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tourHQ 2017 Awards

The World's Best Guides!
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Dennis Shayo Tanzania

Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Moshi, Tanga, Zanzibar, Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru, Mikumi National Park, Selous Game Reserve, Mafia Island, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara, Tarangire National Park, Kilwa, Rubondo Island National Park

There is more to leadership than knowing the mountain and guiding people to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Dennis is a born leader within his guiding community who helps thousands of people to achieve their dreams in Kilimanjaro. His recognition as the top global guide in 2016 could carry him far from his village yet he chose to remain and build his home where he grew up. As a licensed Kilimanjaro guide he has made more than 250 trips of the mountain. Dennis is dedicated to the safety and well-being of his clients and is certified in wilderness first aid responder with more than 240 hours of medical training. He looks forward to getting to share his broad knowledge and enthusiasm for the natural and cultural history of Tanzania. Above all Dennis recognizes that for a successful adventure, all trips are comfortable, fun and carefully paced; something that he is able to apply his 12 years of experience to ensure. This year has been a successful partnership with tourHQ. Thank you tourHQ! Keep it up!!

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Sarath Karunarathna Sri Lanka

Anuradhapura, Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Dambulla, Mirissa, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Nuwara Eliya, Yala National Park, Pinnawala

I am glad to hear that I have been selected for the 2nd consecutive year as one of the top 10 guides in the world by tourHQ. This is a remarkable milestone in my life! I am an old hand in tourism industry from Sri Lanka. I am living up to the good name and reputation of Sri Lanka even to the extent of receiving highest number of reviews in excellent category as a tour guide. I have applied the knowledge and experiences I acquired in my earlier role as a Manager, Quality Assurance and Operations in a multinational company to my family run business as a tailor-made tourist services provider. My award indicates my customers’ fullest satisfaction with my services wherein I provide them responsible and reliable, end to end hassle free solutions on their travel and tourism needs. Last year was a remarkable year for my business due to TourHQ’s recognition and reward as the best tour guide in Sri Lanka as well as top one of the top 10 guides in the global list. Hope this would be a great opportunity to grow the business of other tourHQ members as well as it is a great service to the travel community globally. I profusely thank the tourHQ management and staff for the recognition accorded to be by such a reputable organization. I offer my deep gratitude for connecting me with world travelers to reach new heights in my career.

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Hector Nogales Puerto Rico

San Juan

Hola! My name is Hector. My passion is photography and showing tourists my Beautiful island - Puerto Rico. If you are staying in San Juan and looking for some fun close by give me a call and I would be more than happy to show you a little part of my lovely island. We can go snorkeling, paddle boarding, kayaking or biking through nature or I could teach you how to ride the wave also.... If its fun in the sun and nature I am the man. Feel free to call me anytime so we can set up your next adventure.

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Randy Bibb United States of America

New Orleans

I am deeply humbled and honored to be a two-time winner of the Global Guide Award.  I have studied New Orleans History since the 1970’s and by the 1980’s I was giving tours of the French Quarter to family and friends. By 2004 I realized that I loved sharing New Orleans and her history so much that I decided to become licensed and start giving tours professionally. It was the best decision of my life.  I’ve given all kind of tours all kind of ways – from walking tours to standing on buses narrating or driving a van to a plantation or swamp – even on a Segway buzzing around the city!  Today I do mainly walking tours with occasional bus narration work.  Ideally, I would like to be your guide for your entire visit – rather than get conflicting stories from tour guides who place more emphasis on putting on a show and entertaining as opposed to giving accurate information.  If you’re planning a trip to New Orleans, contact me and let me be your friend while you are here.  Again, many thanks to TourHQ for this honor, many thanks to all of you who made it possible and congratulations to my esteem colleagues with whom I am proud to share it.

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Marcello Torrisi Italy

Palermo, Messina, Syracuse, Ragusa, Agrigento, Mount Etna, Taormina, Piazza Armerina, Sicily

I have to thank my family for the man I'm today: they made me study, travel and experience life! I studied Japanese for 4 years at the University in Naples. This was a very important and positive period in my life because I had to cope for the first time with different problems without asking for any help from my parents. It was a very hard period but I probably grew up even earlier than my two older brothers. The moment that really changed my life and my family's life is connected to a terrible date May 15, 2007: my father suddenly passed away. We had had dinner together at 9:30 pm and before midnight, after wishing each other good night, he was not there with us anymore. That was something I couldn't really accept for a very long time. He was just 60 years old and he was about to retire and finally enjoy life a little bit. Since that moment, I've become a completely different man. I do not get discouraged anymore unless it is a serious problem. I enjoy life and I don't take so much time in coming to decisions. My philosophy is now to "seize the day, and I apply it to my job as a tour guide with as much gusto!

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Praveen Mendis Sri Lanka

Anuradhapura, Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Mirissa, Negombo, Sigiriya, Ella, Polonnaruwa, Nuwara Eliya, Yala National Park, Pinnawala, Udawalawe National Park

First, I would like to thank tourHQ for awarding me the Global Guide award 2016 & 2017. I was so happy to read your report about the growth of the world inbound travel industry over the last year, and the past year has been great for me as well. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve your company for the past 3 years and your co-operation has helped our business run smoothly! I am a member of 'National Tourist Drivers Association' in Sri Lanka and have a Chauffeur guide license issued from the NTDA. With more than 10 years of driving experience, I am familiar with most of the roads, cities, towns and villages of our beautiful island. Not just the roads, I am also familiar with the range of accommodations to choose from, as per travelers’ budgets. Whether beaches, hills, ancient Cities, countryside or wild Life, I do my best to meet travelers’ expectations with my tailor-made tours and make their visit memorable. Fluent in English and Hindi, I can arrange excursions on our amazing rail network as well. Looking forward to a great journey together!

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Remzi Kaya Turkey

Istanbul, Troy, Pergamon

Unfortunately, in 2016, tourism all over Turkey was affected tremendously from the issues in the neighboring countries. Especially, the war in Syria, problems in Iraq and the terrorist infiltrating to Turkey from these countries were the main cause the decreasing visitors. The number of tourists dropped dramatically in 2016, effecting local and national income. As a result, many companies in tourism business downsized and/or closed; causing individuals working for these companies seek different job opportunities in different professions. However, due to my thirty years of experience, passion and dedication, I managed to keep working as a tour guide in 2016, even if the volume of guests were fewer then years before.  I am hoping that 2017 will bring peace, so that our friends/visitors from different parts of the world will feel more comfortable being our guests in Turkey.

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Rodrigo Eduardo Chile

Antarctica, Torres del Paine National Park

Hi, I'm Rodrigo, a 35-year-old tour guide from Santiago, Chile. I studied Economy and Marketing management before I took up guiding as a profession. Here in Patagonia, I have been traveling and working as a tour guide since the past 7 years over winter and summer encompassing different activities, tours and excursions through the most important national parks of the Magellan region. It is a wonderful territory with amazing wild life. I'm very proud to be a Patagonia Tour Guide; it helps me encounter and enjoy great experiences with travellers that I meet over the course of my work.

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Godwin Ndosi Tanzania

Arusha, Moshi, Mbeya, Mwanza, Tanga, Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti National Park, Lake Manyara, Tarangire National Park, Lake Eyasi

I pride myself for being a certified professional safari guide and an avid conservation enthusiast located in Arusha Tanzania. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Tourism from the College of Wildlife Management, Mweka. Much as I enjoy my area of study, there is a part of me that always keeps me going and motivated on taking different tourists on safari to enjoy the best my country (Tanzania) has to offer. Come see the famous Serengeti, climb Mount Kilimanjaro, go on a beach tour to Zanzibar or even have a peek at the Ngorongoro Crater and the Olduvai Gorge where the skull of the first man who ever lived was excavated. That Africa is a special place, you will only find out once you are here. That Tanzania is the gem of Africa, is unquestionable! Hakuna Matata

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Damith Dilshan (dam) Sri Lanka

Colombo, Galle, Jaffna, Kandy, Dambulla, Trincomalee, Arugam Bay, Mirissa, Sigiriya, Ella, Nuwara Eliya, Yala National Park, Minneriya National Park, Udawalawe National Park, Unawatuna, Tangalle

I am a young tour guide from the wonderful country of Sri Lanka. Ever since I was at school, it was my great desire to be a tour guide one day. My school was located in a busy tourist area. Every day when I went to school, I used to see a lot of tourists accompanied by guides. So, whenever I got a chance, I started reading a lot about the world tourism industry, tourism in my country, it's growth in my area. From then on, I tried to help tourists by giving them information while I was still at school! Fulfilling my ambition today, I have become a top tour guide in Sri Lanka. There are a lot of people I want to convey my thanks to, for helping me to achieve this position. tourHQ is a main player in my growth. Thanks a million, tourHQ! You have done a lot for me. 2016 was a great year for my career with you. The online review system you have introduced has been superb! There was no way for me to show the world my guiding skills without this system. I love showing tourists the beauty of Sri Lanka. My mission is to give them the best experiences of their life!