The Professional Guide's Handbook - by Colby Brokvist (Paperback)

About the Book

"In the first book of its kind, The Professional Guide's Handbook: How to Lead Adventure Travel Trips and Expeditions contains everything contemporary guides need to know about their profession, exploring what skills are necessary to be successful, including an examination of adventure travel and guest expectations, leadership strategies, trip planning and the guest experience, cultural and environmental considerations, and being a professional expedition guide. Examples of carefully explored topics include guest expectations, problem-solving, risk management, decision-making, emergencies and crises, planning and logistics, and more. Filled with insights and real-life anecdotes from the author's own worldwide adventures as an expedition leader, the text is both engaging and thorough. From developing a better understanding of travelers and their expectations to tried-and-true group management frameworks, the book elevates the technically competent outdoor enthusiast to the level of industry professional"--

Book Synopsis

Professional guides have a lot of skills to learn and perfect to become successful. In the first book of its kind, The Professional Guide's Handbook covers everything contemporary guides need to know to become successful in their profession. Professional Guide and educator Colby Brokvist covers skills for success, ethical standards, sustainability issues, leadership, and how to utilize all these skills when on the job.

The Professional Guide's Handbook offers insight, wisdom, and real-life anecdotes from the author's own worldwide adventures as an expedition leader. Readers will find a thorough and thoughtful text that looks at everything from leadership skills to the importance of stewardship practices in the outdoor industry. They will develop a better understanding of travelers and their expectations to group management frameworks. It will leave readers empowered, enlightened, and ready to lead their next trip with renewed confidence. Colby Brokvist has more than 20 years of experience in the travel and expedition industry and is a technically competent and accomplished outdoorist.

Review Quotes

"The Professional Guide's Handbook offers insight, wisdom, and real-life anecdotes from the Colby's own worldwide adventures as an expedition leader...Exceptionally well written, organized and presented." --James Cox, Midwest Review of Books

"The Professional Guide's Handbook is required reading for all adventure travel guides. Colby Brokvist not only shares the vital and complicated skills required to guide adventure travelers to the most remote corners of the planet, but he also captures the essence of guiding as a profession and the burning passions required to succeed at the highest level. If you want to be a great guide, read this book and pay attention." --Ben Bressler, Founder & President of Natural Habitat Adventures

"If you believe that adventure tourism can and must be a force of good in the world, then The Professional Guide's Handbook is a must read."--Matt Kareus, Executive Director, International Galapagos Tour Operators Association

"The Professional Guide's Handbook manages to be a theoretical book with an extremely concrete and hands-on usage. It is encouraging, reaching a broad spectrum of guides with various experiences. It allows you to self-reflect and learn, motivating you to "be your best guide."--Pernille Søegaard, Co-Founder and Instructor, Expedition Guide Academy

About the Author

Colby Brokvist is a professional guide who leads worldwide expeditions for some of the most acclaimed companies in adventure travel. He was inspired to pursue guiding as a career during a through-hike of the Appalachian Trail in the summer of 2000. Since then, he has led hundreds of adventure travel departures, ranging from backpacking and trekking adventures to mountaineering and rock-climbing trips, sea kayaking and sailing voyages, and wildlife safaris. His expeditions have taken him to destinations as far-flung as Greenland, Antarctica, Africa, and Patagonia, as well as across the United States and Canada. In addition to fieldwork, Colby assumes a variety of managerial, operational, and consulting roles within the adventure travel sphere. His work centers on guide training, guide team management, and itinerary development. He sits on the board of directors for the Polar Tourism Guides Association and is a certified Senior Polar Guide through the same organization. He calls Boulder, Colorado, home.