After decades of guiding tours and managing life on the road, Cathy Williaume is channeling her hard-earned experience into an online academy designed to prepare future tour managers for real-world success. Inspired by the gaps she’s seen in training, Cathy emphasizes that while information is easy to find, lived experience is not—making her program uniquely valuable. With a focus on timing, logistics, and handling unpredictable situations, she’s equipping students with the practical intelligence, adaptability, and people-first mindset needed to thrive in a fast-evolving, tech-driven touring industry.
Cathy, you’re launching an online school to train future tour managers—what inspired you to turn your decades of experience into a teaching platform?
The joy and happiness I bring to my groups. Now with social media, decade later, clients still thank me. For our company, I have to hire tour managers, and when I see mistakes or the lack of information some new tour managers make and it’s only an education problem. I decided to share my experiences and knowledge. You can Google anything but you can’t Google life experiences!
Having started as a tour guide in NYC in the ’90s, how has the role of a tour manager evolved over the years?
I would say first the technology! When I started I spent hours at Barnes and Nobles. Reading books and maps. Today you have tools in your hands, GPS, Wikipedia, cell phones…. The reactivity if a broke down or emergency on the road. We can fix problems so much faster.
Your academy focuses heavily on logistics and timing. Why are these skills so critical to success on the road?
Timing is the key. You have to make the most of the profitable time in each visits. You want to avoid rush hours on the road. You don’t want to leave too early and arrive late at your hotel otherwise your driver and clients can get tired and the atmosphere can easily switch! Knowing that you have to save extra time for the unexpected. Good perfect timing makes a great day and smooth without any stress.
What can students expect from your program in terms of real-world preparation and industry insight?
As I said earlier, you can Google anything but you can’t Google life experiences! I teach about logistics, details that will make you confident even if it’s your first time onsite. How to deal with real-life situations. Topics to develop in the bus with your audience.
For someone looking to break into touring today, what are the most important qualities or skills they need to develop?
Generosity of sharing, be a people lover. Patience knows to stay in control and calm over delicate matters. Have some humor. Be a storyteller and most of all have a practical intelligence.
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