Читать книгу Start & Run a Tour Guiding Business - Barbara Braidwood Susan Boyce & Richard Cropp - Страница 66

The most detailed, well-planned reservations sometimes go awry. A tour professional should reconfirm every reservation, from the largest hotel to the smallest attraction, prior to arrival. (One possible exception is a step-on guide who shows up twice a day for the entire season at the same two museums and botanical garden.)

Early evening, after you have settled into the hotel and before dinner, is often a good time for this activity. Tour participants are unpacking and relaxing and less likely to bother you. Remember, though, that certain attractions will already be closed, so some directors confirm one or two reservations at each stop throughout the day.

You will likely find some combination of these two methods works best for you. Whatever method you decide on, a form (which you can create) will help you keep track. When confirming any reservation, from a major worldwide airline to an all-but-unknown craft museum, always find out who you are speaking with and make a note of the name. It is amazing how much faster people respond to a problem when you are able to say, “I spoke with Martha Black at 5:30 yesterday to confirm this booking.” Toll-free numbers are there to be used, so use them without hesitation whenever possible. Your tour operator will most likely give you a list of relevant numbers, but it is wise to build your own list and add to it every trip. In North America, the continent-wide toll-free directory can be reached at 1-800-555-1212.