Guided by the Best
Personal, thoughtful service is the hallmark of our Tauck Directors and local guides – together, they provide a deeper, authentic travel experience.
I truly believe that this trip was so incredible because of our Tauck Director; her ability to connect with every person in our group and recognize where individualized accommodations were needed go above any expectation that I had... it's the little things that don't go unnoticed.
Darin Johnson
Classic Italy, Small Groups
Tauck Directors and local guides include:
Wendy Rodriguez
Tauck Director
With 20 years of experience guiding tours in Costa Rica, Panama, and Ecuador, 13 of them with Tauck, Wendy is well-versed in Latin America life. Whether she's snorkeling with seals in the Galápagos, toasting sunsets at Machu Picchu with perfectly mixed pisco sours or spicing up her culinary skills with Costa Rican finesse – she loves cooking – you'll find her sharing her passion for in-depth discovery wherever she goes.
Murray Rose
Tauck Director
A Tauck Director since 1999 with a bachelor's degree in history, Oregon native Murray Rose speaks Spanish and Portuguese and is at home exploring Brazil, Argentina and Chile. He takes special delight in seeing guests connect with the locals and the experiences they have, sharing his love of photography and music to make their memories richer still. His travel tip: pack as lightly as you can for easier travel from place to place.
John Byrne
Local Guide
With over 20 years of experience in tourism & hospitality, and a Qualified National Tour Guide, John combines his love of Irish culture, heritage and hospitality with sharing his Irish expertise with the world. John runs Experience Galway and is Tauck's local guide in Galway City, on the West Coast of Ireland, sharing what he calls "The Greatest Little City in the World " as part of Tauck's "The Walkin', Talkin' & Tastin' Tour" of Galway City.
Serena Spinelli
Local Guide
Serena was born in Rome and educated in France, Ireland, Belgium, Canada, and the United Kingdom; she holds a Bachelor of Arts with high honours in Art History. Currently based in Milan, she has spent 20+ years in the field of Art Education collaborating with museums and international institutions, organizing & conducting lectures, art related tours and performances, writing, and devising new routes for art appreciation. Click here to watch Serena's recent insideTauck event.
Genevieve Thibault
Tauck Director
Genevieve is fluent in four languages, "gets by" in three more, earned her BA Degree in Political Science, her Master's Degree in Latin American Sociology, and spent 16 years abroad learning about different international cultures. In fact, it was her personal love of Quebec's intricate French culture that inspired Genevieve to pursue a career in travel in 1996, a passion she has happily shared with our Tauck guests since 2004. View Genevieve in an edition of insideTauck, our live webinar series. Click here.
Mark Helbig
Tauck Director
Mark grew up in Germany where he worked in the hospitality industry as a restaurant manager, tour guide, flight attendant and cruise director before joining us as a Tauck Director. His love of discovery, from culinary experiences and ancient Mayan and Egyptian history to piloting hot air balloon rides and musical theater of all kinds, enriches his tours with our guests who share his enthusiasm for the beauty of the world.
Ivan Hoyos
Tauck Director
Ivan was born in Central America, grew up in the US and went to university in Europe, setting the course for a life of travel and a quest to learn new things about the natural wonders of our planet. His enthusiasm is infectious and he thrives on sharing magical moments with our guests. He currently lives surrounded by the rainforest of the Panama Canal, where the dawn chorus of howler monkeys has replaced his alarm clock! View Ivan in an edition of insideTauck, our live webinar series. Click here.
Patricia Hajas
Tauck Director
Born in Hungary and currently living in London for the past 10 years, Patricia has been with Tauck since 2015 where she first worked aboard our Seine riverboat cruise. Traveling and cooking are in her blood, with Italian, French and Hungarian food and culture among her favorites. A horse lover and dachshund "parent," she enjoys nature and hiking, pastimes she's happy to share with guests on our river cruises along the Danube and Rhine.
Claudio Mollo
Local Guide
Claudio is a dear friend of Tauck's and has been a longstanding partner of ours in southern Italy for several decades. He has extensive experience in the region of Naples and Southern Italy, having worked in tourism for 60 years, 50 of which he served as an Official Archaeological Guide of the Campania Region – encompassing Naples, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast as well as the archaeological zones of Herculaneum and Pompeii. View Claudio in an edition of insideTauck, our live webinar series. Click here.
Olga Cuckovic
Local Guide
Olga holds a Master's Degree in Arts Management obtained at the American University of Rome. She is a licensed tour guide in Rome and the Vatican City and specializes in Rome's history and art. She has been working with Tauck for over a decade, currently coordinating and guiding our Tauck Bridges family journeys in Rome along with her team of licensed kid-friendly guides. View Olga in an edition of insideTauck, our live webinar series. Click here.