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What makes a successful Discover Corps trip?

Every Discover Corps trip has a formula that is followed and a set of key pieces that set us apart from other tours. These are REQUIRED for each trip:

● On-Time Airport Pickup - First impressions are everything. Representative picking up travelers must have a Discover Corps sign and be fully visible when the traveler exits International Arrivals. Water and snacks should be available in the car/bus as travelers  will be hungry, thirsty and tired from the flight. Airport pickups must happen on-time. This is essential.

● Orientation to DC and “Our Purpose” - An orientation is to occur in the evening on the first or second day of every trip. The orientation includes: 1. Introduction of Discover Corps and its history, 2. Review of itinerary and 3. Recognition of alumni, PwC My Milestone Travelers and New Travelers. 

To make this "request" as simple as possible, we have created a script for our guides to reference and adapt as your own. 

Guide: I want to take a moment to acknowledge some special members of our Discover Corps family.  

1. Alumni: I’d like to extend a warm welcome back to our returning alumni, (Names) Thank you for continuing to choose us for your adventures!

2. My Milestone Rewards Travelers: Congratulations to our My Milestone Rewards travelers, (Name) we welcome you and hope you enjoy (destination)

3. New Discover Corps Travelers: And finally, welcome to our new travelers, (names) joining us for this DC adventure! 

I am happy to have all of you here, and I look forward to helping you create lasting memories and discover a love for travel, just as many of us have.

● Farewell Dinner on last day of the trip - The final night of each trip includes a special Farewell Dinner as a full group with the guide. We are also open to having others from the community that worked with the group join. This will be agreed upon in advance with Discover Corps. Please note that the guide should be included at all meals that are included in the itinerary!

● “Stop the Bus” moments - Each trip should integrate at least two “Stop the Bus” moments. These are “spontaneous” (unpublished in itinerary) moments creatively intertwined into the itinerary which bolster the itinerary and impress the group. Many occur during long bus rides and are a great way to break up the drive. These will also create a pleasant surprise for the group.

● Celebrate birthdays - The guide should have birthdays noted at the beginning of the trip (noted in the trip brief that is received prior to the trip). Use the “Wow Fund” to celebrate birthdays (see below). At times, other special occasions to be celebrated will be communicated prior to the trip.

● Discretionary “Wow Fund” - Guides will be given a discretionary “Wow Fund” for each group. The amount (estimated around $7-$10 per traveler) will be based on the size of the group and length of the trip and be used to “wow” the travelers. We expect guides to be creative and learn from our travelers about what they like and are interested in (For example – a family really loves sea turtles so the guide “wows” them with a stuffed sea turtle to take home). The Wow Fund helps travelers remember Discover Corps, helping us to build an alumni base and hopefully return in the future. There will be a question in the guide evaluation to control for the Wow Fund costs.

● Alumni Recognition - Alumni are the most important people on a Discover Corps trip and should be treated like VIPs. We should always try to upgrade rooms where possible without cost; guides will introduce alumni at the beginning of each trip during the orientation, or look for other simple ways to give them special treatment. The goal is to have alumni feel recognized for returning on another Discover Corps trip.

● Pronunciation of Discover Corps - Please ensure that Discover Corps is pronounced like “Discover Core” (the p is silent). Also, please ensure that we are not referred to as “Discovery Corps”.