James Duquette, our Customer and Guide Experience Leader who led this event, says it provided a fantastic opportunity for guides to assess and solve problems in real-time.   

"My biggest takeaway was a breakthrough moment when we had been discussing sustainability and single-use plastics. Several guides disagreed about how best to answer traveller questions about rubbish disposal in Cambodia. The discussion was animated and together we landed on the best approach, and how Cambodian guides can use tough questions as an opportunity to ensure travelers are attuned to Discova's focus on respecting the places we call home," he adds.  

Phoy Phen, our Guide Academy Trainer, was happy to see guides openly sharing ideas, learning from each other, and reflecting on their own experiences.  

"Seeing them put what they learned in the classroom into practice during the trek showed their dedication to creating memorable experiences for our guests," he says.  

Mrs. Proeung Chandara, our guide in Siem Reap, echoed this sentiment says,

"The training also helped me better understand how to conduct hiking tours in the jungle, including which types of guests are suited to these experiences, how to respect our natural environment during such excursions, and how to effectively stay connected with a tour group throughout the journey."

While we are in the process of rolling out our Annual Guide Training to other destinations, Sina Lorn, our Cambodia Country Manager says that the sessions in her country gave her team a great opportunity to review what they already know and discover what they can do better.