Globus Family of Brands

Israel tour small group included 28 people instead of less than 24 as advertised.

incompetent, rude tour director, Tomer Mazya.

1. FREQUENT USE OF GERMAN LANGUAGE AND REFERENCES TO GERMAN TOURS, PEOPLE

1.1 He frequently substituted German for English.

His explanation was that his mother was German, and he usually had German tours. He was told by a guest to stop substituting German words for English because no one understood him. He continued to refer to his German tours.

1.2 At the Holocaust Museum, I asked him to please use his Whisper and he brashly asked me what I had missed. I moved in closer to hear him and was appalled and disturbed, as were others, when he ended with the statement that the Germans also suffered.

This antisemitic remark has no place in this world, especially when visiting the Holocaust Museum. Apparently, he has never visited the Holocaust Museum or the Childrens Museum. How thoroughly does Globus check the Tour Directors background. Tomer Mazyas actions during the tour would indicate he has a German preference.

2.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

2.1 Tomer was not articulate. It was very hard to follow his explanations, the few he did provide. He has a strong accent and difficulty fluently speaking the English language.

2.2 Tomer would get on the bus in the morning, say a few words for a minute and then talk to the bus driver for an hour or more without any explanation about the names of the towns, industry, people, economy, etc. A few examples: May 12th we boarded the bus at 7:45AM.

Tomer did his count a few times and then started a conversion with the bus driver until 8:35 when he told us we would be getting off in 5 minutes. No communication for almost an hour. Another time traveled from 1:53PM to 3PM. Tomers only communication was with the bus driver.

These are only a few examples that I timed because it happened so often.

2.3 If someone asked him a question, he would say he would talk about it later. Later happened very infrequently and it became a frustration with people on the bus.

2.4 He would refer to the group as Hey Guys. At one point I said Ladies and Gentlemen. He then started referring to Ladies and all others as well as Hey Guys.

Is this how Globus trains the Tour Directors to address their customers?

2.5 Tomer was continually rushing forward, leaving the group behind confused by his short, inaudible directions. On several occasions, he lost people because his directions were unclear.

3. ARROGANCE, LACK OF SOCIAL SKILLS and INEXPERIENCE

3.1 Five people from another Globus group joined our group for the King David Sound & Light Show. Their tour director was Yaron.

When we arrived at their hotel Tomer did not get off the bus to welcome Yaron. It became obvious within a few seconds that Yaron was engaged with his group. Yaron quickly included the rest of us while Tomer sat, as usual, disengaged. Yaron treated everyone with respect, looked after everyone from both groups and answered questions.

Once the show was over and Yarons group disembarked at their hotel, Tomer snickered and said, what do you think of that group? Tomer did not appear to understand that Yarons engagement with the groups were the qualities of a good tour director.

3.2 Tomer did not leave the Whisper for the tour guide in Bethlehem to use. Regardless the Bethlehem tour guide, Isa, made do without the Whisper and gave a good tour.

3.3 At the Farewell dinner, Tomer ate fast and left. The people at his table asked for a picture.

After the picture he left. I was at another table of 6 people, and he did not come over to make any farewell comments, or goodbye. He just left.

4. KNOWLEDGE

4.1.

On May 8th, at the Welcome meeting, I asked Tomer about the Jordan visa. His curt response was that he knew nothing about the Jordan visas. I contacted my travel agent, Joy Popdynec, because she had confirmed with Globus prior to the trip that Globus would provide the Jordan visa. A day or so later I had still not heard anything from Tomer.

Only when asked did he say that Globus would provide the Jordan visa. He said he had never been told.

4.2 As mentioned previously, daily someone would ask Tomer a question and he would tell the person that he will talk about it later. Later usually never happened.

4.3. His explanation at various sites was to read a verse from the Bible.

4.4 On more than one occasion some of the group would listen to another tour guide (not Globus) to get a more coherent explanation of the site.

4.4 He asked another guest Brian Nguyen, to videotape him giving an explanation.

I believe this may have been after my complaints to Globus and their communication to him about my complaints.

4.5 Towards the end of the tour, Tomer told the group not to ask questions about what he had already discussed. He frequently referred to what he had already discussed?? Apparently, he was confused or perhaps he gave an incoherent explanation using a mixture of German and English or perhaps he had discussed with the bus driver on the long bus rides where he never communicated with the group.

4.6 People took pictures of the explanation panels at the sites because it was hard to understand Tomer. He started to stand in front of them.

He was asked to move but refused!

4. SAFETY

4.1 Neither the bus driver nor Tomer would help people off the bus. Frequently the last step to the sidewalk or road was sizable. People on the bus helped one another.

4.2 Tomer would not provide explanations of a site on the bus.

At the Kibbutz and elsewhere people stood out in the sun.

5. MISCELLANEOUS

5.1 On the way to the Jordan border Tomer asked if anyone wanted to give some money for the porters. It was my understanding that this was already covered by Globus. In any event, I had some change, so I gave that to him, as did others.

He gave Brian Nguyen, from the tour group, a plastic bag with some money and told him to ensure everyones luggage got off the bus while he went inside. Brian gave the money to the porter.

Once in Jordan, the porters also wanted to be paid and Brian had to pay from his own funds.

5.2 I reached out to Globus on a number of occasions and asked that Tomer be replaced and that if he were going to be the tour director for Jordan, I would be returning home and not continue on to Jordan. Fortunately, he was not the tour director for Jordan.