Looking along a street in Castiglione della Pescaia in Tuscany Italy on a hillside, cobbled street, with a view in the background.

Behind the scenes – ‘A Day in the Life of a Magari Tour Manager’

Home » Stories » Behind the scenes – ‘A Day in the Life of a Magari Tour Manager’

Tour Managers are such a vital part of any small group tour. Not only are they there to make sure the itinerary runs smoothly but they provide incredible insight into the region with their own favourite hidden gems and fascinating stories to really bring the destination to life.

One of our most knowledgeable Tour Managers, Wendy Viney based in Chianciano Terme in Southern Tuscany shares with us what it’s like to be a Tour Manager and her particular favourite experiences whilst she’s on the road.

How did you become a Tour Manager and how long have you been doing the job?
I became a Tour Manager, after repping in hotels, and wanted to do more travelling, this was about 32 years ago.

What does being a Tour Manager involve and what do you enjoy most about the job?
Being a Tour Manager means lots of things…Making sure the tour runs smoothly, sharing knowledge with clients, being in the right place at the right time, and getting along with suppliers. The most important thing is that the clients are enjoying their days. I love that I take clients to totally different places and show them something new.

Which is your favourite Magari tour to lead and why? Is there a particular region which is your favourite?
I like all of our tours. Perhaps my favourite is the Essence of Lombardy. It’s a really undiscovered, and unspoilt area. I enjoy the lovely Lake Iseo, and the quietness of the spa town of San Pellegrino, coupled with the busier cities of Brescia and Bergamo. Something for everyone to enjoy.

Local wine and cheese at Castillo Grumello in Lombardia

Can you tell us about a few hidden gems or authentic experiences which have had the greatest impact on clients?
One of my favourite visits is to the spiritual cave of Cornabusa. It’s an amazing place, with the church inside the cave, hewn from the rocks. After a few busy days, the clients enjoy the peace, and the spectacular views from there. They sit on the terrace, with some of the local cheeses, and a glass of wine, just looking at the fabulous scenery. It’s difficult to get our guests to move on!

As culinary experiences are such a key part of any holiday or tour nowadays, can you tell us about an authentic food or wine excursion which is a particular favourite with you?
A culinary favourite is our splendid fish lunch, at Casiglione della Pescaia which is the seaside village on our Secluded Tuscany tour. I’m a big fish fan! Finally, the visit to the splendid Castello di Grumello Winery which is very authentic and has a nice local, family atmosphere. Our clients always feel welcomed there.

Mr & Mrs Brown’s comments after experiencing the Magari Essence of Lombardy tour.

“Just to say we had a lovely time on our Magari Tour – Lombardy. We were lucky with the group size of 9. The Tour Manager was outstanding. Enjoyed the location of the hotel, family staff were very friendly and efficient, and everything felt relaxed with really good dinner choices and wines. We really enjoyed all the places visited and the authentic restaurants.

“The stop off lunches from Milan airport (arrival) to the hotel and from the hotel (departure) were lovely and a really good use of time which is usually spent hanging around with luggage.”

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