GLOSSARY
58 terms every tour operator should know.
Tour lasting one day or less.
Tour spanning multiple days with accommodation.
Tour for a single booking party, custom priced.
Scheduled departure with multiple participants from different bookings.
Tour accompanied by trained guide providing commentary and safety.
Tour customer follows independently, often with audio or map aid.
Tour involving physical activity or remote terrain.
Tour focused on history, art, or local culture.
Tour focused on local cuisine and restaurants.
Tour focused on winery visits and tastings.
Tour conducted on foot.
Tour using bus transportation.
Booking platform like GetYourGuide, Viator. Typical commission 20-30%.
Fee paid to OTAs or resellers per booking. Negotiate carefully.
Customer books via operator own site. No commission.
Maximum participants per tour.
Minimum participants required for tour to run. Below triggers cancellation.
List of tour participants with contact info and emergency details.
Liability release signed by participants.
Booked customer who does not arrive.
Partial payment at booking. 25-50% typical.
Some operations require full payment at booking.
Rules around refunds for customer cancellations.
Rules around tours affected by weather.
Staff member leading tour and providing interpretation.
Guide with specific qualifications (first aid, specialty certifications).
Medical certification for guides in remote settings. 80-hour training.
Professional body for climbing/mountaineering guides.
International mountain guide certification.
Legal obligation to participants. Violated by negligence.
Number of participants per guide. Varies by activity type.
Supports lead guide. Often developing toward full certification.
Staff handling ground-based logistics, not tour operation itself.
Medical supplies per tour. Contents vary by tour type and duration.
Per-participant contact for emergencies. Captured at booking.
Emergency response for lost participants.
Authorisation to operate tours in specific area (park, forest, water).
Business authorisation. Varies by jurisdiction.
Liability coverage for tour operations.
Customer agreement not to hold operator liable for inherent risks.
Pre-tour discussion of risks and procedures. Usually legally required.
Written record of tour incidents. Filed within 24 hours.
Customer feedback posted publicly (Google, TripAdvisor).
Numerical component of review (1-5 stars typical).
Customer satisfaction metric. Asks likelihood of recommendation.
Customer endorsement used in marketing.
Customer permission to use their photos in marketing.
Customer who books again. High-value.
Single party booking multiple participants.
Tour booked by business for employees or clients.
Description and pricing on website or OTA.
Search engine optimisation. Driver of direct bookings.
Pay-per-click advertising.
Promotional emails to customer list.
Blog posts, videos, guides driving discovery.
Incentive for customers to refer others.
How demand varies by time of year.
EquipDash manages tours, guides, and customers in one platform.
Social media
Instagram, Facebook, TikTok. Source of visual tour marketing.