TripSchool - Tour Director & Guide Training

06/01/2026

Register here: https://www.wetravel.com/trips/albuquerque-santa-fe-balloon-fiesta-training-tripschool-7448552667 -this-trip

05/27/2026

Exciting news!

Tour Operators have been asking… and we listened.

We’re officially launching a BRAND NEW training trip for the Albuquerque/Santa Fe Balloon Festival!

If you’ve ever wanted to add a MAJOR “bucket list” destination to your resume, this is it. The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta is one of the biggest staples in the tour industry — some operators run a dozen+ departures at the exact same time. Having this experience on your resume tells Tour Operators: “I’m ready to go.”

And trust me… this one is going to be EPIC.

We kept the training short because we know many of you will be on the road, but as always, we’re packing A LOT into a few unforgettable days. Balloon Fiesta magic, Santa Fe charm, real-world tour management experience, city tours with hidden gems that are rarely covered, industry insight, networking, and memories you’ll be talking about for years.

If this has been on your radar, don’t wait too long… this one’s going to be one for the books!

Introducing our NEWEST training!Get ready to master one of the most iconic and high-demand itineraries in the tour industry! The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta and Santa Fe are featured on countless tour operator programs — and knowing how to confidently run this experience is a game-changer for any t...

01/13/2026

8 years ago this week TripSchool led its first tour guide/director training trip. The idea was simple: beyond being good at logistics and information delivery, a tour guide today needs to deliver something more. Storytelling. Wow moments. Creative, interactive ways of engaging with guests and spicing up the experience.

And here we are, in 2026. The video below is from TripSchool co-founder Mitch's opening remarks at TripCon 2025, our annual conference that drew 420 tour directors, guides and operators for a celebration of the power of human connection in the 'Age of Disconnection'.

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGgJXdusOGE

01/07/2026

Starting the year off with another class of TripSchool future tour directors, in San Francisco! The weather is beautiful and we finished a full day of our students leading a tour through the city’s historic neighborhoods. They did great!

11/20/2025

One of the best moments of TripCon 2025 was the Storytelling Slam. What an amazing roster of contestants... and this photo of the judges shows how we all couldn't stop laughing!

11/18/2025

Don't gamble away your future, if you're serious about a life of adventure, then make your way to TripCon 2026 to get hired by the world's leading tour companies.

November 15-19: Louisville, KY for the North American market
October 26-29: Porto, Portugal for the European market

Tour directing & guiding isn't a perfect job, but it beats spending your days in your pajamas on Zoom, or going into a corporate setting that doesn't make you feel alive.

11/16/2025

Emotional support puppies during interviews. Aircraft carrier parties. Phenomenal speakers, endless education sessions, unforgettable parties, every kind of tour you can imagine, and thousands of 1:1 interviews to get tour directors and guides the jobs they need.

TripCon 2025: that's a wrap!

TripCon 2026: see you in Louisville, KY (Nov 15-19) for our USA event, and Porto, Portugal (Oct 26-29) for our Europe event!

11/14/2025

TripCon 2025 has just finished. What an incredible celebration! 400 tour directors & guides & operators gathered from around the world to celebrate the power of crafting human connection.

On to next year! We're hosting TWO TripCon conferences! Our traditional USA location, and a new conference in EUROPE!!!

The European market deserves an event where tour managers & leaders from across the continent can come together and get hired by tour & river cruise operators, and celebrate their profession! Our first event will take place in Porto, Portugal, open to everyone.

TripCon USA: in Louisville, KY, November 16-19, 2026
TripCon EUROPE: in Porto, Portugal, Oct 26-29, 2026

11/12/2025

Interviewing with tour operators is stressful so we decided to bring in emotional support puppies to help the tour directors cope! TripCon 2025 is going amazingly!

11/11/2025

An awesome morning of 400 passionate experience makers listening to an array of incredible speakers.

A great first morning of educational content at TripCon/TourWeek!

What was your favorite session?