Sylvie Honnay
Cairns,QLD
Summary
Multilingual creative hospitality and travel industry professional. Offering excellent customer service and public speaking skills. Career success working with visitors and travelers to create entertaining and educational experiences.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Freelance Tour Guide in the USA
A.T.I. And Gowest Tours
06.2003 - Current
- Guiding international visitors on 2-week bus tours.
- Taking mainly French, Dutch and English speaking groups on road trips to see the beautiful national parks and cities in the USA.
- Enhanced customer experience by providing informative and engaging tours of various local attractions.
- Collaborated with local businesses to create unique and memorable experiences for tour participants.
- Conducted thorough research on tour destinations to provide accurate and captivating information to clients.
- Improved overall client satisfaction by promptly addressing any concerns or issues that arose during tours.
- Led diverse groups of tourists through various cultural, historical, and natural sites while sharing relevant stories and facts.
- Optimized route planning for efficient use of time, allowing clients to visit more locations during their tours.
- Received numerous accolades from satisfied clients for exceptional knowledge, professionalism, and interpersonal skills.
- Provided multilingual support for international clients, offering guided tours in multiple languages when needed.
- Navigated challenging weather conditions or unexpected events while maintaining a positive attitude towards the touring experience.
- Coordinated transportation logistics for groups requiring shuttle services between different tour locations.
- Communicated professionally with customers, answering questions and addressing concerns to boost satisfaction.
- Built personal relationships with guests to promote positive experiences.
- Managed tour groups by keeping on schedule and quickly handling issues to promote positive experiences.
- Assisted tour members with luggage, bags and maps while handling other helpful tasks.
- Delivered timely and accurate updates to tour coordinator regarding tour progress.
- Planned and executed efficient tour routes by using maps and other navigational tools.
- Worked closely with management staff to create new and lucrative tours.
- Informed tour members of safety risks associated with attractions, confirming customer security.
- Developed engaging and informative scripts, guiding tour members through attractions.
- Collaborated with other tour guides to provide comprehensive and enjoyable experience.
- Established positive relationships with tour members through fun and engaging conversation.
- Utilized effective communication and problem-solving skills to quickly resolve customer issues.
- Collected and deposited payments from guests.
- Entertained tour guests with various props and signs for maximum engagement, fun, and lasting memories.
- Answered questions, pointed out important features and offered further details about special exhibits to educate visitors.
- Continued learning and updating knowledge about tour areas, culture and history to provide accurate, timely and exciting information to tour groups.
- Guided groups of up to 56 people on scheduled tours.
- Shared historical and cultural context to keep tour informative and provide more profound understanding of area.
- Adapted to unexpected schedule changes by being flexible and adjusting itineraries to keep tours moving smoothly.
- Provided suggestions and recommendations for activities, restaurants and accommodations to keep customers entertained after tour hours.
- Provided information on various sites throughout area, relaying little-known stories to provide interest.
Crew Member in The Eastern Caribbean, W.I.
Sailing Vessel Quiet Woman
01.2003 - 06.2003
- Helping with various chores on a 50' private sailing vessel.
- Chores included: Helping while sailing, provisioning, some cooking and cleaning.
Crew Member on Private S.V.
Sailing Vessel Exit
12.2001 - 03.2002
- Helping with the delivery of a 45' private sailing vessel.
Representative and Tour Guide
American Tours International
03.2000 - 11.2001
- Meet and greet at the airport, scheduling an informative briefing for the next day.
- Meeting the guests and doing the briefing, answering questions and selling excursions.
- Increased customer satisfaction by addressing and resolving complaints in a timely manner.
- Enhanced company reputation by providing exceptional customer service and support.
- Contributed to team sales goals by upselling products and services to customers.
Representative for Belgium Travel Agency
Jet Holiday Serv. In Miami
04.1996 - 10.1999
- Increased customer satisfaction by addressing and resolving complaints in a timely manner.
- Enhanced company reputation by providing exceptional customer service and support.
- Contributed to team sales goals by upselling products and services to customers.
Freelance Tour Guide
Flamingo Tours
04.1996 - 10.1999
- Enhanced customer experience by providing informative and engaging tours of various local attractions.
Freelance Representative and Tour Guide
American Tours International
04.1996 - 10.1999
- Meeting and greeting customers at airport and cruise terminal.
- Taking guests and their luggage to their hotel in mini bus and also taking them on a tour of the city or other touristic places.
Receptionist
Hotel Beekman
12.1995 - 04.1996
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by promptly addressing inquiries and providing accurate information.
- Streamlined front desk operations for increased efficiency by effectively managing phone calls, emails, and walk-in clients.
- Maintained a well-organized reception area with updated materials, contributing to a welcoming environment for visitors.
Skills
- Exceptional Communication
- Cultural Sensitivity
- Attention to Detail
- Tour Planning
- Problem Solving
- Reliability
- Customer Service
- Naturalist Knowledge
- Foreign Language Proficiency
- Guest Relations
- Travel Route Planning
- Visitor Relations
Timeline
Freelance Tour Guide in the USA
A.T.I. And Gowest Tours
06.2003 - Current
Crew Member in The Eastern Caribbean, W.I.
Sailing Vessel Quiet Woman
01.2003 - 06.2003
Crew Member on Private S.V.
Sailing Vessel Exit
12.2001 - 03.2002
Representative and Tour Guide
American Tours International
03.2000 - 11.2001
Representative for Belgium Travel Agency
Jet Holiday Serv. In Miami
04.1996 - 10.1999
Freelance Tour Guide
Flamingo Tours
04.1996 - 10.1999
Freelance Representative and Tour Guide
American Tours International
04.1996 - 10.1999
Receptionist
Hotel Beekman
12.1995 - 04.1996
E Address
elastiek@yahoo.com
Certificates And Attended Schools
- High School, Koninklijk Atheneum, Ninove, Belgium
- Beautician, Groene Poorte, Brugge, Belgium
- Medical Pedicure, Belgisch Instituut voor Podologie, Ghent, Belgium
- Photography, Academie, Ghent, Belgium
- Roman Languages, University, Brussels, Belgium
Knowledge Of Languages
- Dutch
- French
- English
- Spanish
- German
Residency
Australian permanent resident, Nationalities: US and Belgian
E Address
elastiek@yahoo.com
Certificates And Attended Schools
- High School, Koninklijk Atheneum, Ninove, Belgium
- Beautician, Groene Poorte, Brugge, Belgium
- Medical Pedicure, Belgisch Instituut voor Podologie, Ghent, Belgium
- Photography, Academie, Ghent, Belgium
- Roman Languages, University, Brussels, Belgium
Knowledge Of Languages
- Dutch
- French
- English
- Spanish
- German
Residency
Australian permanent resident, Nationalities: US and Belgian
E Address
elastiek@yahoo.com
Certificates And Attended Schools
- High School, Koninklijk Atheneum, Ninove, Belgium
- Beautician, Groene Poorte, Brugge, Belgium
- Medical Pedicure, Belgisch Instituut voor Podologie, Ghent, Belgium
- Photography, Academie, Ghent, Belgium
- Roman Languages, University, Brussels, Belgium
Knowledge Of Languages
- Dutch
- French
- English
- Spanish
- German
Residency
Australian permanent resident, Nationalities: US and Belgian
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