Savor Seattle even more

When we pick up people in remote locations, we do like our guests to stay downtown, in large part so they can really learn and enjoy the intricacies of Seattle. We tell them about buses and taxis back to their hotels in the south end (or remote downtown), and offer to drop them conveniently off at the front door of the Market or Needle. Consider this: tell them that the Market is a complex and fascinating place and that they should consider going on the Savor Seattle Tour run by Angela Shen, or the Ghost Tour at night with Mercedes Yeager.



These do not conflict with our tours and offer added value for people who are new to Seattle. You can always call the office to check on times of the tours; and maybe even make the reservation for the guests.



Angela and Mercedes are friends and refer us their guests for tours. Let's make sure we reciprocate!

Seattle Music

Video by author of Hotel on Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Book Recommendation

I'm in the middle of a new book, actually the first book by author Jamie Ford, called Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.



Order it immediately from the library, or go buy it as soon as possible and start reading it! It will improve your tour. AND this may well be an anchor of our new FAMOUS SEATTLE tour for the summer (along with The Bachelor's houseboat - is he REALLY the new Sleepless in Seattle heartthrob?)



The story line is similar to Snow Falling on Cedar, and it will make a great movie some day soon.



Have you been to the Panama Hotel recently? Jamie will be there for a talk and book signing (and selling) on Tues., Feb. 10th. I have organized a Meetup group for this event and we'll be starting at 5 PM at the Golden City restaurant (just downhill, on Jackson). Join us!



This book brings forth so much from the war years in Seattle: internment, jazz, and ethnic conflicts. And if you get a chance to read the book first, be ready to be astounded by a particular structural detail in the Panama Hotel coffee and teahouse.



SP

Proper Greeting Technique

Andree Hurley demonstrates the correct and acceptable method for greeting a pedestrian or other driver using all five fingers of her greeting hand, along with a delighted smile.

Themes for February

There are three areas that I'd like everyone to work on during the month of February.

1. Post Tour Perfection
2. Dress
3. Tour Improvement

Post Tour, please complete your DVIR, gas up the coach, and clean the coach. This last point is often at issue the following day. Go over these things: walk through the coach and clean up ANY trash; clean the windows; sweep the floor. We do have a dress code, and are always considering a company "uniform". Look at yourself and you be the judge: are you dressed too casually? Try something totally different some days: wear a tie; wear a nice hat (beret, not baseball/feed). Tuck in that shirt! Liz and I will be making comments this month! How can you improve your tour? Read up on an area that you are a bit weak in. Get some statistics and WOW the folks. Make an extra effort to reach out to those people in the back corner who seem a bit off-putting. And let us know what works really well; maybe YOU will be featured in the blog! SP

Witch Hazel in the air

Its mid-January and all guides should point out the witch hazel plant at Waterfall Garden Park. Its right across from the waterfall on the corner. The blossoms are yellow, the leaves are ugly-dead, but it has a spectacular aroma. On sunny warm days (remember?) you can smell it from where we park the coaches! SP

The start of Something Good

Goodbye snow, hello rain... If you are wondering why we didn't chain up to run tours those last weeks in December, simply go to Google and punch in "tour bus over I-5". It happened on Dec 19th. While it is easy to stand by and ask "What were they thinking?" in regard to the drivers of those buses, you might ask yourself what you would've done in a situation where your dispatcher routed you into a situation where you had a closed and steep hill to your left, a narrow street ahead of you, and a steep hill to your right. A reminder to all drivers...if you haven't taken the SPS series of safety videos you will need to take them before the start of the season on May. Stop by the shop any day and we will set you up. Total time to take the videos is about 3 hours. Additionally, we still need help if any of you hearty souls feel like getting some hours in detailing coaches. Kudos to Bryan Dutt for getting out the elbow grease! LF

A visual reminder to be safe

Happy New Year Hey everyone we made it through the snow and we are happy to announce that we are back up and running at full capacity. We are looking forward to another record year and to the days increasing in length and the tours increasing in size! Check out the schedule for the next few weeks and call Steve if you are available! LF