Tour Manager

About the Company

DayTripper Tours is a tour operator providing one-day and multi-day motor coach and air excursions throughout Southern California, Mexico, the Southwest, and beyond. Founded in 1987, our clientele are primarily baby boomers and senior travelers seeking enriching, comfortable, well-organized, and enjoyable travel experiences.

About the Role

The Tour Manager leads groups of up to 52 passengers on motor coach, rail, and air tours throughout the Southwestern United States, Mexico, and beyond. This role requires the ability to execute detailed itineraries while maintaining high standards of professionalism, organization, guest care, safety, and entertainment.

Responsibilities

• Researching and delivering engaging narration, historical facts, trivia, and commentary relevant to destinations and points of interest along the route.
• Overseeing the overall passenger experience, assisting with logistics, communicating with vendors, handling unexpected situations calmly, and ensuring guests feel cared for throughout the journey.
• Asking the right questions at the right time to determine the best choice for a challenging situation.
• Engaging and entertaining passengers at a high level while creating meaningful connections with both the group as a whole and each individual passenger.

Qualifications

• Must reside within a 30-minute commute of La Mesa, California.

Required Skills

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to speak confidently and clearly to groups of over 50 passengers using a PA system.
• Strong organizational and multitasking abilities.
• Ability to work calmly and effectively under pressure.
• Ability to communicate effectively with many different personalities and age groups.
• Ability to formulate and deliver engaging and informative narration.
• Ability to problem-solve and respond decisively during emergencies or unexpected situations.
• Self-motivated with the ability to collaborate effectively with vendors, service providers, and DayTripper staff.
• Tech savvy and proficient using technology including AI, email, video conferencing, smart phones, scanning, Google Street Maps, and other online tools.

Preferred Skills

• Highly proficient using AI tools and Google Maps to review pre-established routes and identify interesting sights and points of interest along the journey.
• Develop interesting and informative narration balancing history, trivia, and lightheartedness.
• Able to connect well with our senior clientele through patience, warmth, professionalism, and empathy.
• Capable of confidently managing group dynamics, setting boundaries, and always maintaining control of the tour environment.
• A strong ability to take the lead and remain calm during unexpected situations such as delays, breakdowns, or passenger emergencies.
• Understands how to balance engaging narration with moments of quiet time for passengers to rest or socialize.
• Professional, detail-oriented, dependable, and highly organized.
• Flexible, creative, and able to adapt quickly to changing circumstances.
• A team player who always represents DayTripper Tours with positivity and professionalism.

Pay range and compensation package

Minimum pay of $300 per day, then double time at $36 per hour after 13.25 hours. Tour managers are compensated for the entire day from start to finish, including during mealtimes.

• $18/hour for the first 8 hours
• $27/hour for hours 9–12
• $36/hour after 12 hours
• $50 non-taxable per diem, per day, in addition to hourly pay

Benefits

• Paid Sick Leave / Personal Necessity accrual at 1 hour per 30 hours worked.
• Free or reduced-cost travel opportunities on select company tours.
• Optional cash gratuities from customers are common in the tour industry but are not calculated into employee earnings. Employee is responsible for reporting cash gratuities.

Equal Opportunity Statement

DayTripper Tours is committed to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace.

How to Apply

Please email your resume and a cover letter describing your relevant experience, training, skills, and why you are a perfect candidate for this position to: Nathalie d’Adelhart Toorop. Please no unscheduled phone calls or walk-ins.