International Guide Academy

The International Guide Academy has done a wonderful job preparing me to be a tour manager and providing support as I have grown into this job. Daniel and Frank have coached, advised, listened and offered suggestions for problems and issues, educated, and provided a shoulder to lean on. I am proud of my affiliation with IGA and would advise anyone interested in pursuing a career in the travel industry to take advantage of IGA's training and support program.
Mar 23rd, 2023

By far the best decision I have made in regards to my career goals. IGA gave me the tools and the confidence to move forward. I would definitely do it all over again.
Feb 26th, 2023

The training is very useful but the best thing about the International Guide Academy (IGA) are the job announcements and keeping in touch with other tour directors & guides. It is a very professional organization.
Feb 23rd, 2023

I attended IGA in October of 2013, started my first tour directing job in May of 2014 and have never regretted it! I have worked in more than a dozen countries, worked in Alaska, southwest National parks and the west coast. I love my job and its all thanks to International Guide Academy. They will teach you what you need to know to get hired and be successful as an international tour director/manager.
Feb 22nd, 2023

I just want to say that taking the Tour Manager course with International Guide Academy was the greatest class ever! Even though I never actually led a tour, I think that I had the skills and knowledge to be very good leading a group. I worked very hard to get a chance to lead a tour. Two companies wanted to hire me, but they wouldn't pay for relocation and they were in Boston and I live on the edge of New Mexico in Texas and my daughter and grandson lived with me then as they do now. I was retired and working full time at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino selling pari-mutuel tickets for horse betting. I was very concerned about taking the time off from the track and having to pay my relocation expenses that my budget was really going to take a hit. So I decilned and later on, I re-thought that decision and wished I couldn't have remembered that I could have taken money out of my 401K to pay my relocation expenses and then I would have had experience. I have a great deal of travel experience, plus I have lived in Germany and Algeria. I am gregarious and enjoy talking to anyone. I read the emails that come through quite often looking for tour managers from IGA and I still apply some. Or, should I say, I applied some. Now that I have fallen down, broke an ankle, and turned 81 and am using a walker, I don't apply anymore. But I have loved helping my friend who finished the course last year as the list is a little daunting at first. The list being the the great list that IGA provides the graduates of companies that hire IGA graduates.
Feb 21st, 2023