How to Travel FREE as an International Tour Director -- Acknowledgments -- Note to Readers -- Table of Contents -- Chapter 1 The International Tour Director -- Introduction to Tourism -- Key Facts About the Travel Industry -- The Role of the International Tour Director (ITD) -- The ITD - The "Fulfiller of Dreams" -- How Does the ITD travel "FREE"? -- What are the Benefits for an ITD? -- Who Becomes an ITD? -- Qualifications For An ITD -- The importance of an ITD to Travelers -- An ITD's On-the-Job Responsibilities -- Problems an ITD May Encounter -- Where Your Clients Come From -- Chapter 2 Your Career Options -- First Choice: Freelancing -- Responsibilities to the Contracting Employer -- Success or Failure? -- Finding Your First Job as a Freelance ITD -- Second Choice: Start Your Own Tour Company! -- USTOA-Membership Requirements -- Chapter 3 Preparing Your Tour Group to Take Off! -- Pre-Tour Departure Rules -- Meeting and Greeting the "Tour Group" -- The Pre-Tour Meeting -- The ITD's Advice to the Traveler -- Traveler's Trip Cancellation Insurance -- "Hidden" Hotel Charges -- Check All Bills Carefully -- Be Careful With All Purchases -- Taxi Service -- Making Money Count -- Introduction to the Euro Currency -- Where To Purchase Foreign Currencies -- International Phone Calls -- What to Wear For Men -- What to Wear For Women -- Before Travelers Leave Home -- The "No-Show" Trip Kit Mailing -- Large Group Pre-Tour Orientation -- ITD's Early Arrival -- Reviewing the Travel Program -- Staff Briefing -- Operational Procedures for Tour Group's Arrival -- ITD's Travel Kit -- Terms, Liability, and Conditions of the Tour -- Tour Members' Medical Forms -- Liability Waiver -- Chapter 4 "Taking Charge" of the Tour Group -- Six Essential Points -- Communicating with Your Tour Members -- Encounters with Unusual Personalities -- Travelers' Tribulations.

Emergencies and Other Problems -- Handling the Death of a Tour Member -- What Not To Do As A Tour Director -- Multiple Tour Destinations -- Chapter 5 En Route to Your Destination -- Working with Your Travel Partners -- Airline Travel -- Responsibilities of the In-Bound Destination Manager -- The Hotel: "Your Home Away from Home" -- Overbookings -- Overbooking Policies -- Luggage Control -- Coordinating Activities with Hotel Management -- Opening Hotel Acco -- The Tour Group's Hospitality Desk -- Auto Rentals -- Shopping: A Destination Highligh -- Arranging Evening Activities -- Free Time -- Emergencies -- Great Dining Experiences -- Pre-Dinner Check List for Group Functions -- After Dinner -- Hiring Local Interpretive Tour Guides -- Contracting Motor Coach / Driver -- Tipping Policies -- Travel Supplier Evaluation Report -- Chapter 6 Taking the Tour Group Home -- Pre-Departure Notice -- PHASE I: Pre-Check-Out Briefing -- PHASE II: Checking Out of the Hotel -- "Departure Notices" -- Airport Check In -- The Straggler -- Chapter 7 Closing Out the Tour -- ITD's Post-Tour Responsibilities -- The Value of a "Tour Reunion" Party -- ITD Field Evaluation Report -- Evaluating Interpretative Tour Guides -- Why is the Evaluation Form so important? -- Sample: International Tour Director's Evaluation Form -- Client's Evaluation Report -- Welcome Home Letter to Clients -- Letters to the Travel Suppliers -- ITD's Tour Expense Report -- Chapter 8 Getting Started as a "Dream Merchant" -- How Travelers benefit From a Package Tour -- Getting Started! -- Four Key Elements in Starting a Tour Company -- Chapter 9 Designing & Packaging Tours -- Future Trends in the Travel-Tourism Industry -- Sample List of Tour Services -- Pacing and Balance for a Successful Tour Route -- Associating Personality Types With the Tour Program -- Five Different Categories of Travelers.

"Weaving It All Together" -- Creating Tour Highlights -- Image and Experience -- Sample Tour Highlights and Marketing Features -- Features/Components of a tour -- **How to select a motor coach for tour group -- Promoting Local Resources to Niche Markets -- Three Steps to Successful Tour Planning -- Avoid These Tour Operator Mistakes -- Inspecting A Destination or Cruise Ship -- Introduction to "Traditional Touring" -- Welcome to the Cruise Industry -- Contacts for the Cruise Industry -- New Trends in Tourism-"Non-Traditional Touring" -- Sample "Non Traditional" Niche Tourism -- Introduction to Eco-tours -- Adding Eco-Tours to Your Portfolio -- New "Non-Traditional" Opportunities for the Tour Operator -- Case Study: Agriculture Tourism -- Methodology in Developing Non-Traditional Tours -- Developing a Agri-Tourism - Business Plan -- Pricing Your Tours -- Costs vs. Profits -- Types of Tours You Plan to Operate -- Group Tour Pricing & Foreign Independent (FITs) -- Agents/Tour Conductor Discounts -- Tour Organizer Incentives: Free or Discounted Tours -- How to Market Your Tour Programs -- Finding Clients -- Designing Your Promotional Brochure -- General Information & Terms and Conditions -- Layout of a Tour Brochure -- Format -- Tour Operator's Company Logo -- Sample logo for your company -- Name your tours with your "signature" -- The Tour Designer Signature -- Prices -- Included in the Tour Price -- Not included in Tour Price -- Recommendations -- Cancellations Policy -- Passports and Visas -- Curio Shops -- Acceptance of Credit Cards -- Airline Clause -- Responsibility Clause -- Insurance Coverage -- Liability Insurance -- Errors and Omissions Insurance -- Additional List of Services to Include in your Promotional Brochure -- Chapter 10 Sample Tour Programs -- Charleston-Awards & Honors -- Charleston's Spa, Culture, and Gourmet Tour.

"Free Time" in Charleston -- Charleston Nightlife -- Classic Spanish La Rioja & Ribera del Duero Wine Journey -- Introduction to the La Rioja and Ribera del Duero region -- "Eco-Tour"/High Adventure in Canadian Rockies -- Sample Study Tour to India -- Sample Tour of Nova Scotia -- Montreal Spa and Shopping Tour -- Chapter 11 How to Conduct On-Site Inspection Tours -- Benefits of Experiencing the Product -- Visitor's Bureau -- Destination Highlights Selection -- Motor Coach Selection / Inspection -- Motor Coach Inspection Form -- Motor Coach Selection / Inspection -- Restaurant Selection / Inspection -- Restaurant Inspection Form -- Hotel Inspection -- Primary Hotel Inspection Form -- FAMs: Familiarization / Study Tours -- Types of Tour Packages You Plan to Offer -- Appendix -- CHECK LIST FOR ALL TOURS -- Pre-Departure Briefing Check List -- ITD's TRIP KIT CHECK LIST -- Trip Kit Mailing Verification -- Interpretive Tour Guide Evaluation Form -- International Tour Director's Evaluation Form -- ITD's Pre-Departure Briefing Check -- Trip Kit Checklist for Mailing -- SAMPLE COVER LETTER FOR TRIP KIT -- Tour Vouchers & Client Instructions -- Work list of Travel Partners -- Sample Baggage Claim Form -- Sight-Seeing Booking Form -- Airline Change Request Form -- Client's Tour Evaluation Form -- Glossary Of Travel Terms -- Travel and Tourism Resources -- Travel - Tourism Periodicals -- Publications For The Tour Guide -- Professional Organizations And Associations -- Organizers of Group Tours Trade Shows and Conferences -- Government and State Tourism Offices -- The GEM Group Consulting Services.