Ted Bravos: Speaker Biography & Topics

CEO & Co-Founder, International Tour Management Institute

Ted Bravos is CEO and Co-Founder of International Tour Management Institute (ITMI), the most prestigious school for professional tour directors and tour guides in America. Since 1976 ITMI has trained thousands of individuals to develop exciting and rewarding careers in the tour industry around the world.

Pursuing his own passion for travel, Ted is still an active international tour director himself. "I believe travel is the greatest university in the world. It is a fulfilling yet humbling experience to explore the cultures and history of our planet and share these discoveries with others," says Bravos. Having experienced first-hand the compassion and understanding that is developed when travelers connect with people of other cultures, often forging lifelong friendships, Bravos' passion for travel has become a mission for a more peaceful world.

An inspiring and engaging speaker, Ted Bravos relates many fascinating stories about his experiences as a tour director and trainer.
Video clips available on this link: Tour Directing Career Seminar

PROGRAM TOPICS:

How to Become a Professional Tour Director

An informative look at the exciting international touring industry and the role of the professional tour director and tour guide. Ted provides an overview of the industry and the knowledge required to become a sought-after travel professional. With colorful anecdotes, he captivates and educates his audience. This is a highly interactive presentation with extensive audience participation.

Tour Directors as World Ambassadors

Ted relates his personal mission to contribute to a more peaceful world through travel. Nothing is more compelling than the thousands of ITMI graduates, who have related their stories about the transformational power of travel and the importance of experiencing other cultures and traditions as an instrument of peace and of understanding our place in the world. ITMI alumni Penell-Braida Skinner observes: "My sense of how important the tour industry is to the global economy rests on how important the tour industry is to social growth. With the understanding and acceptance of each other afforded by people-to-people encounters, countries grow more healthy from within…."

Travel as a Political Act

Travel is one of the most powerful ways to change the way we think about the world. Rick Steves, host of the popular PBS program Rick Steves Europe, and Ted Bravos have long championed travel as a political act. Not since the Civil War have Americans experienced combat on their soil. Many countries have recent reminders of the utter devastation and hardships of war. Thus, they are inclined to seek peaceful alternatives. That is one of the powerful reasons to experience the perspective that only travel can provide. In his presentation, Ted relates many inspiring anecdotes from his experiences as well as those of countless ITMI alumni whose lives have been enriched and transformed by travel.
For more information or to book an engagement contact: International Tour Management Institute, 625 Market Street, Suite 810, San Francisco, CA 94105
(800) 442-4864, (415) 957-9489
Email: travel@itmisf.com