Are you looking to write your perfect Tour Manager CV?
Tour managers play a vital role in the entertainment and travel industry, ensuring the smooth execution of tours and events. Crafting an effective CV is crucial to stand out in this competitive field. Your CV should effectively showcase your qualifications, experience and notable achievements.
In this article, we’ll provide you with a step-by-step guide, useful tips and real-life examples to help you create a compelling CV that will get you more job interviews for this role.
I am a passionate, enthusiastic and approachable Tour Manager with over two years experience working for a UK tour company in the travel and tourism industry. My responsibilities included planning tours, organising accommodation and flights and giving guided tours to visitors of all ages. My job has given me a much better and more rounded understanding of different cultures, lifestyles, ways of living and doing business. I have excellent communication and interpersonal skills and I enjoy working with a variety of people from all backgrounds. I take great pride in my job and strive to achieve the best possible outcome at any business interaction.
Achievements
“Best Customer Service” Award, Candy County
President of Languages Society, 2014
Student Ambassador, 2013
Education
2011 – 2014
BA Travel and Tourism
The University of Nottingham
Grade achieved: [2:1]
Relevant Modules:
Introduction to Events Management
Understanding Tourism and Hospitality
Leisure Marketing
Business Economics
Events and Urban Regeneration
Heritage, Culture and Society
2009 – 2011 Results: Spanish: A Business Studies: A English Language: B
A Levels
Summerfield Sixth Form
2003 – 2009 Results: 11 GCSEs at Grades A*-C.
GCSEs
St Albert High School
Work experience
Oct 2014 – Present
Tour Manager Candy County Trips
Main duties performed:
Welcoming customers upon arrival and discussing their travel plans
Tailoring tour packages to accommodate the needs of individual visitors
Developing various packages for both international and domestic destinations
Preparing travel routes for top destinations
Liaising with travel agents, airlines, hotels, transportation and other companies
Arranging travel, flights, accommodation and other tour-related activities
Ensuring the smooth running of tours, trips and activities on a daily basis
Organising accommodation and calling ahead to ensure that everything runs smoothly when the customers arrive
Ensuring that the travellers have all the travel documentation including tickets, passports, visas and the relevant insurance policies
Working directly with passport control and immigration (when required)
Developing specialist knowledge of each area of the trip
Dealing with any customer queries, concerns or emergencies
Writing accurate and clear reports following the completion of a trip
Managing employee wages, and travelling and operational expenses
Accompanying tourists when required
Providing feedback after the completion of the trip
Ensuring that customer expectations are met or exceeded
Feb 2014 – Aug 2014
Travel Agent Thomson
Main duties performed:
Offering advice regarding holiday destinations, offers and discounts
Explaining the different holiday packages that are currently available and recommending the most appropriate plans for individual travellers
Taking deposits and organising payment plans
Operating specialist computer systems to make bookings and process payments
Remaining in contact with the customers and informing them when tickets and other documentation are ready
Deal with any last-minute bookings, cancellations or emergencies
Carrying out general admin work including filing and photocopying
Qualifications
Level 2 Certificate in Travel and Tourism
First Aid Training course – St John Ambulance
TEFL Qualified
Skills
Travelling: I am well-travelled in Europe, Central and North America, Asia and Australasia. This knowledge and experience enable me to make appropriate decisions for the benefit of the organisation I work for and its customers.
Communication and negotiation skills: My excellent communication and negotiation skills have enabled me to work with a variety of different companies, including airlines, hotels and transportation companies, and negotiate excellent deals for our customers.
Organisational skills: I am a highly organised individual, and I have organised more than a hundred tours and activities for tourists with outstanding results.
Driving: Full UK driving licence with own method of transportation.
Hobbies and interests
In my spare time, I enjoy going out with my friends and family to restaurants, theatres and local events. I am also fascinated by geography and history, and I regularly travel around the country to visit various tourist attractions.
References
Mr Clark Aston Director, Candy County Trips Address: 40 Free Rd, Kent, KJ4 6DY Tel: 0743 6844 6793 Email:[email protected]
Strong personal statement: The personal profile is a concise and impactful statement that highlights the candidate’s passion for tour management and their years of experience.
Professional layout: The layout is clean and easy to read, with consistent use of fonts and formatting throughout.
Tailored to the job: The candidate tailors their CV to the specific role by emphasising their experience in tour management, event coordination, and related skills. They also align their qualifications and achievements with the requirements of the tour manager position they are applying for.
The use of concise bullet points: The candidate uses bullet points and short paragraphs to present information, making it easy for recruiters to scan and find key details quickly.
Perfect length: The CV is a suitable length, covering the candidate’s qualifications, experience, and achievements concisely without unnecessary details.
Utilise a clean and professional template: Begin by selecting a clean, professional template for your CV. This will ensure that your CV will have the correct structure, layout and formatting throughout. See below for a template that you can download and use.
Choose an appropriate font: There are hundreds of fonts that you can choose from so it can be difficult to decide on which one to use. To be on the safe side, opt for a readable and classic font, such as Arial, Calibri, Lucida Sans, Times New Roman, Georgia or Helvetica. Avoid decorative fonts that may distract from the content.
Keep margins even: Maintain consistent margins on all sides of your CV, typically around 1 inch (2.54 cm), to maintain a professional look.
Use colour sparingly: As a general use of thumb, minimise the use of colours on your CV. You might add a touch of colour to the section titles to make them stand out but that’s about it.
The personal details section of your CV allows employers to easily reach out to you for job opportunities and is usually placed at the top of your CV for quick reference.
Your personal profile statement acts as an introduction to your CV. It should contain a few sentences describing your key strengths, your professional ambitions and what makes you a good fit for the job you’re applying for.
With extensive experience in tour management, I’ve masterfully organised international tours, streamlining operations and enhancing audience engagement. For instance, I managed a complex 40-city tour, resulting in a 20% revenue increase. My dedication to creating unforgettable live experiences aligns perfectly with your team’s goals.
Achievements
In this section, you can list some of your achievements like awards you’ve received, promotions, exceeding targets or any significant milestones that demonstrate your skills and contributions. Remember to list them as bullet points instead of paragraphs.
Example:
Successfully managed a 60-city international tour, boosting ticket sales by 25%.
Trained and mentored a team of 15 crew members, improving overall tour efficiency.
Boosted social media engagement by 40% through innovative tour promotions.
Employment and work experience
In the employment section of your CV, you need to detail your work history. Start with your most recent job and work backwards in time. For each position, mention your job title, the company’s name, your employment dates and your key responsibilities and achievements.
This is arguably the most important section of your CV so spend more time perfecting it.
February 2020 – Present
Tour Manager Global Travel Adventures Ltd
Main duties and responsibilities performed:
Orchestrated logistics for various international travel tours, ensuring a seamless and memorable experience for travellers.
Managed a diverse team of 15 tour guides, enhancing their performance and ensuring high customer satisfaction.
Successfully increased tour bookings by 20% through strategic marketing campaigns and customer relationship management.
Oversaw tour budgets and consistently delivered projects within or under budget, optimising cost efficiency.
Coordinating all aspects of tour logistics, including transportation, accommodations and scheduling.
Managing a team of crew members, tour guides or support staff to ensure smooth operations.
Liaising with venues, suppliers and local authorities to secure necessary permits and services.
Resolving issues and emergencies on the road, ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone involved.
Implementing marketing strategies to boost tour ticket sales.
Continuously researching and staying updated on travel trends and industry developments to improve tour management practices.
Education and training
This section should include all your relevant educational qualifications, such as degrees, A-levels, GCSEs, diplomas or any additional courses that are relevant to the job you’re applying for.
Mention the name of the institution (university or school), the qualification obtained, the date of completion and any relevant honours or distinctions.
Degree classification: Second Class Honors (Upper Division).
Subjects studied:
Event Planning and Management
Marketing for the Entertainment Industry
Tourism Economics
Project Management
Business Ethics
2013 – 2015 Results: Business Studies: A, Sociology: B, Geography: B.
A-Levels
Southampton College
Qualifications
In addition to your formal education, you may also have professional training qualifications that would strengthen your application. This is the place to mention them.
Example:
Level 5 Diploma in Event Management – Chartered Institute of Event Management
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Certification – British Safety Council
Advanced Tour Planning Course – EventPro Academy
Customer Service Excellence Certification – The Open University
Skills
The skills section of your CV is where you highlight your key abilities, competencies and strengths that make you a strong candidate for the job. Try to include a mixture of both soft and hard skills.
Example:
Tour planning and coordination: A proven track record in orchestrating successful international tours, and coordinating logistics, accommodations and schedules for clients.
Budget Management: Effectively managed tour budgets, consistently delivering projects within or under budget, saving operational costs.
Crisis Management: Resolved tour-related issues and emergencies, ensuring the safety and well-being of all involved.
Project Management: Proficient in planning and executing projects efficiently, ensuring timely delivery.
Problem Solving: Skilled in identifying issues and finding effective solutions.
Customer Service: Dedicated to delivering exceptional customer experiences.
Logistics Management: Skilled in managing transportation, accommodations and schedules for tours.
Event Promotion: Experienced in marketing and promoting tours to boost ticket sales and audience engagement.
Public Speaking: Confident and articulate in addressing audiences.
Sales Skills: Proficient in sales techniques and relationship building.
Hobbies and interests (optional)
The hobbies and interests section of your CV is an opportunity to showcase your personality and activities outside of work. Only mention hobbies and interests that are relevant to the role you’re applying for or those that add value to your application.
Example:
Outside of my career, I have a strong interest in photography and am an amateur photographer. Capturing moments and places with an artistic eye helps me appreciate details and aesthetics, which is a valuable skill in tour management. I’m also an avid traveller, exploring diverse destinations, which further fuels my passion for creating unforgettable tour experiences.
References
If you wish, you can include details of your references in this section. When listing referees, ensure you include their full name, job title, company or organisation, phone number and email address. It’s important to obtain their permission beforehand and inform them that potential employers may contact them for a reference.
Example:
Ms Victoria Lewis Travel Manager, Explore UK Address: 5 Corner Road, Birmingham, B11 9EF Tel: 07555 456 789 Email:[email protected]
Quantify achievements: Use numbers to demonstrate your impact, such as “Increased customer satisfaction by 15% through personalized tour planning.”
Geographical expertise: Highlight your knowledge of various destinations, including historical facts, local attractions, and unique features of each location.
Use industry jargon: Incorporate industry-specific terminology, like “destination management” and “sightseeing tours,” to demonstrate your knowledge and expertise. Refer to the job’s personal specification for ideas.
Emphasise safety: Highlight your dedication to ensuring the safety and well-being of tour participants, including your knowledge of first aid procedures.
Written by Sobhan Mohmand Sobhan is a qualified Careers Advisor and Professional CV Writer with over 10 years of experience in helping job seekers get a job. He is a Member of the Careers Development Institute (CDI) and is listed on the official UK Register of Career Development Professionals. He holds a Level 6 Diploma in Career Guidance and Development (QCF).
Communication Skills Ability to communicate effectively with clients, staff members and other professionals from the travel and tourism industry
Computing Skills Ability to use a computer effectively for business needs, e.g. researching the cheapest tour packages, retrieving quotes, processing payments, etc.
Organisational Skills Keeping organised and focus on the important tasks at hand
Management Ability to lead and inspire staff to accomplish success for the company
Problem -solving Excellent problem-solving skills to deal with issues or emergencies when required
Customer Service Ability to relate to customer’s needs and offering appropriate advice and solutions
