The tour managers I have encountered on my many JY tours have either been excellent or useless. And all in between.
Sarah who was the manager for NZ was the best I have had, her organisation skills were amazing, she was always handing out paperwork with relevant information on, she took MB numbers from us, and gave us hers, she also took insurance details etc just in case we had a problem, she arranged a few extra bits for us which added to the over all tour. The worst was on a Memphis and Nashville tour and the manager had absolutely no interest in music, she was a nightmare.
For me a tour manager has to be a people person.
Have enthusiasm for the tour, do reasearch and pass it on.
HUMOUR is always well received and to be approachable.
They must make them selves be available at a specific time, for any questions or worries to be passed on.
So many seem to disappear when we get to a hotel, I know they have stuff to do, but it makes such a difference if they actually try and join in with the group from time to time.
Be presentable, they are the face of JY while we are away.
Be on the ball when and if things go wrong, it is the manager we look to.
I don't mind the odd quiz, or game, but I do like to chill and listen to music on long coach journeys.
Don't be patronising, we are all adults.
Do not tell me I have to change/move seats in a coach for rotation, it's never going to happen.
I think the managers that work with JY need to under stand single travellers, those that do add to the tour, the managers I have had that work more with the groups (travelsphere) don't under stand the JY groups, the groups are a total different dynamic to the single traveller groups.
At the end of the day I want some one who is organised, pleasant, keeps an eye on the whole group, and has their finger on the pulse. ( NOT much then ?) And knows if someone is missing from that group.
Cindy