Tour Experience Leader (Tour Guide)

Grand Circle Corporation; Polska; On-site; PLN 145,000 - 161,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Per diem 190 EUR

Freelance

Training provided

Season Apr-Oct

Job summary

Grand Circle Corporation is seeking Trip Experience Leaders to guide our 2027 Poland program, Echoes of Poland: Royal Capitals to Baltic Shores. You will lead small groups of senior American travelers on a 12-day itinerary through Warsaw, Gdańsk, Toruń, and Kraków, delivering meaningful history, culture, and daily-life insights.

The role emphasizes exceptional people skills, strong English, Poland knowledge, storytelling, and the ability to coordinate logistics across hotels, drivers, and sites.

Qualifications

• Exceptional people skills and ability to warmly connect with senior travelers.
• Strong passion for Poland and the region.
• Local knowledge of the regions visited on the program.
• Excellent command of English.
• Cultural awareness and sensitivity in discussions.
• Strong storytelling skills to bring destinations to life.
• Adaptability and curiosity to changing itineraries.
• Problem-solving skills during travel contingencies.
• Strong organizational skills for daily management.
• Schedule flexibility for weekends and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Lead a small group and manage daily logistics.
• Coordinate with drivers, hotels, restaurants, and guides.
• Deliver engaging commentary on history, culture, and current affairs.
• Plan orientation and discovery walks to enhance learning.
• Handle emergencies with regional support as needed.

Skills

Exceptional people skills

Strong command of English

Local knowledge of Poland

Strong storytelling skills

Adaptability and curiosity

Problem-solving skills

Strong organizational skills

Job description

Grand Circle Corporation is currently recruiting Trip Experience Leaders (Tour Guides) to lead our new 2027 Poland program, Echoes of Poland: Royal Capitals to Baltic Shores.

WHO WE ARE

Grand Circle Corporation is the largest U.S. provider of international vacations for Americans aged 50 and older. We’re a family of three brands: Grand Circle Cruise Line, Overseas Adventure Travel, and Grand Circle Travel. Our small group sizes, unsurpassed value and excellence, and unique itineraries position us as the industry leader in travel and discovery.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead a small group of senior American travelers (typically no more than 16) on a 12-day journey focused on Poland's history, culture, daily life, and regional identity. The core itinerary includes destinations such as Warsaw, Gdańsk, Toruń, and Kraków, offering travelers a meaningful and in-depth experience of Poland.
• Travel with the group throughout the itinerary, primarily by coach, while managing daily logistics, routing, and timing. Coordinate with drivers, hotels, restaurants, local guides, vendors, guest speakers, and regional support teams to ensure a seamless travel experience. Additionally, plan and facilitate extra sightseeing opportunities and meals not included in the itinerary.
• Initiate contact with travelers prior to departure through personalized pre-trip emails and phone calls to introduce yourself, share key trip details, answer questions, and begin building rapport to create a welcoming and confident start to the journey.
• Deliver engaging commentary and facilitate meaningful conversations on topics such as Polish history, culture, traditions, daily life, local communities, World War II history, Jewish heritage, religion, social change, and current affairs.
• Lead orientation walks, discovery walks, briefings, and Learning & Discovery experiences that help travelers connect more deeply with each destination. Facilitate local interactions, community experiences, cultural and culinary activities, and opportunities for travelers to gain insight into everyday life in Poland.
• Manage daily tour operations including reconfirming services and scheduled activities, coordinating included meals and visits, supporting hotel operations, assisting with airport procedures, handling baggage logistics, and responding to traveler needs or concerns. In the event of emergencies or medical situations, coordinate appropriate assistance with support from the regional team.

WHAT WE REQUIRE

• Exceptional people skills: Ability to connect warmly with senior American travelers and create a welcoming, memorable atmosphere.
• Strong passion for Poland and the region: Genuine enthusiasm for sharing local culture, history, traditions, and everyday life.
• Local knowledge: Candidates should be local to, or deeply familiar with, Poland and the regions visited on the program.
• Excellent command of English: Ability to communicate clearly, confidently, and engagingly with diverse groups.
• Cultural awareness and sensitivity: Comfort discussing complex historical and social topics in a respectful and balanced way.
• Strong storytelling skills: Ability to bring destinations to life through personal insight, local context, and meaningful commentary.
• Adaptability and curiosity: Willingness to adjust to changing circumstances, learn continuously, and respond calmly to unexpected situations.
• Problem-solving skills: Ability to address traveler concerns and operational challenges professionally while on tour.
• Strong organizational skills: Flexible, creative, self-reliant, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple daily responsibilities.
• Basic technology skills: Ability to use email, Excel, and digital tools for trip paperwork, reporting, and communication.
• Relevant experience: Prior experience guiding or leading groups, especially American travelers or senior travelers, is strongly preferred.
• Customer focus: A commitment to exceeding traveler expectations and delivering a high-quality travel experience.
• Schedule flexibility: Willingness to work non-traditional hours, including weekends and holidays, during the travel season.

WHAT WE OFFER

• A dynamic and meaningful role leading small groups of engaged travelers while sharing your region, culture, and personal perspective to create memorable travel experiences.
• Compensation, including a minimum per diem of 190 EUR, plus performance-based incentives.
• Freelance flexibility, with trip assignments scheduled based on your availability, program needs, and performance. Our travel season runs from April to October.
• Comprehensive classroom and field training, with training-related costs covered.
• Ongoing support from the regional team before, during, and after each tour.
• A professional community of fellow Trip Experience Leaders and travel industry colleagues.
• Opportunities for professional growth and continued development within the Grand Circle Corporation network.