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I am a Guide
Finding a Guide
GeneralWhat are you looking for?
One can register by clicking on the “Sign up” link on the top of the page. We recommend that you sign up using Facebook. However, you can also sign up using your email ID. Once you start the registration process, the system will guide you through the process. Remember to make your profile as informative as you can.
The more details you have about yourself on the profile, the better a traveller would get to know about your skills and services, thereby improving your chances of being selected. Be sure to add sample itineraries in the tours section so that travellers can get a good idea about your offerings. Also be sure to add pictures and videos to your gallery.
Please put all contact details only in the sections provided. One cannot put contact details on the “About Me” section or in other sections such as the tours or articles.
All local laws need to be followed. In case the laws require you to be licensed to provide the services that you are offering, then we require that you be licensed. To secure our travellers, you are required to upload your latest license onto your website. Till you do so, your profile will say that you are either unlicensed or that you have not as yet provided us your license details.
Please write to us at support@tourhq.com, so that we can assist in your account conversion.
You can upload videos to your tourHQ account. If you upload more than 1 video, you can also select which video you would like displayed on your home page by selecting “make cover” on the appropriate video. The other videos will continue to appear in your gallery pages. Do add some videos of your area, or a short pitch from yourself; this would go a long way in the traveller getting to know you better.
You can set prices for providing a half-day tour. Usually, that will refer to a 4-hour tour, unless you have agreed to a different time frame with the traveller. While setting prices, remember to keep in mind the fees charged by tourHQ. While booking a half-day tour, the traveller can specify that he would like the half-day tour to be in the morning (AM) or afternoon (PM). The exact meeting time and place would need to be agreed with the traveller.
You can set prices for providing a full day tour. Usually, that will refer to an 8-hour tour, unless you have agreed to a different time frame with the traveller. While setting prices, remember to keep in mind the fee that is charged by tourHQ.
It is possible that the traveller may request a bespoke multi-day tour, for which he would select the “custom tour” option from your profile page. The details of the tour would need to be agreed with the traveller at the time of booking.
In case the booking has been made through tourHQ, you do not need to do anything; we will automatically follow up on your behalf with the traveller to provide a review. In case the tour was booked from elsewhere, then please use the “Review Invitation” tool that is found in the message centre post login.
To respond to traveller requests, follow the below steps: a) Login to your tourHQ account. b) Click on find jobs, and locate the assignment you would like to respond to. c) Click on apply, and fill out all the details, including the price and proposed itinerary. d) Click on submit when you are ready.
We allow a maximum of 5 guides or tour companies to respond to each guiding request. Once this limit has been reached, you would not be able to respond to this request anymore unless the traveler specifically invites you to do so. Therefore, please be sure to respond to guiding requests early.
We charge an industry standard of 20% commission on confirmed bookings.
As per tourHQ policies, tour guides and tour companies cannot share their information with the travellers prior to receiving a tour booking. However, you are free to chat with the traveller online through the tourHQ chat system, which can be accessed by clicking on the message icon on the proposal page. Once a booking is confirmed, a free flow of contact information is allowed to ease communication.
We understand that at times there can be situations where you are unable to honour a booking due to ill health etc. In such cases, you are requested to a) Inform the traveller immediately, b) cancel the tour in the system and c) let us know immediately as well on support@tourhq.com as to the nature of the problem. Please note that you will automatically lose your super guide status, and will not be able to earn the super guide status in the next quarter as well. In case you cancel tours frequently, your rating will be negatively impacted. Furthermore, you will start receiving fewer booking queries from tourHQ going forward; therefore it is advisable to accept a booking only in case you are able to honour the same.
The traveller is allowed to cancel the tour subject to the cancellation policies governing the booked tour. Your compensation depends on the cancellation policy that is applicable to your booking. Please speak to your relationship manager in case you have any concerns about the same.
The cancellation policies vary by location and the type of your account. The cancellation policies will be visible to you at the time of making the proposal.
We do not charge any credits to respond to guiding requests. Certain optional add-ons are available, for which credits are required.
Please write to us at support@tourhq.com so that we can discuss how we can have a mutually beneficial relationship. Amongst the features that we offer, we allow guide associations the right to allow their logo to appear next to their member's profiles, as well as the relevant City, State or National guiding rules to appear on all profiles for that location.
Super guides are guides or tour companies who have proven that they are experts in their area and are valued by travellers for their services. In recognition of their contribution in making their past client’s holidays memorable, they are awarded the Super Guide status on the tourHQ platform.
In order to become a Super Guide, a guide must meet the performance targets set by tourHQ which may vary or change from time to time. Upon meeting the performance targets, a guide is automatically rewarded the Super Guide status.
All guides and tour operators on the tourHQ platform are eligible to become Super Guides, and can receive the status upon meeting the targets specified on their profile dashboard.
The exact targets may vary depending on a number of reasons such as location, season, etc; the targets may also be revised from time to time. The exact targets can be found on the dashboard to track one’s own personalised Super Guide status. These may include the following: (i) Trips Reviewed- Receiving reviews from clients on services provided (ii) Overall Rating- Maintaining the overall rating (iii) Profile completed- Maintaining the quality of the profile (iv) Trips completed- Completing a specified number of trips (v) Trips cancelled- Ensuring no trips are cancelled (vi) Invitation response- Ensuring a high response rate to invitations received
Tour operators are also equally eligible for the Super Guide status as other guides. There is no separate programme from the Super Guide programme for tour operators. A tour operator can receive the recognition of being a Super Guide by meeting the targets on their profile’s dashboard.
In order to retain the Super Guide status, one must consistently meet the (updated) performance targets displayed on their profile’s dashboard in every quarter. The Super Guide medallion is bestowed immediately on meeting the performance targets, for the present quarter and the next quarter. To retain the status in the next quarter, one must meet the targets in the present quarter.
A Super Guide will have their Super Guide medallion displayed on their profile page so that travellers can see it. The status can also be viewed on the progress page.
In case one fails to meet any of the targets in the present quarter, they lose their Super Guide status in the next quarter. However, on cancelling any trip beyond allowed threshold number, a Super Guide will lose their status immediately for the present quarter, and will also thereby fail to qualify as a Super Guide in the next quarter. It is possible that cancelling even a single trip may cause a guide or tour operator to lose the status.
The display of the Super Guide medallion on the guide’s profile demonstrates to potential clients, the verdict of past clients that they have enjoyed and valued the Super Guide's services. This serves as further endorsement and confidence in the super guide’s abilities to deliver excellent services.
Travellers often have confidence in guides who have proven their consistency and have previously satisfied customers with their services. Guides who meet certain performance targets are automatically awarded the Super Guide status. While tourHQ does not endorse or guarantee the quality of services of a Super Guide, reviews from past clients serve as a testament to their abilities!
The cost of services of a guide does not have any relation with their Super Guide status.
Traveller FAQ
(1) What is the difference between half day, full day and custom tour?
In case you need a guide for a half-day tour, which is usually for a duration of 4 hours, you should select the half day tour option. In case you need a guide for the full day, which is typically for a duration of 8 hours, you should choose the full day option. Alternatively, if you need a custom tour that may extend over several days, you can select the custom tour option.
(2) How do I make a booking?
To make a booking, click on the book guide button next to the proposal received. To make a booking, you may need to pay 20% or 50% or 100% of the tour price as per the payment terms of the proposal that you are booking.
(3) What payment forms do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards, debit cards and Paypal.
(4) What if I am unhappy with my tour?
Since you will be with the guide at the time, we recommend that you discuss the source of your unhappiness with your guide. In most cases, they should be able to work things out. In the unlikely event you are still not satisfied, please let us know at the earliest on support@tourhq.com so that we can look into the matter.
(5) How can I use tourHQ travel credits
In case you have any tourHQ travel credits, then you can use these to purchase tours on tourHQ. Please remember that these credits have a one year expiry!
(6) What are the cancellation policies that are applicable
The cancellation policies may vary from proposal to proposal even within the same country. Therefore, please read the cancellation policies carefully before making the booking.
Booking a tour
(1) Why am I unable to share contact information with the guide?
As per the tourHQ terms and conditions, we allow contact information to be shared only once the booking has been confirmed. Prior to that, you are free to chat with the guide through the tourHQ chat software which can he accessed by clicking on the message icon on the proposal pages.
(2) I can see that the deposit amount requested is in a local currency. Can I pay it in USD?
In case you would rather pay the initial deposit in USD rather than the local currency, please select Paypal as the payment option. In the case of Paypal all payments are taken in USD rather than local currency. Furthermore, you can always do a guest checkout using Paypal using your debit or credit card in case you do not have a Paypal account.
Cancellation Policies
(1) What are your cancellation policies?
The cancellation policies are mentioned against each tour at the time of booking. The cancellation policies vary as per the country and type of tour offered. Please review the cancellation policy given against each proposal prior to making the booking. We recommend that you purchase appropriate travel insurance to ensure against unforeseen problems that may cause you to cancel your trip. In case certain advance is taken explicitly for making non cancellable reservations at hotels flights, then this advance is typically not refundable in case of any cancellation.
(2) What if my guide cancels?
There is a possibility that the guide too may cancel at the last minute due to unforeseen circumstances. In such circumstances, based on your wishes we will either try to locate a new replacement guide for you; alternatively, we will issue you a refund of the initial deposit paid in the form of tourHQ travel credits which can be used to book future travel on tourHQ.