Ben Koss

Tour Guide at Extranomical Tours

San Francisco Bay Area

About

Experienced tour guide and travel professional, specialized in small group tours around national parks rand the top cultural destinations throughout North America. Strong hospitality and customer service skills. Experienced in sales, trip planning, organizing and leading.

Experience

  • Tour Leader at Extranomical Tours
    Mar 2011 - Present · 15 yrs 4 mos

    Lead day tours to Napa, Sonoma, Muir Woods and Yosemite National Park. Consistently highly rated guide on TripAdvisor for providing a positive customer experience. Create original content to educate and entertain guests on a variety of topics, including history, wildlife of the National Parks and the vast elements of the wine industry. Provide valuable input and guidance to management on how to improve tours and create operational efficiencies.

  • ESLTeacher at EPIK. English Program in Korea
    Feb 2010 - Mar 2011 · 1 yr 2 mos

    Planned and taught lessons for students in the 3rd through 6th grade. I collaborated with one Korean co-teacher to plan most lessons, focusing on speaking and listening for younger students and on all aspects of the language for older students. Taught extra after school classes to both lower level and advanced level students. Created my own lessons and curriculum for after-school program.

  • Tour Leader at TrekAmerica Travel Ltd.
    Jun 2005 - Nov 2008 · 3 yrs 6 mos

    Led successful small-group, multi-week camping tours through major cities and National Parks of North America. Responsible for safely operating a 15 passenger van, organizing the trip itinerary, making reservations for activities, campgrounds and hotels and developed a cooking and shopping system for the group. Provide information, knowledge and guidance on a wide range of topics, such as which hiking trail would best suite the guests' needs to where to find a certain shop or souvenir in a city.

  • Waiter at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
    Jan 2004 - Feb 2005 · 1 yr 2 mos

    Provided excellent service to ocean cruise passengers in main dining room and specialty restaurants Responsible for showing guests a great time and meet all of their requests. Known for being punctual and reliable to all shifts and regularly worked 70 hour weeks without a day off. Organized large buffets, greeted and interacted with guests daily.