Thanks so much for the feedback on your experience with the Garden District tour. As a business owner, of course I wish we only generated 5 star reviews however, I need to embrace the messages embedded in ALL of them. It's how we'll grow.
I vividly recall sitting down with Mark of Beyond Bourbon Street (BBS) to record the episode you reference. That was the first podcast I was featured on and the BBS community remains dear to me.
There are currently three guides, aside from myself, that walk this tour and all of them have been guiding Garden District tours for years. They've all generated multiple 5 star reviews and are valued colleagues. This doesn't mean that any of us are above being told we've drifted and need to revisit the intention for the tour we walk. The tours aren't scripted and even the footpath we each take differs. They should all be led with integrity and a quiet confidence. No guide should be embarrassed to say "I don't know," as history is vast and no one knows it all.
As a guide, I can say, many people want to know current real estate prices but there's obviously a lot more to any neighborhood. Due to the popularity of HGTV as well as people's natural curiosity, notes about the interiors are craved by many guests. The tour has room for some of that, but shouldn't rest on it.
What I hope for with the Garden District tour (really all of them) is that the narratives take on a layered approach spanning many topics and that at the conclusion of it, the particular blend has a balanced feel. We want guests to feel satisfied and that we did the work and it was worth the commitment.
I'll have the conversation with my team about core competencies and best practices. We continually grow as professionals and advance ourselves through numerous educational efforts. These include a range from lectures, movies and even festivals.
Thanks again for taking the time to write the review.
