Tourguide Training 2025
On the first day, which starts on midday this year, it's almost exclusively last year's tour guides who can be heard saying hello, servus, griass di, hi and ciao, because they see each other for the first time after the winter break and sometimes even since the last tour guide training. In between, the “newbies” everywhere, who then gradually seek and find conversation with the guides of the 2024 vintage. The start took place in a relaxed atmosphere with wonderfully prepared appetizers, coffee and all kinds of chilled drinks. After that, we quickly started with getting all the information we will be providing over the next few days. The afternoon just flew by and in the evening there was a lot of discussion and talking shop at the “Neuwirt” - our accommodation during the Touguide training days.
After yesterday's half-day warm-up with lots of new information, we continue today with the first full day of training and it's a tough one: information, information, information all day long - it can make your head spin a little in the evening. The day was interrupted by a coffee break in the morning and various culinary delights at lunchtime and in the afternoon. Everything was not only a feast for the eyes but also deliciously tasty. A huge compliment and thank you to the kitchen crew. After complaint by TPS: translated now by Kurt
The day began with the things that are not normally at the top of the tour guides' list of favorite things to do, namely information and instructions on how to fill out various forms (waivers, online payments, damage reports, etc.). Despite everything, the topics were once again interesting and, above all, very important. At the halfway point of the training day - also known as lunch - there was a sensational picnic prepared by an experienced tour guide. In the afternoon, we continued with the presentation of briefings using flipchart drawings for welcome and daily briefings. After a short break at the hotel, we went to the first meeting of all tour guides in the garage with a joint catering dinner, where everyone - even our North German glutton - was well fed and where the “newcomers”, the “1-year-olds” and also the “old hands” of the tour guide group met for the first time. Once everyone's hunger and thirst had been quenched, the conversations really got going. At 9 pm, there was another highlight when Lars showed us a great presentation of his last year's scouting tour in which he showed us a beautifully edited video about an impressive, harsh but beautiful country, named MONGOLEI, an adventure tour that will be a fixed part of the Edelweiss Tours in 2025. At the end, the remaining liquids were professionally consumed in cozy talks.
In the morning, we were first presented with a summary of the information we had received over the last few days - followed by a presentation of our Edelweiss insurance broker, who explained us in detail how important it is, to follow the correct procedure and documentation in the event of accidents or/and damages of all kinds. This was followed by a guided tour in several groups through the various areas of the new Edelweiss building with interesting detailed informations. Afterwards, lunch was already waiting for us, another highlight in the form of a real Austrian specialty: hot "Leberkäs"! Freshly fortified, in the afternoon, we received very interesting informations from the management and a presentation of new projects of the Edelweiss-future. Between the afternoon and evening program, our GPS professionals Lars & Felli showed all interested parties their tips & tricks for handling gpx data, Export and Imort, as well as various useful software. The time flew by and it was already time for dinner: the finest barbecues and salads from the local “Grill King”. After the meal, the management called for the annual awards ceremony for various achievements, such as “Rookie of the Year”, “Tour Guide of the Year”, the jubilarians with the most tours, etc. The last item on today's program was once again a relaxed get-together with an open end...
Our last training day began with the obligatory and very important first aid course. The new tour guides completed their first course at various stations, and it was a useful refresher for the “older” ones. New this year was a psychological part, where the tour guides were taught in a very exciting way how to behave in extreme situations - e.g. an accident. For most of the tour guides, the training days then came to an end, followed by a separate training session for those who can imagine themselves on an eBike tour. The days and evenings we spent together as the Edelweiss family were exciting, instructive and fun. We wish all tour guides an eventful and accident-free motorcycle season with fun and sunshine. Kurt & Lasse