Our Tour Managers
Our professional, highly-experienced Tour Managers are passionate about providing the very best touring experience that you can imagine. With a reputation for being some of the finest in the business, they’ll attend to your needs, share their knowledge, join in the fun, and take care of every detail to ensure your holiday runs smoothly.
And, because Albatross Tours are so inclusive, your Tour Manager won't be concerned with ‘selling’ optional extras or taking you to ‘special’ stores. Their only interest is being friendly, helpful and knowledgeable travelling companions and guides; which is why they receive such overwhelming praise from our guests.
Antonia Scetta
I am an Italian speaking tour manager and I have been working in travel since 1995. I first began doing local guiding for agencies on Lake Garda in which then transformed into taking tours for British and North American passengers. I have done many long haul tours such as South Africa and the far East - Cambodia, Vietnam and China.
“Our tour manager Antonia was brilliant! Probably the best I have experienced in all our travels. Her knowledge, enthusiasm and interaction with the group made this tour extra special.” Allan
Darren Wheatley
I have worked as a tour manager for the last 20 years. Albatross Tours is a great company to work for with wonderful hotels and locations to visit and friendly guests to travel with. In my free time I enjoy photography so have the perfect job for that and also browsing antique markets around Europe. I have a real passion for travel and imparting interesting information and knowledge to our guests who travel with us. If you travel with Albatross you are sure to have a great time.
“Darren was exceptional, very knowledgeable, extraordinarily talented and fluent in languages, plus very helpful and caring.”
Deryck Brown
I have been a tour manager since 1980 when I started conducting tours to the Oberammergau Passion Play from Munich where I was living at the time. I have always enjoyed my job, seeing new places and watching them change and of course constantly meeting new people, mostly from Australia and New Zealand. Each tour is an education for me, no matter how many times I visit a place, there is always something new to learn, often from clients on the tour. I enjoy conducting Albatross tours because they offer something a little different from most other coach tours. The pace is generally more relaxed and the places visited often more for the serious traveller, sometimes a little off the beaten track. The three and four night stays in hotels make the operation of the tour less frantic than many other companies!
"Our tour manager, Deryck Brown, was very knowledgeable, helpful, professional and a very nice person."
Ernst Weidl
Brought up in Nuremberg, Ernst has been living in Augsburg (near Munich) for over 30 years. He is fond of this area because it is also located within easy reach of the Alps (e.g. Austria, Switzerland, and Italy). He has always liked travelling and has seen quite a bit of the world. He loves working as a tour guide because you always meet nice and interesting guests while showing them the jewels of Europe.
Eve Charlier
Hello, I'm of Anglo Indian origin born in India but now a resident of Andalucia, Southern Spain for the past 36 years. Home is an organic farm in the beautiful Andalucian hills shared with my husband, 3 dogs, 2 cats, 5 peacocks and a bunch of pot belly pigs! I studied languages and am bilingual in Spanish and English. I have been working as a Tour Manager for the past 12 years throughout all of Europe, Morocco and the Iberian Peninsular.
“Eve was excellent, professional and nothing was too much trouble – she always went the extra mile. And she has a great sense of humour!” Jan
Gilberto Bionda
I come from a small village in the mountains of Northern Italy near to the Swiss border. Italy is a truly beautiful country and I love it; we are so lucky to have the culture, arts, history and nature.
Since I was a boy, having an outgoing personality, my passion was to travel and see our beautiful world. After initially working as an accountant for several years I decided that I needed to change career and find my true vocation. I travelled extensively visiting all five continents and doing several jobs before taking a position as a tour escort, which turned out to be the perfect career for me.
For over the last decade I have worked as a Tour Manager in Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Slovenia. I am proud to be working for Albatross Tours which has delighted me for the quality of design of the tours, the style of tour, the guests and the great staff. I love my profession which allows me to meet new people, communicate my knowledge of the places we visit, show my enthusiasm and devotion to my profession, while enjoying every single day. “When you do what you like best, you do it with all of your heart”.
“Gilberto, our Tour Manager was amazing. He was so good with everyone and was knowledgeable, helpful and absolutely reliable. He is a very special person who made our tour excellent.”
Gina Braim
I'm originally from the city of Coventry in England but have been living since the seventies in Innsbruck in the Austrian Tyrol. I feel very much at home in the mountains and enjoy showing our travellers the magnificent scenery of the Alpine regions, which incorporates not only Austria, but Switzerland, and other countries in Central Europe. I joined Albatross Tours in 2000 and have been working since then on both the Europe, Britain & Ireland and Christmas & New Year programmes. I love being part of the Albatross team and I particuarly appreciate their philosophy of longer stays, frequently staying in hotels which posses traditional charm plus their policy of including famous sights and unusual attractions which are often add on optionals with other tour operators.
"Our guide Gina was fantastic... she really made the trip special!"
Helen Sheehan
I started out in 1993 as a tour guide and I am a French and Italian speaker. Previously I taught English as a foreign language, and have undertaken various tours which include Regional Italian tours, Tuscany and Evirons, Rome to London, Spain, France Holland, Scotland and Ireland.
"Our tour director Helen Sheehan was nothing short of amazing. Her knowledge and commentary both on and off tour was outstanding and her level of commitment to her customers was a credit to Albatross ."
Katia Provencher
Katia is a French-Canadian from Montreal but her heart belongs to Europe where she has lived most of her adult life. Katia thoroughly enjoys sharing her passion for touring and we are sure you will love her company, and extensive knowledge, on tour.
"Katia is one of the best tour managers I have encountered in my touring experience. She was efficient, caring, knowledgeable and fun to be with."
Luis Cardoso
Originally from Portugal but living in the UK since 2000, Luis has been leading tours in Portugal, Italy and Spain since 2008 and has a wealth of experience and knowledge of those regions. With a great passion for the culture, history and lifestyle of the Southern European countries, coupled with a very friendly and warm personality, you will be sure to enjoy your time with him.
"Ï thought Luis was an excellent tour manager - thoughtful, caring and well organised. He has charm and a lovely sense of humour."
Maritza Baumeister
Back in the early 1980s I worked for a travel agency in Munich, in charge of planning and guiding special group tours to America and Africa. After my husband and I moved to his hometown in Austria, I decided to conduct tours professionally for a while – this was 26 years ago. Speaking English, German, French and Italian helped and a profound knowledge of European history favoured tours to Central and Eastern Europe. What started as “a job for the moment” turned into a passion.
We are often asked about our favourite places – but is there one? The serene beauty of the Baltic States, the mystic feel of old Prague, the wide empty spaces of Hungary’s Puszta and of course charming imperial Vienna. Italy is dazzling and Slovenia’s mountains remind us of old fairy tales. Do I have a favourite place in Europe? Not really and yet, sitting at the waterfront overlooking the sunset over the Adriatic Sea in Croatia is as close to paradise as one might get.
"We felt so privileged to have spent Christmas with such a warm, loving and particularly generous person like Maritza."
Marta Ruiz-Ocana Dobao
Marta grew up in Madrid and currently lives in Ribera del Duero, home to the most reputed Spanish wines. She has a passion for travelling and has been leading tours for over 20 years. Marta speaks English, Spanish, French, German and Portuguese. She looks forward to sharing her country and close neighbouring country with you.
Monica Ediers
Being a Tour Manager for the past 28 years, with trips to various destinations from South America to South East Asia, safaris in Africa, and Europe my greatest passion, it is one of the most fulfilling and fascinating professions that exist. I love people, like to interact, socialise make a tour fun and enjoyable, like smiles on clients faces. I also like the organisational side of it, being fluent in Dutch, French, German, English, and Italian certainly helps. Nothing is more satisfying then seeing people enjoying their time in Europe in a more leisurely style, concentrated on one particular area and discover it in depth as offered by Albatross - only one company where the word means exactly that LEISURELY...with the 2 and 3 night stays. So clients go home not only with a new deep insight of a part of Europe but also with a list of new made friends and looking forward to a visit in another part of exiting Europe with Albatross!
"Our tour guide Monica was really great. Couldn't do enough for us all and kept us laughing the whole trip. Her knowledge was fabulous too."
Reinhard Held
I started work in tourism in Italy as a guide for excursions in Tuscany. Later I became a tour manager and for many years I have been conducting tours in Europe, mainly in the German-speaking countries and Italy. Since 2007 I've been working for Albatross, handling European Summer as well as Christmas tours. I like working for Albatross: I like the product as well as the philosophy behind it, I like the people who travel with Albatross and the people who work for Albatross. As a native of the Austrian Tyrol I love the mountains and therefore I especially enjoy handling the 'An Alpine Adventure' tour. I also like to do the 'Black Forest, Bavaria & the Tyrol' tour and the 'Italian Grande' tour.
"Reinheld's knowledge of the areas we visited was captivating. Thank you for sharing your knowledge."
Richard Ellis
I first came to live in Italy in my early 20s and fell in love with the country. I both worked and studied at University there. Life took me back to the UK, but I continued to work in travel for some years before settling down. I returned to tourism five years ago and although much has changed Italy remains as fascinating and beautiful as ever.
"Our tour manager Richard was very enthusiastic, helpful and is very passionate about Italy."
Stephen Newman
From early days on the old hippie trail from London to India (and on to Australia) I have been hooked on the excitement and adventure of travel. I possess in depth knowledge of many countries and favourites include India, Vietnam, South Africa and Italy. Being a huge sports fan, I have visited Australia on many occasions, including several Ashes series - just don't mention the cricket! With my knowledge of the traditions and heritage of Great Britain I am enthusiastic to show visitors the landscape, share the literature and to ensure it is a rich and enjoyable experience for everyone.
Vanessa Nicol
Vanessa was born in Scotland but has lived most of her life in various parts of Italy and has now settled in Rome. She has been leading tours around Italy for the past ten years and still wakes up each morning grateful and excited to share with others the delights of the spectacular country! Everyday, is a new adventure, and every tour there are a new group of friends to make.
"Vanessa is an absolute gem. Her skills in organisation, commentary and human interaction is exemplary."