CASTmembers in St. Augustine rewarded David Chatterton with General Manager of the Year for all his hard work and dedication to the company. It is not a secret how hard Dave works to make the operations in St. Augustine the best they can be. We would like to recognize Dave and give him a nice pat on the back for being such a great role model for our company. Keep up on all the happenings in St. Augustine on Page 26! FROM THE DESK OF THE CHIEF CONDUCTOR IN THE AGE OF DISRUPTION … WHAT NEXT? by Chris Belland, CEO It seems as though we are living in one strategy of using words to describe of the most disruptive moments in political what we do to make sure no one ever and economic history. Trump has made an forgot what business we are in. We are art form of running an outrageous campaign not employees but “CASTmembers”; and shows no signs of slacking off as the new we are not just leaders of people or President. things, we are “Leadagers”. We don’t I wondered, with great incredulity, at have jobs, but we all play a “role” in Trump’s tactics during the campaign, doing delivering a vast array of products and such things as ridiculing John McCain’s war record, going to media “Transportainment” opportunities for war with parents of fallen soldiers and shirking off some egregious our guests. comportment with the opposite sex. Now, as President, with the The result? Historic Tours of Christopher Belland stroke of a pen, he has repudiated Obamacare, attempted to stop America has grown from a single Chief Executive Officer all immigration from a select number of countries and is gutting trolley company, originally with 13 banking regulations put into place after the recent “great recession”. employees (back then anyway) carrying 34 passengers on our first What next? day to inarguably the largest sightseeing/attraction company in Of course, surprise and the shock and awe of doing the unexpected North America. Of course, we don’t have much competition. Yes, has been Trump’s hallmark in a campaign in which I honestly felt there are some sightseeing companies that might rival how many (and so did Hillary) that he had squandered the opportunity. He guests we carry and there are some individual attraction operations, proved everyone wrong and got elected and one can only hope that but I know of no other company that could be categorized as a his current tactics will go on to be successful national policies. It sightseeing/attraction company such as ours, especially in multiple reminds me a little bit of our own company. cities. We have grown to operate in seven cities and are the stewards When we first went into business against the Conch Train, of such iconic “attractions” as the Truman Little White House (the officially in 1980 despite the ongoing debate that Ed and I have, only Presidential home in the state of Florida), The Old Jail (a we did something radical. We decided to do what we then called a totally in tact turn of the century deep south incarceration facility), “continuous loop tour”. This combined the element of transportation Potter’s Wax Museum (the very first wax museum in the United with sightseeing, all for the convenience of our guests who could States), Arlington National Cemetery, The Boston Tea Party Ships now get on and off at any stop and reboard for their tour. Of course, & Museum (recently voted The Most Patriotic Attraction in the this became known as the Hop On Hop Off tour, but we were first. United States) and, of course, at the core of it all, our highly visible We also instituted a 100% money back guarantee which was and is ambassadors of goodwill in seven of America’s great destinations: a very brave thing to do given the vicissitudes of human nature. It Key West, St. Augustine, Savannah, Washington, Boston, Nashville says, openly and overtly that we trust our CASTmembers to be well and San Diego. trained and prepared to give the best tour possible. It also says that The challenge at this stage of our existence is not just to hold we trust our guests to be honest in their assessment of what they on to what and who we are, but to continue to be the leaders in our paid for and what they got. It has proven an outstanding success, industry. For a long time now it has not been up to just Ed and evidenced by the fact that we refund a mere one half of one percent me to determine our direction. The ideas now mostly come from of our gross revenue. While some of the refunds are for cause, many our some 1500 CASTmembers around the country. Trusted Tours, are not, but of course that is not the point. We have grown to be a for a great example, was not my idea but that of Kevin Beede and better company by virtue of the fact that we have always been humble now represents millions of dollars worth of our online sales results. enough to receive the criticism and smart enough to learn and Ghosts & Gravestones was an idea that came up over a dinner improve from it. But, like the commercial for Ginsu knives says, “But conversation in Boston and now has become a nationally recognized wait … there’s more!” There is a lot more. We recognized the Disney product for night tours. IN THIS EDITION What is next? Well, I am not entirely sure, although we have some interesting things being tested right now and I come to work 4 Nashville each day with excited anticipation of what other great ideas will 8 San Diego come along for, truly, one of life’s greatest pleasures is blowing the 12 Savannah socks off our competition by disrupting “business as usual”. 19 Washington, DC 24-25 Centerfold (featuring San Diego) 26 St. Augustine 32 Boston facebook.com/historictours 36 Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum 38 Key West twitter.com/historictours 42 Key West Attractions 45 Historic Tours of America 2 The Nation’s Storyteller FROM THE CORNER OFFICE AMERICAN PROHIBITION MUSEUM UPDATE by Ed Swift III; President, Historic Tours of America DETAILS, DETAILS, ART DETAILS DEPARTMENT Everything is moving forward The team we however I have stopped predicting an have working on the opening date. As of right now, we are museum is terrific slated to open in April, but that depends and talented. Our on too many disparate factors and purchase of Potters changes and new ideas and directions Wax Museum two Ed Swift and brilliant concepts (yet thought of) years ago has opened President new city and state laws, engineers rules the door to expanding and contractor delays to mention. our scope of design and creation. The 40 human Our video shoot for the Moonshiner, design wax figures are scheduled to appear in the starring “Tim Smith of The Discovery Prohibition Museum add a great dimension to Channel’s “Moonshiners” went well and our also expanded electronic images capability led the video footage looks fantastic. by Ryan McCurdy combined with our first class Our electricians and plumbers construction of background stage sets that make got started the week of the 12th of the artifacts and the story come to life. The fact that December and are just about complete we can create a museum that is so visually attractive now. The bathroom walls are going up and has so many opportunities for visitors to be and soon we will close up all the walls. photographed or do selfies as they move through The tile being used is art deco and very the rooms and the incredible stage set displays interesting. Our bar arrived from England and it is beautiful. showcases our art department’s rare talent to the fullest extent. Speaking of new, Kayla Black recently discovered that the “first My hat is off to our creative team and to the leadership of Dana prohibition law” in the American Colonies was a decree by His Ste. Claire, our lead man in coordinating the project, and Monte Triz Majesty King George II to ban booze in Georgia in 1735. This our art director and Kayla Black, Charlie Brazil’s choice to manage of course calls for a bronze plaque on the building housing the the museum, and HTA’s talented staff,Nikole Alvarez, Ernie Poore, prohibition museum. (See image above, final plaque on page 18) Cody Wicker, Christina Williams, and Breanna Serna. Bree, Nikole, Ernie, Cody, Christina (Chris) and Monte have continued their nomadic existence between St. Augustine and MORE 'MUSEUM IN THE MAKING' Savannah to work on the museum. PHOTOS ON PAGES 16-18 CARS AND TRUCKS IN THE MUSEUM Bruce Smith, our Old Town Trolley Maintenance Manager, with the 1936 V8 Flathead Ford he restored (Left) The Peerless hood ornament (Right) President Ed Swift, III and Bruce Smith, OTT Savannah Maintenance Manager, try out Made the hands and the new seats in the 1929 Peerless. The “1929” Peerless was the getaway car for the bodies to fit in the St. Valentines Massacre. Bruce restored the Peerless and through some magic got it car... now just need the into the museum on the second floor heads! 3 EarlyEarlyApril Spring Spring - May 2017 2016 2017 3 3 NASHVILLE NASHVILLE'S WINTER SAVE THE DRAMA by Steven Burress; General Manager by Ally Marshall; Safety Officer The winter months in Sitting on my desk I have a plaque Nashville presented us with a with a llama on it.