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The A Guide in... group centers around one common name and web location where individual travelers, travel agents, and business agents can find extended-term* personal guide services, custom itinerary building and local logistics services. All private guides and guide businesses associated with the A Guide in... group are independent agents and meet the highest standards of service, reliability, safety and friendliness.
Membership in the A Guide in... group is determined by the quality of services provided and not by a membership fee. The administrators of the A Guide in... group do not charge a fee for membership.
The advantages of being a member of the A Guide in... group include:
- You gain marketing synergy through pooled resources.
- You gain an additional source of high-end client leads.
- You gain exposure through a respected, centralized resource for travel agents, individual travelers and business agents.
- Your clients will be able to find you through a single resource. They will have peace of mind in knowing that your service has been screened and meets an exceptional level of competence.
- The country or region you specialize in will be dedicated to you alone** heightening your exposure.
- As the overall network grows, your exposure increases exponentially.
- The A Guide in... group will provide a dedicated sub directory for your country and business, highlighting your services and your country's areas of interest. As a sub directory within the umbrella A Guide in... group web site and as the web site grows with new members, you will be virtually guaranteed outstanding visibility in all search engines.
- The administrators of the A Guide in... group will build and host all web pages of the A Guide in... group to a standardized, contemporary format. (Please see www.aguideinfrance.com as reference.) The represented member is responsible for supplying the administrators with pertinent information regarding their country/region.
- Your business remains independent. Leads garnered through the A Guide in... group web site will be forwarded to you.
- In the future, the A Guide in... group will offer escrow services guaranteeing both you and the client a fair financial transaction.
To be considered for membership you and/or your business must meet certain standards:
- You must be able to provide extended term* personal guide services, custom itinerary building services and local logistics services for leisure and business.
- You should be able to provide day tour services as well as extended-term* services.
- You must be able to focus on small groups and individual clients.
- You must be able to provide clean, safe, high quality transport for your clients.
- You should be able to provide interpreters and translators for leisure and business clients in several languages.
- You must have the ability to cover your entire country. If your country is large, then you must have a logical region of coverage.
- You must be able to provide guides and interpreters in many different languages. English is the working language of the group.
- You or your guides must have a thorough knowledge of your country, its culture, history and business practices.
Members of the A Guide in... group can be individuals or businesses. As with most private guides and private guide businesses, you probably utilize independent guides and interpreters to provide much of your service. It is up to the member - individual or business - to maintain the highest standards possible among all sub-contractors.
If you provide high quality guide services and would like to be considered for membership in the A Guide in... group, contact us and we'll begin a dialogue. The process will involve a visit from the administrators of the group at no cost to you. Once a region is represented by a guide service, that region is closed until:
- The region is relinquished by the current holder.
- Excessive negative remarks posted by clients will force a region open.
- Failure to uphold the commission schedule will force a region open.
- Failure of a yearly review will force a region open.
The A Guide in... group pays for all marketing, web hosting and site construction through a 10% commission charged on successful leads. As membership grows, marketing will grow. The current marketing budget (2006) is $4600 U.S.
* Extended-term guide services refer to personal guide services where the client is handled for 3 consecutive days or longer. This is a high-end form of private guide. The client is in the total care of the guide, usually from arrival to departure. This places more responsibility on the guide than simple day tours and can involve extensive travel at the client's side or waiting on call for when needed.
**Covering an entire country or sizeable region is a large responsibility and the member who represents that region or country in the A Guide in... group will not face competition from within the group. If the member fails to uphold the standards of the group, they risk losing their exclusivity to a country or region within the A Guide in... group. Private guides with the ability to cover an entire country will be favored over regional guides.
This is a unique moment in time: an opportunity to expand your business exposure and a chance to lay claim to your country or region before others. Don't hesitate. Contact us and we'll begin a dialogue. Applications for membership will be reviewed on a quarterly basis. Remember, the only cost to you is a standard 10% commission on successful leads.