Ted Bravos

About the time I was graduating from California Polytechnic
University with a degree in Biology, I remember hearing for the
first time President John Kennedy speaking “Ask not what your
country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” I
decided and was accepted to join the Peace Corps to teach high
school Biology in Africa. Unfortunately, at the same time, the
army was calling me to Vietnam. I decided to make my own choice
and joined the Marine Corps as an infantry officer. During those
life changing 13 months I spent in Vietnam I remember saying to
myself, whatever I do the rest of my life had better make sense.
When I returned home to the United States my search began to
fulfill the promise I made to myself. Not knowing exactly what
that was, I decided to spend a year exploring 17 countries in
Europe on a 10-speed bicycle. This fueled my love of travel,
culture, and history…the joy of just moving.


I believe travel is the greatest university in the world. It is a
fulfilling yet humbling experience to explore the cultures and
history of our planet.


For the next 7 years I would travel the globe as a Tour Director.
When I returned to Europe leading tour groups, I met a whole new
breed of professionally trained tour directors and guides. They
could talk about art, food, wine, music, history, culture…they
were like modern day Renaissance people. I found that most
countries in Europe had national guide schools that trained
people to be the “face of their country.” In America tour
escorting was done mostly by college students as a temporary
summer job or by a retired person to obtain a free trip. Starting
a school for tour directors in America seemed pre-destined to be
a goal that I would pursue. I wanted to ensure that tour
directing was a recognized, respected profession and more
importantly give others an avenue to pursue their passion for
travel. So, in 1976, my friend and colleague Bill Newton and I
started the first school in America to train tour directors and
guides.


I am proud of each one of the graduates that made the choice to
follow their dream to teach, learn, and grow into the role of a
Professional Tour Director and ultimately be called Ambassadors
of Goodwill throughout the world. Even after all this time I
still lead a few tours a year, when I am not instructing at ITMI.
Tour Directing is still my passion… besides, I’m not going to let
my students have all the fun!