Communist tour isn’t free. After collecting cash from all the tourists including us, Irina pointed to the yellow building. She said it was the KGB headquarters. Inside and underground were secret passageways and prisons. Unfortunately we didn’t step into the KGB headquarters or visit the passageways and prisons.

KGB Building

Before we left the square she pointed to the Solovetsky Stone Monument. The monument was constructed to commemorate those who were victims of Soviet-era torture and persecution.

Solovetsky Stone Monument

From the KGB headquarters we walked on the Theatralnyy Road to the historic Metropol Hotel owned by the KGB. Known as the Tower of Babel of the 20 th century, Metropol Hotel was opened in 1901 with all luxury amenities like hot water, refrigerator, elevators and telephones. Foreign dignitaries that visited the former Soviet Union were housed at the Metropol.

Metropole Hotel Moscow

During the Soviet-era the hotel was also called the Second House of Soviets where Chicherin, Sverdlov and Bukharin lived and worked.

Next to the hotel is the Revolution Square, an important square during the 1917 Revolution.

Revolution Square Moscow

In front of the Bolshoi Theater

Across the street from the Metropol is the famous Bolshoi Theater. We were at the Bolshoi to see the CCCP letters. These are some of the remnants seen throughout the Communist Tour.

Bolshoi Theater

CCCP inscription at the Bolshoi Theater

From there we were told to be aware of the next stop, the Gulag Museum. It would walk deeper into the dark and eerie past of the Soviet-era. While walking, there was definitely no signs of communism. Everything around the area was posh and luxurious. We passed by shops, restaurants, outdoor cafes on Petrovka Street and the intersection of the famous Arbat Street, the pedestrian shopping street of Moscow .

Arbat Street

Porsche, Mercedes, Audi, BMW and many more luxurious cars were parked on the street. Not just one or two luxurious cars, there were over 10, all parked in a row outside boutiques and restaurants.

Gulag an acronym for Chief Administration of Corrective Labor Camps and Colonies was the Soviet forced labor camp systems during Stalin’s rule from the 30s to 50s. Countless prisoners spent years detained and forced into hard labor in these labor camps. Today the museum guides are dressed liked the guards.

Just outside the museum the atmosphere was totally different. Russian wealth is looming. As I walked on Stoleshnikov Pereulok street, every shop was showing signs of lavishness and indulgence with stores like Ferragamo, Jimmy Choo, Versace, Prada and the likes. It is the most expensive street in Russia.

On Tverskaya Street we stop by Moscow Bookstore, one of the oldest and biggest bookstores in Moscow. Inside we went downstairs to look at reprints of Soviet propaganda posters. It was not appropriate to take photos. So I don’t have photos inside the bookstore and photos of the propaganda posters.

We went to Moscow bookstore to look at old Soviet-era posters.

Tverskaya Street

Eliseevsky, the famous grocery store is a must visit store in Moscow. Opened since 1901 and through the Soviet-era, this luxurious grocery sells all types of caviar, sausages, cured meat, cheeses, wine, dips, chocolates and more, just like when it was first started.

Eliseevsky the famous neo-Baroque grocery store in Moscow. Open over a 100 years ago by Gregory Eliseev. Inside are crystal chandeliers and all sorts of caviar, even Tolstoy wrote about it in Anna Karenina.

The most interesting part of the tour inside this grocery store was not the food items. It was the crystal chandeliers, high arches and interesting décor. It is located in the historic part of Moscow on Tverskaya. The question was, “Why was this grocery store run continuously even through the Soviet-era?”

The Communist Tour ends at Pushkinskaya Square (Pushkin Square). Unfortunately the two-hour tour did not have toilet stops and news was McDonald’s at Pushkinskaya Square was closed two weeks prior to our visit. It had the most decent toilets in the area and the only place where you could easily use the toilets.

Having no choice and needing to find a toilet we made our way to an Armenian Restaurant across the street from McDonald’s. This is a beautiful restaurant with views of the street and square. The food was amazingly delicious and expensive.

I recommend this tour if you are looking for a tour that provides stories and a two-hour walk around Moscow city center. We paid 950 rubles per adult and 550 rubles per student for the Communist Tour in September 2014.

Information: Moscow Free Tours 

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Community leaders tour Keefer House Hotel for renovations update

HILLSDALE — Nick Fox, the vice president of construction management for CL Real Estate , and Brant Cohen provided guided tours to community leaders and members of the press last week at the historic Keefer House Hotel in downtown Hillsdale.

Tours started in the basement of the historic hotel where Fox highlighted the steel support beams and floor joists that were added to the standing joists for structural support and walked through the basement’s newly poured concrete floor as he explained issues with standing water that slowed redevelopment efforts.

Fox said the entirety of the basement floor was torn out and dug down 18 inches to address roughly eight inches of standing water. Seven new sump pumps were installed with drainage to alleviate the issues before a new concrete floor was poured.

The tour progressed through each floor as Fox explained the status of work being done to revitalize the dilapidated and once vacant structure.

With structural work nearing completion, masons, carpenters, electricians and plumbers are now working side by side to frame walls and install utility rough-ins, Fox said.

Over the next several months crews will continue building out the interior of the hotel and development of the on-site restaurant is in the works.

“We are happy that all construction problems could be solved and the project is now on track to open its doors in 2024,” said Peter Limberger, Chairman of CL Enterprises. “We believe it will be a great addition to the city of Hillsdale and will become a destination for leisure and business travelers.”

The city’s Tax Increment Finance Authority Chair, Drew Gelzer, was one of the community leaders invited for a tour April 5.

“After touring the Keefer House Hotel, I am pleased to report that the project is well underway,” Gelzer said. “It was inspiring to view the progress made since my last update thirty days ago. I want to compliment CLRED and Phoenix Builders on their diligence and attention to detail as they bring the Keefer House Hotel back to life and I cannot wait to see the building finished.

CLRED and the city of Hillsdale’s TIFA have come under fire from residents and business owners downtown alike frustrated with a perceived lack of progress on renovations.

CLRED — the developer who purchased the once vacant building in 2017 with big hopes for economic development in the downtown — even drew criticism from the city council in 2023 for a perceived lack of progress over the last several years with deadlines passing and new deadlines fading.

The Keefer House Hotel was initially anticipated to be open by November 2022 but issues with the global supply chain and inflation caused by COVID-19 delayed the grand re-opening.

The city’s Tax Increment Finance Authority purchased the Dawn Theater and Keefer House Hotel years ago with the goal of redeveloping the once vacant properties in the interest of economic development in the downtown Hillsdale.

Subscribe Now: For all the latest local developments, breaking news and high school sports content.

Since then, the TIFA board has completed renovations of the Dawn Theater, which has since re-opened, under management by CLRED.

Ideally, once the hotel is opened again, the company will work to pair entertainment at the Dawn Theater with hotel accommodations at the Keefer House Hotel which will include a restaurant and 34 rooms for guests as well as two new retail spaces.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer made a surprise visit to Hillsdale in the fall of 2021 to tour the Keefer House Hotel with CL Real Estate and city officials involved in the project.

— Contact Reporter Corey Murray at [email protected] or follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @cmurrayHDN.

This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Community leaders tour Keefer House Hotel for renovations update

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Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry share lead in team event at TPC of Louisiana

AVONDALE, La. — Rory McIlroy is enjoying his first visit to New Orleans — on and off the course.

McIlroy and Shane Lowry shot an 11-under 61 in fourball play Thursday for a share of the first-round lead in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the PGA Tour’s only team event.

The Irish duo shared the lead with the teams of Ryan Brehm-Mark Hubbard, Ben Kohles-Patton Kizzire and Aaron Rai-David Lipsky.

Davis Thompson-Andrew Novak, Thomas Detry-Robert MacIntyre and Cameron Champ-M.J. Daffue were at 62 Twenty teams were 9 under or better on a crowded leaderboard at TPC of Louisiana.

McIlroy’s introduction to New Orleans included a sampling of crab beignets from popular restaurant La Petite Grocery on Wednesday night, a meal he shared with Lowry. On Thursday, they feasted on the Pete Dye layout, birdieing their first four holes.

“I’ve had a wonderful time so far,” McIlroy said. “I’ve only been here a couple of days but we’re staying downtown. It’s a cool city, great food scene.”

McIlroy had the team’s first three birdies, although on the par-5 second Lowry was inches away but watched as his teammate knocked in a putt of about 4 feet. After a pair of pedestrian pars, they birdied four of the next six holes before closing out with a birdie on the par-5 18th to gain a share of the lead.

“We both played nice golf,” Lowry said, emphasizing the importance getting off to a fast start. “We both made some nice birdies and contributed to the team, and I think we’re very happy with the day.”

Brehm and Hubbard mirrored McIlroy and Lowry with four opening birdies. The team made the turn in 6-under par 30 and bookended birdies on the 10th and 11th and 17th and 18th holes on the back nine.

“Just like usual, we ham-and-egged it,” Brehm said. “I don’t think either of us were feeling amazing about our games coming into the day, but we just feed off each other really well. “I was doing a lot of spectating today.”

Russ Cochran, the oldest player in the field at 65, made his first PGA Tour star since 2013, teaming with Eric Cole for a 69 that left them tied for 73rd. Cochran’s son, Reed Cochran, is Cole’s caddie. Cole had a hole-in-one on No. 14.

On Friday, they will play alternative shot.

“Looking forward to getting out in foursomes tomorrow,” Lowry said. “It’s a format that’s tougher, but it is an enjoyable format.

McIlroy was noncommittal Thursday when asked if he and Lowry would attend the popular New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on Friday afternoon. The duo have an 8:53 a.m. tee time Friday.

“Who’s playing tomorrow night, do you know?” McIlroy asked his good friend.

“No, I’m not going out anywhere,” Lowry said with a laugh. “I’m staying out of trouble.”

Jazz Fest notwithstanding, McIlroy joked he hopes the pairing has a late tee time Saturday, meaning they will be close to the lead.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

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Around Town: A concert to help inspire the youth

Mike McGinley Around Town

We’re witnessing a remarkable time for Junior Achievement of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Recently we saw 3,500 high school students march through JA Inspire, an interactive two-day career exploration at Mohegan Sun Pennsylvania. It encouraged students to think about career paths, possible professions and their futures.

I was so happy to partake in the first day and greet the droves of students as they arrived along with their teachers. I serve as vice-chair of the JA Board of Directors.

Students from all over Luzerne, Lackawanna and Wyoming countries attended.

While some weren’t sure what to expect, many remembered the interactive opportunities from last year. And there was no shortage of those experiences thanks to inspiring influencers on hand, breakout rooms, games and activities the students were able to take advantage of.

Thanks to the generosity of Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services & DiscoverNEPA, along with other fabulous sponsors, JA Inspire was able to happen.

There are other programs throughout the year that require funding, too, and awareness is key in order to keep the momentum going.

That’s why Rock to Inspire, a concert with Teddy Young & The Rugged Individuals (Teddy Young, Bill Sordoni and Scott Henry) will take place Friday, May 10, at The River Street Jazz Café in Plains Township.

The event benefits Junior Achievement and will allow us to keep the momentum going, fresh off the success of JA Inspire. Funding will be used for programming like upcoming YES! Days – interactive, hands-on programming introducing tweens and teens to the trades, manufacturing, career clusters, and interview skills.

Teddy Young is a local blues legend. He and his friends are excited to perform for a good cause starting at 6 p.m. that night (full band starts at 7 p.m.).

If you’re like me and love a nice, early concert (show ends at 10 p.m.), then this is a show for you.

Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. The link to get tickets is: holdmyticket.com/event/424095. You can also find more information on JA’s social media pages (search Junior Achievement of NEPA on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn).

We’re excited about the music, but even more excited about pairing JA with a night of artistry and creativity.

It’s for a good cause, but it’s also a way for JA supporters to gather, hear what’s coming up next and keep that momentum going for the students we serve.

I hope to see you Friday, May 10, at The River Street Jazz Café.

Mike McGinley is a Times Leader columnist who is often called a man about town. Email him thoughts at [email protected] .

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2024 Zurich Classic leaderboard, scores: Rory McIlroy & Shane Lowry hold share of lead entering weekend

Mcilroy and lowry remain on top of a crowded leaderboard as competition enters its third day.

The 2024 Zurich Classic toughened up Friday after some relatively free-flowing play in the first round. Instead of best ball format where teams get to take the better of their players' two scores on each hole, Round 2 was alternate shot where teammates often left their partners in terrible positions.

Nobody, it seemed, was immune. Matt Fitzpatrick missed a shockingly short putt that his brother, Alex, had to clean up. Will Zalatoris flubbed a shot from the woods on a thick bed of pine straw that Sahith Theegala had to come in and try to address.

Even the co-leaders, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, had their moments. 

"I missed a pretty short one on 18 and then another one on the second," Lowry said. "I started to get a little bit into myself, but to roll that one in [at the fourth hole for par] was nice, and to play the last few holes the way we did was really nice, too.

"I think a bit of a lesson there for myself to kind of keep going and just keep trying and keep plugging away. We did that today, and I'm pretty happy how we finished."

How they finished was birdie-birdie-par to shoot a 2-under 70 and maintain a share of the lead after 36 holes of play at 13 under. 

It's a crowded leaderboard, though, which should make for a fun few days of play this weekend at the Zurich Classic. Let's take a closer look at the second round and what to expect on Saturday and Sunday.

The leaders

T1. Davis Thompson & Andrew Novak (-13) T1. Aaron Rai & David Lipsky (-13) T1. Rory McIlroy & Shane Lowry (-13) T1. Ryan Brehm & Mark Hubbard (-13)

Obviously, McIlroy and Lowry are the headliners among this group, especially after shooting 61 to open play as they also co-led after Day 1. Given their firepower, they could follow that with something similar in the second best ball portion of the event Sunday. They are an endearing team, one that is easy to cheer, but also they work well together as McIlroy pointed out on Friday after their 70.

"As Shane said, after those it's easy to sort of get hard on yourself," he explained. "I was just trying to keep him as positive as possible and just remind him that I'm here and I'm here to back him up in any way that I can. So, yeah, just trying to keep him positive."

Not every team in this field is as tight-knit as McIlroy and Lowry, and while that can sometimes work against two players, in this instance of these two playing together for the first time at this event, it seems to be working in their favor.

Other contenders

T5. Callum Tarren & David Skinns (-12) T5. Nick Taylor & Adam Hadwin (-12) T5. Zach Johnson & Ryan Palmer (-12) T5. Patrick Cantlay & Xander Schauffele (-12)

Cantlay and Schauffele made a late run at this 13-under lead but bogeyed the par-5 last to fall into a tie for fifth. Still, they shot a round-of-the-day 67 in alternate shot and will be terrifying if they're anywhere close to the lead after best ball on Saturday.  For whatever reason -- perhaps because they are top 10 players in the world, perhaps because they play together all the time, or perhaps because they have so much experience in this format -- they have been among the best alternate shot teams at this event ever and hold the record in that format at 63. 

There is nobody I would trust more Sunday.

Rick Gehman and Kyle Porter recap Friday foursomes at the 2024 Zurich Classic. Follow & listen to The First Cut on  Apple Podcasts  and  Spotify .

2024 Zurich Classic updated odds, picks

Odds via Sportsline consensus

• Rory McIlroy & Shane Lowry: 13/5
• Patrick Cantlay & Xander Schauffele: 7/2
• Andrew Novak & Davis Thompson: 9-1
• Nick Taylor & Adam Hadwin: 10-1
• Corey Conners & Taylor Pendrith: 12-1
• Aaron Rai & David Lipsky: 14-1
• Ryan Brehm & Mark Hubbard: 16-1

I really like the Canadian duo of Taylor and Hadwin, who are 12 under and just one back of the lead. There are currently 39 teams that are within five of the lead, though, which is a crazy number. The bigger problem for Taylor and Hadwin is that they have two Ryder Cup duos ahead of them. Still, Taylor is one of the more underrated players in the world, and both of those guys can get scorching. If they can ham and egg it at the right time on Saturday, they could hold the lead on Sunday.

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Soviet Tour in Moscow

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Description

Highlights:.

• Explore a massive Soviet Park VDNKh (or VVC);
• Experience this special feeling of the good old Soviet times & dark and gloomy Cold War era;
• Get to the highest spot in Moscow city and one of the deepest metro in the world;
• Find out the rough truth about the insane 900-day siege of Leningrad (present St Petersburg);
• Take in the Triumphal Arch;
• Capture an extraordinary sculpture-memorial to the Holocaust;
• Join a guided Bunker-42, Cold War Museum tour (optional, not included in the price).
• See a harmony trio: an orthodox church, a synagogue and a mosque all in one park.

Tour Itinerary

With the 1000-year history, Russia has had a rich portfolio of conflicts, battles, wars. On this Soviet tour, we'll talk about various wars that happened in Russia, focusing on WWII.

Mother Russia has undergone a lot in its long life. Since ancient times, Russian rulers have taken nearly all political power into their own hands. By the beginning of the 20th century, the Russian oppositional movement was deadly set for the total destruction of the ever-lasting tsarist regime. All of Russia got involved in the bloody revolution of 1917 in an effort to abolish the current state of the government and gain freedom for the ordinary people.

You will learn about the every-day life of the Soviet people during the bloody Second World War with the Nazis, including the legendary Battle for Moscow, the 900-day siege of Leningrad, the hardships that local citizens went through, the consequences of the war and the scars it left on the Soviet people, as well as why the Cold War happened and what was the fundamental reason.

Our mission on the Soviet Russia tour is to find out

• - How much this 1917 revolution cost the people;
• - Whether they actually got the freedom they wanted and was it worth it;
• - What happened over the next 74 years;
• - Who were the main political communist leaders of the Soviet Union;
• - Were Russians happy and satisfied with the Soviet Union?

Our tour itinerary will lie in most Soviet areas of Moscow, which are quite spread throughout the city, as very few of them are left. You can choose how much you are ready to live this Soviet life on a 5, 7 or 10-hour tour. Depending on the duration of the tour, you will see part or all of the places below:

If you want to extend the tour, you are welcome to do so by paying $20/extra hour in cash on the tour.

Time stands still in Red Square. The Red Square is the heart of Moscow (and whole Russia). Saint Basil's Cathedral will make your mouth drop. If it is from May-October, have a cocktail on the outside terrace and simply people watch! The massive square offers so much to enjoy.

Lenin's Mausoleum

The burial place of one of the most influential communist leaders in the world.

Revolution Square Metro Station

Rub the Soviet dog's nose for good luck and admire the 76 bronze sculptures, devoted to the passionate, strong-willed and patriotic Soviet people.

Poklonnaya Hill

The highest point in Moscow, where Napoleon waited for keys of the city.

All-Russian Exhibition Center (VVC)

With its giant arch, amazing fountain, and huge pavilions of different Soviet Republics.

Victory Park Metro Station

The deepest undeground station in Moscow and one of the deepest in the world.

Victory Park

For an open-air museum as big as 135 ha (1 350 000 square meters), Victory park sure doens't lack diversity. The park is dedicated to the Russian victory in WWII, and was laid out in 1995 in commemoration of 50-year anniversary of victory.

Stalin had planned for its construction already in 1941, being sure of victory from the very start of the war.

Greeting Hill

The highest points in Moscow (172 meters), where Napoleon waited for keys of Moscow in vain.

Triumphal Arch

Stunning monument consisting of 12 cast-iron columns, each 12 meters high, and weighing 16 tons. Built to mark Russia's victory over Napoleon in 1812.

Museum of the Great Patriotic War

In the city that is as much about wars as it is about victories, there is one essential stopover - the Museum of the Great Patriotic War (that's what WWII is called in Russia). Must-do for those wishing to understand Russia's past and look at the whole war from the different perspective - Russian.

The museum is not for the faint-hearted. Here you can see films about the partisan experience, the scenes that will haunt you forever (no subtitles, but they are not necessary).

Museum of Contemporary History (from outside only)

We'll have a glance at Russian life of the XX century in the  Museum of Contemporary History , which houses bits of everything from Russian history of XXth century: from English club to a storage of Stalin's presents.

Memorial to the Holocaust,

devastating and breath-taking!

Unleash your inner spy. Highly recommended  Bunker-42 ,  Cold War Museum , explore the place where Khrushchev lived during the Cuban Crisis. Go down 18 floors to a gigantic bunker under Moscow that was designed to withstand a nuclear attack. Watch a short film about the severity of the Cold War. If you lived through the Cold War, you will hardly believe it is possible that you are in Bunker 42!

Wander through  Sparrow Hills  and climb up to the highest observation deck of Moscow with stunning views of all seven Stalin’s skyscrapers, including  Moscow State University . After that, experience the excitement of taking a  river cruise  on the Moscow river and catch the views of the Kremlin and Soviet times.​

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow tour.
• + An exciting tour, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility during the tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

*This WW2 and Cold War tour can be modified to meet your preferences.

Write your review

Lord Cameron woos Central Asian leaders on historic tour on Russia’s doorstep

Foreign Secretary seeks closer links in resource-rich region where the Kremlin and Beijing see dominance as vital

The Foreign Secretary has completed a historic tour of all five former Soviet central Asian states and Mongolia to drum up support for the West along Russia’s southern border.

During his five-day mission, Lord Cameron became the first British foreign minister to visit Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan,  and the first to visit Uzbekistan since 1997.

“We’re here because we believe you should be able to make a choice, to partner with us in a way that is good for both our security and our prosperity,” he told Kazakh reporters after meeting Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the president of Kazahstan, in Astana, the country’s futuristic capital.

A parliamentary report last year criticised the government for a lack of interest in central Asia despite its strategic importance. 

The resource-rich region is wedged between China, Russia, Afghanistan, Iran and the Caspian Sea, and Beijing and Moscow consider dominance there a priority.

Since its invasion of Ukraine two years ago, the Kremlin has looked to central Asia to help it dodge sanctions and has expanded military and security ties. 

It has also used central Asia’s railway network to send fuel to Iran as payment for drones and missiles.

Rick Fawn, a professor at St Andrews University, said Lord Cameron’s visit was a prestige trip for Britain in which his status as a former prime minister impressed regional leaders.

“It is at least some British flag-waving, especially in central Asia where there is now fluidity, opportunity and danger because of shifting Russian capacities. This is space that will otherwise continue to be filled by China,” said Prof Fawn.

Lord Cameron posed for dozens of photo-ops during his trip, including inspecting a yurt in Turkmenistan and tasting plov, a local lamb pilaf, in Uzbekistan.

In Bishkek, he was photographed shaking hands with Sadyr Japarov, the Kyrgyz president, less than three weeks after he imposed a Kremlin-inspired law designed to undermine Western-backed NGOs and media groups.

Central Asia’s leaders initially publicly doubted Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine but have since given the Kremlin more support.

Erica Marat, a professor at the National Defense University in Washington DC, said that the West has fallen behind in the race to win influence in central Asia because it has not been consistent in its interest since the region’s nations won independence in 1991.

“I think the feeling in central Asia is that this increased attention from Western countries is temporary, it’s not going to last for too long,” she said.

As well as looking to sweet talk central Asia’s leaders, Lord Cameron also discussed strengthening labour routes to Britain.

Over the past couple of years, the government has encouraged migrant workers from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to Britain to plug workforce gaps created by Brexit.

In June last year, Leo Docherty, then the Europe Minister, visited central Asia to agree deals for fruit pickers to travel to Britain. Nicholas Bowler, the British ambassador in Kyrgyzstan, has described Kyrgyz workers as “hard-working” and “reliable”.

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• David Cameron,
• Turkmenistan,
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• Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best of Moscow by high speed train

By shuguley , February 15, 2014 in Regent Seven Seas Cruises

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Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.

Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?

My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

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If you are considering this on the 2015 June Baltic cruise on Voyager; my suggestion is don't. There is so much to do in St. Petersburg and although a train is one of my favorite ways to travel the time would be far better spent in St. P.

Thanks for the advice. Yes, this would be on the Voyager during the 2015 season but not yet sure exactly which cruise.

We did the Moscow excursion "on a different luxury line", but from your brief description it sounds very much like the same trip, so I will operate on that assumption. It is a VERY long day! We left the ship at 5:30 AM and returned at 12:30 AM. The highspeed train trip is comfortable, and while they call it "Business Class" it does not compare well to the equivalent class on say Rail Europe. When we did it in 2011, we did have highspeed both ways, and the trip back seemed much longer as the adrenaline and excitement had worn off!:D

Moscow itself is not that terribly different from any other big city in the world, but this Cold War kid never thought he would ever stand in Red Square, never mind walk the grounds of The Kremlin, or tour The Kremlin Palace, or see (but not visit) Lenin's Tomb, or visit The Armoury. But he did, and he loved every minute of it! Yes, it is a long day, and you barely scratch a scratch on the surface, but it is worth it. There is a tremendous amount to see in St. Petersburg, but every Baltic cruise goes to St. Petersburg, so you can go back if you choose to. Not every cruiseline offers you the chance to see Moscow.

I have not personally done this tour, but our last time in St Petersburg, the private guide that we hired for a day was leading the regent tour to Moscow on the high speed train the next day. He said it was way better than the previous alternative, which was flying to Moscow and back. He said that you actually got to Moscow faster because you didn't have to deal with airline checkin etc. it did seem like a very long day to me, and there is so much to see and do in st. Petersburg that I didn't consider doing it.

countflorida

We toured to Moscow from St. Petersburg via the hi-speed SAPSAN train last September, from a Baltic cruise on the Oceania Marina. You need to have a two-night, three day port call in St. Petersburg to take this tour because the tour typically leaves the ship around 5:00 - 5:30 AM and doesn't return until after midnight the next day. We didn't take the ship's tour; we made private arrangements with TravelAllRussia for three days of touring, the first and third days in St. Petersburg and the second day the tour to Moscow by train. Our cost for the private tour for three days was about the same as what the ship charged for the excursion to Moscow alone. There are a number of private tour agencies that operate in St. Petersburg and offer the Moscow train tours; we would strongly recommend them over the ship's tours.

All three days had private guides with car and driver. The second day, the driver picked us up at the ship and took us to the train, but we were alone on the train, and met in Moscow by the guide on the station platform. After our tour and dinner, we were brought back to the train and after the return train trip met by the driver and taken back to the ship. Because you are alone on the train you must have your own Russian visas.

If this is your first visit to St. Petersburg, I would agree there is much more to see there. We found Moscow somewhat a disappointment, particularly Red Square. The Kremlin and the cathedral in Red Square were also worth seeing. But the best thing we saw was the Moscow subway! I worked for the Washington Metro system back in the 1980s as it grew from 40 to 80 miles and although I was in the computer area, I learned a lot about the challenges of running a subway system. We used the Moscow system to get across the city from where we had dinner to the train station, and I was amazed at the cleanliness', speed of operation, the short headways maintained, and the courtesy of everyone involved. A very impressive experience!

We had been to St. Petersburg before, and so had the time to take a day and go to Moscow. Also, I really like trains, and the SAPSAN is a German train set running on Russian rails. Seats are like first class domestic air, spacious but not too plush or comfortable, but with enough room. Not too much recline, and almost 8 hours on the train in two shots is a lot for an old man. They come through and sell drinks, candy, etc. but the sellers don't speak English and no one around us helped, so we had just poor coffee once coming, and brought stuff with us for the trip back. Not too much to see from the train either, particularly on the return when it is night the whole way.

If you decide to go, take a private tour and avoid the overly expensive ship's tour. I'm glad we did it, but wouldn't bother to repeat the tour; we've seen Moscow.

Thanks so much to all of you for the thorough and thought insight. Yhe information you have provided is most helpful.

countflorida: Your detailed post is very helpful. We are not quite ready for a Baltic cruise but should do so within a year. Time enough to do our pre travel research, bookings and visa gathering.:) Thank you!

Emperor Norton

Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.   Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?   My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

I did this on Seabourn. IMO DONT. Take Aeroflop (er Aeroflot). The train has non folding seats where you are literally knee to knee with your fellow passenger (facing each other). Further they don't believe in air conditioning. It's also the worlds slowed bullet train. I think I would have found more enjoyment wandering around the St. Petersburg and Moscow airports.

Countflorida,

This is a little off topic,, however we had planned a river cruise in Russia but decided we would rather stay on land and have booked about two weeks with Travel-All-Russia using the private guide and driver. I'm curious as to how you found them as a tour company.

The guides they provided were fine. We had a different guide each of the days in St. Petersburg, but both were flexible, pleasant, knowledgeable and spoke English very well, as did the guide in Moscow, incidentally. She was a bit aloof, distant, not too friendly, but otherwise fine. In fact, she was the one who suggested taking the Metro, which unexpectedly became one of the highlights of the Moscow excursion. If I have a complaint with AllTravelRussia, it is with their plan and its execution (more later).

I had requested emphasis on World War II (in Russia, the Great Patriotic War) sites and info. In scheduling us, they weren't careful about dates and a couple of the sites we wanted to see were scheduled on the third day, after we'd been to Moscow. But both sites were closed that day of the week, and that info was readily available, right on web sites describing them. Also, the included meals (lunches in St. Pete, dinner in Moscow) were not what we asked for: light meals with some choices, so we could avoid things we didn't like and choose things we did like. My request was ignored; we were given full Russian meals with a fixed menu, no choice. On the first day, a fish dish was the entre, but I am allergic to fish. Fortunately, I had the e-mail I'd sent with me and showed it to the guide, and she was able to change my entre to chicken, which was very good actually. But we didn't want a 3-4 course lunches or dinner (in Moscow). We had the guide drop the lunch the third day, although we never got any credit or refund. But, particularly in contrast to the ship's tours, the prices were so reasonable we didn't worry too much about it.

The people who were on the ship's tour to Moscow saw us boarding the same train for which they were forced to queue up and wait on the way back, and asked us what we had done. I was candid and open so they were not happy when I explained what we had arranged and particularly what it had cost. Also, when we returned to the ship, we found they had laid on a late supper for those who had gone to Moscow, so up we went and had something. Well, it turns out the late supper was supposed to be just for those on the ship's tour, but we and others on 'independent' tours, there were a dozen or more of us, crashed the party, actually got there first, and they didn't realize it until the larger group arrived and there weren't enough tables/places set. By that time, the 'independents' had all gotten served and were eating; what could they do?

A couple from the larger group sat down with us and asked us about our tour, and they were the ones I told about our arrangement and its cost. They turned to others who’d been with them and announced the details, loudly enough so the whole room heard, which started a lot of bitching and complaining. I gathered they weren't very happy with the ship's tour to begin with, and this was the straw that broke the camel's back. We finished up and beat it out of there, but overheard later that one of the excursion staff came to check on something and ran into a real mess. I caught a cold on the trip, which forced me to bed the second day following in Tallinn, so by the time we reappeared we heard about the contretemps' but apparently no one recalled who started it, thankfully.

Because of what happened to us, I would probably not use AllTravelRussia if I were to go again, or if I did, I would be sure to get confirmation of every detail of the tour. They do have good reviews generally, and we were certainly helped by their visa department and liked the guides and drivers. Their weakness, I say now with full 20:20 hindsight, is that once the sales person who plans the tour, sells it to you and collects your money, he (or she) transfers the plan to their Russia office for implementation; there is no follow-up to make sure it gets done right. And that is where our problems arose; we paid for a custom tour but got a standard package with a few destinations switched, and no one checked them out, even to see when they were open the day we were scheduled to go. If you check every detail that’s important to you, it should be OK, but that’s a hell of a way to have to do business, in my opinion.

Thank you for the 20/20 hindsight observation on your Russian tour operator, and better priced than the ship's excursion cost.

Thanks very much for the feedback.

We had the same experience as you so far as price. We originally booked a Viking Cruise but, hearing some things about the river cruises that made us unhappy, looked into other options. T-A-R cost the same or less than a cruise and had us in hotels for 11 days. We opted for the private tour. They have three tour levels, based on hotels. We originally opted for the four star as it did not cost much more than the three star hotels. Finally we decided to throw it all in and upgraded to five star. In Moscow we will be at the newly opened Kempinsky which is two blocks from Red Square. In St. Petersburg it is the Grand Hotel Europe, one of the most vaunted luxury hotels in Russia. Location is important for us as the tours use up only part of the day so being in the center of everything for our independent touring is important. As with many other cities, the less you pay, the farther out of the center of town you are.

We have been working with our salesman in D.C. and he seems to get back to us with the changes we want. He recently returned from Russia so is up on everything. When I asked they said they paid the full TA commission if I wanted so I got my usual TA on board so he is watching our back and giving us that extra level of comfort. He also set up our air, which I know pays him little or nothing, and got us business class for much less than T-A-R wanted for economy, though it took working for a while with a consolidator. He's happy to get his 10 percent on this trip without having booked it. He also took care of the trip insurance. We've been doing a lot of research on the CC sister site Trip Advisor and will write a report there. We will, I guess, become a source of info for CC members after having spent 5 days in Moscow and 6 in SP.

• 4 months later...

scubacruiserx2

Anybody considering a day trip to Moscow from St. Petersburg on the Sapsan may want to look at our travelogue filled with pictures.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1927687

Very informative. Thanks dor sharing. Jeff

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Former city, community leader dies

A community leader who was instrumental in founding the Martin Luther King Center and MLK Jr. Prayer Breakfast and who served on the Wichita Falls City Council died late Wednesday.

Dorothy Roberts-Burns was 88.

Roberts-Burns was a native of Paris, Texas, and came to Wichita Falls as a young woman to be close to relatives.

In 1964 at age 28, she became one of the first two Black women to be hired into white collar jobs by the city. She worked part-time as a clerk. By January 1966, she was named Employee of the Month. In 1968 she moved into the city information center.

In 1976 Burns was named coordinator of a new Eastside Community Center and later the Martin Luther King Jr. Center, a $400,000 facility financed by a community block grant.

She was instrumental in the founding of the Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast in 1987, an event that now draws hundreds of participants and has distributed scholarships to students of all races.

“That was a year-round job for her. She was always out searching for donations,” her daughter, Mary Ann Merriex, said.

By 1985,  she was director of  the Wichita Falls Human Relations Commission and served on the county health board, the board of the First Step program and in other civic capacities.

After 40 years of working for the city, Burns got into local politics and served eight years on the Wichita Falls City Council, first in District 2 and then as at-large councilor. She also served as mayor pro tempore.

“I think she just loved people and the community. She was always trying to make things better,” Merriex said. “She was always looking out for the elderly.”

Roberts-Burns is survived by her daughter, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Services will be at 11 a.m. May 4 at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Wichita Falls.