Washington, DC 20044-0242

Telephone: (202) 298-1474

Email: dcguild@washingtondctourguides.com

The Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington, D.C., is a vital part of the rapidly growing tourism industry in the national capital area. Established in 1985, it has a current membership of more than 450 licensed guides, tour operators, and others providing tourism-related services. Its mission is to promote the common interests of members in enhancing the attraction and advantages of Washington as a tour destination. The Guild sets professional standards and provides support services for guides, conducts continuing education programs, and represents the guiding profession and Guild members in working with other local, national, and international public and private sector organizations on tour-related issues.

Typical guide-conducted tours are from a half day to several days long and include stops at the major monuments and public buildings in the city as well as nearby landmarks such as Mount Vernon. Many Guild members also offer specialized tours in areas such as the city's art and architecture, gardens, historic houses, places of worship, neighborhood tours, African-American and Jewish history, and much more. Multilingual Guild members conduct tours in more than 20 languages other than English.

The Guild serves on advisory panels of the National Park Service, the United States Capitol, and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. It is a member of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA), with a membership of similar organizations in 30 countries, and the National Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (NFTGA-USA), representing guide organizations in 13 U.S. cities and states.

For more information and to book a tour: www.washingtondctourguides.com