Enforcing the Rules

We didn't want to do this. We have simple rules that should be easy to follow. But we aren't lax and will enforce the rules with whatever it takes. Therefore:

We have a number of areas that need improvement.

Always leave your coach in impeccable shape!

Complete Accounting Sheets Conscientiously (ie. fully and neatly). Complete DVIR forms before you go, and after you come back.

.

Are we clear?

10 Things We Love About Tacoma

 The romantic teen flick "10 Things I Hate About You" has some great scenes in Tacoma (and Seattle), especially this ending scene with Stadium High School, with snappy tune. The first part explains the title of the movie, the second part will have you up out of your chair dancing. Imagine the second half of this on our video monitors at the end of the tour. Can you say "raucous sign-along"?



This 1999 movie stars Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles. It is a modern remake of the classic Shakespeare play "The Taming of the Shrew."

Tacoma News Tribune article

Here's a well-written article about Mark's Sunday's tour of Tacoma from a reporter from the News Tribune who went along for the ride.

And some pictures taken by our supportive friend, Andrea Mensink, from the Tacoma Visitor's Center:

The building of a Tacoma Tour

Last week, on Thursday and Sunday, Robb and Mark presented a "fam" (familiarization) tour of Tacoma to a variety of interested people in our neighboring city. They did not have the best weather, but it was well received, and we received very good feedback from people who are both familiar with Tacoma, and people who would be referring us business.

The routing now begins the tour in Old Town, past gorgeous homes and Stadium High School with its unique, historic and breath-taking sports bowl. We loop back into downtown theatre distict (Rialto and Pantages), and the museum district where the guests get to walk across the bridge of glass. Then the tour heads to Point Defiance Park, specifically Owen Beach. Finally, Mark showed a video of Galluping Gertie while heading to and eventually over the Tacoma Narrows bridge.

For the time being, we are marketing this as a group tour option, with a minimum of 10 people.

Read more at Exit133.com, a blog about Tacoma.

Mercedes Private Tours

We are starting to market our Private Mercedes Benz tours to downtown hotels. Grab a brochure in the office and get familiar with the possibilities and the pricing. We hope to eventually run four of these tours every day. I will be asking people to sign up for at least one day every two weeks to be primarily responsible for running these tours.

Locking the Gate at the end of the Night

Kim demonstrates the wrong way and the correct way to lock the gate at the end of the night. BE ON THE OUTSIDE, NOT INSIDE when you click that padlock, especially if you are a new guide and do not have a key to the padlock! It looks jail, and it will feel like jail if you lock yourself in. Liz and I open the gate at 5:45 AM.

The REAL Northwest?

Cliff Maas. Trophy Cupcakes. Hotel Max.

What makes the Northwest, the Northwest? Find the real Seattle!

Check out the Seattle Weekly online awards for many, many more examples of life here in the upper left hand corner.

Expand your world if you live here. Learn about us, if you are visiting. Experience Seattle: Every day is beautiful.

And let us help you in your quest:

ToursNorthwest.com

Seattle Tours

Mt. Rainier Tours

Boeing Assembly Plant tour and Future of Flight Exhibit Center.

Mt. Rainier tour Review

See a video of the tour here, at Mt. Rainier Tours.

And don't miss our 3 Hr. City tour either. See a video at Seattle Tours.

Things to Point Out during Pickups

When you are going to the Warwick or the Westin (down 4th) for a pick up, do you point out the Dahlia Bakery? Do you tell your guests that Tom Douglas is our most famous restaurateur with his 2008 Bon Appetit award and 2009-2010 James Beard nominations? Have you, yourself, stopped into the Dahlia Bakery for a breaktime goodie? (Dan and I have been known to eat an entire Olive Loaf during a MR shuttle shift.)

Here is a recent TDRBakery twitter stream. (hint hint: follow them and TomDouglasCo on Twitter.) Read it and salivate! AND be sure to point it out to some of our 30,000 tour guests!

Coming soon: a survey about the MUST-HAVE sandwich in town! Stella's Meatball? Bakeman's Turkey? Paseo's Pork? A Dahlia's Shrimp? Stay tuned, and get ready (ie. visit these places early and often so you can be an intelligent voter.)