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Lesley

Gremillion

3 years of experience
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
United States of America (USA)

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"It always works out in the end . . . with a little patience it will be even better"

About

I love life and all it contains . . . the good and the bad.  I firmly believe that both are needed in order to balance your life.  Of course I do my best to tip the scale in the positive.  I want my guest, on tour, to be relaxed and stressfree so they can embrace new adventures.  This is my goal! 

I want to put the exclamation point on their vacation while giving a little history to what they are experiencing on tour.  I enjoy grabbing their attention with a story to set up a new location or experience.  This allows me to generate anticipation while giving them a historical background of what they are going to encounter.  My joy comes in showing a guest something they have never seen before or looking at something from another perspective.

I was born and raised in south Louisiana (yes I have a great southern accent) and I have traveled extensively.  I have been married for over 25 years and raised two kids.  My background is in the Produce and Agriculture/Hospitality Industry.  My family has a wholesale produce company with deep roots in our community.  I am passionate about  the restaurant and agriculture industry as it is in my blood.  I want our guest to feel like family because we do become family while on tour. I feel that “service” is where my heart will always be and I do my best work there. 

Tours Offered & Destination Knowledge

Bus ToursCultural/Specialty ToursFood & Drink ToursGeneral Walking ToursLarge Group ToursLocal GuideMulti-Day Tour Director/LeaderPrivate ToursStudent Tour Director

I have mainly working with Holiday Vacations since the Spring of 2023.  The Domestic tours I have lead are:  Lake Michigan, New England and Cape Cod  - it's a favorite!  As well as Glacier, Yellowstone & Grand Teton (standard and Agriculture), Yosemite & Coastal California, Washington DC, Fall Foliage and Taste of Louisiana Agriculture (name change for 2026 Taste of the Bayou State & French Quarter)  Internationally tours:  I have lead the Enchanting Ireland tour in 2025.

I started working for WorldStrides in the Spring 2022 season as a Course Leader, including  their Christian Discovery, Explorica and Brightsparks divisions.  I am still a Course Leader in Washington DC and the Historic Triangle area.  Some of my favorite places I guided in were:  Williamsburg, Jamestown, Mount Vernon and Gettysburg.

I have worked for Destination America (Trafalgar) Travel Director/WellBeing Director since 2021.  The tours I have been on mainly cover the Southwest and included some of the Southwest National Parks (Arizona, Utha, New Mexico, Colorado).  I have also lead Fall Foliage tours, for Trafalgar, that are on hte Boston loop including Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.  

I had a small tour operating company (2018-2024) where I had taken small groups to Italy (Siena to Rome) and to Ireland (southern loop Dublin to Dublin)  And a few times a year I take small groups to New Orleans and around the Gulf Coast for weekend trips that include historical and cultural culinary experiences.  

In November 2023 I helped out TripSchool in orgainizing, planning and presenting on the FAM Destination Training from Shrevport to New Orleans.  I helped Tyler Griggs, senior Destination Specialist, at Holiday Vacations with networking for developing a new tour.  He was able to curate a culianary and agriculture tour of South Louisiana which ran in 2024.  I was honored to run the first season and have been assigned the 2026 season once again.

I have personally traveled with other tour operators (Tauck and Globus) as a guest to these destinations: Italy, Ireland, England, France, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands

I studied a semester abroad in Oaxaca, Mexico while attending college. 

I also have knowledge and experience with Wyoming, South Dakota, Arizona, Utha, New Mexico and Colorado that include some of the National Parks.  Northern and Central California including San Francisco, Monterey/Carmel, Solvang, Los Angeles and San Diego.  I have destination and guiding experience in Boston and Washington DC.  As well as destination knowledge of Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and Savannah to Charleston.  

 

Fun Fact!
I hate mint chocolate chip ice cream and you can't make me eat it.
Hobbies & Interests
I have the meanest cat east of the Mississippi River. So, I use my spare time convincing the family to NOT get rid of her. I volunteer at my Parish Church - Our Lady of Mercy. I also volunteer in my neighborhood with our elderly residents. I enjoy working in my yard, collecting vintage cookbooks (and cooking) and meeting up with my bookclub. With living in Louisiana it gives my family the opportunity to discover the road less traveled. There is so much to explore in our state and the states along the Gulf Coast. Because my family, including my husband, works in the produce industry we "geek out" passing through farm country. I also love to discover culinary experiences and it is easy to do since we live an hour away from New Orleans.

Testimonials

https://www.trafalgar.com/en-us/tours/pioneer-adventures-of-the-old-west?tab=reviews#:~:text=Pioneers%20of%20the,adventures

https://www.trafalgar.com/en-us/tours/pioneer-adventures-of-the-old-west?tab=reviews#:~:text=Great%20Pioneer%20Excursion,OK.

Shout Out: Lesley Gremillion - A Letter from Recent Travelers (Holiday Vacations - Enchanting Ireland Sept 2025)
"I am writing to express our deepest appreciation for Lesley, our exceptional tour director, who transformed our recent vacation in Ireland into an unforgettable experience. 

From the moment our journey began, Lesley demonstrated an extraordinary level of care and organization. Each day was thoughtfully planned with our comfort and enjoyment in mind, and her attention to detail ensured that everything ran smoothly-even when the weather didn't cooperate. Rain or shine, Lesley was a beacon of positivity, reminding us with a smile that we were in Ireland, and that every moment was worth savoring. 

Her infectious 'optimism and warm southern accent brought laughter and light to even the dreariest days. When fatigue set in or the lack of sunshine dampened our spirits, Lesley lifted us up with humor, grace, and unwavering enthusiasm. She was, quite literally, our sunshine-brightening our days and leaving a lasting impression on each of us.

Thanks to Lesley's leadership, our trip was not only well-managed but truly joyful. Her ability to connect with people, anticipate needs, and create a sense of camaraderie among the group is a rare gift. We will always remember our time in Ireland fondly, largely because of the delightful presence of our tour director.

Please extend our heartfelt thanks to Lesley. She is a treasure, and we feel incredibly fortunate to have shared this journey with her. Equally important, we recognize there are many working behind the scenes to make each destination memorable for their customers. Please convey our sincere appreciation to your entire staff. We are already planning our next Holiday Vacation." - The Millers

 

Details

Gateway Airport(s)

BTR, MSY

Licenses

Washington, D.C.

Training

ITMI and TripSchool

Language(s)

English

Additional Education

TripSchool February 2021 Student Tours Virtual course covering DC, BOS, NYC

ITMI Tour Guide Certificate December 2020

ITMI Tour Director Certificate June 2021

TripSchool East Coast Megatraining February 2022

TripSchool Fall Foliage Destination Training July 2022

ITMI/TripSchool Student Mastery (Washington DC) February 2023

TripSchool Destination Training - Chicago February 2024

ITMI/TripSchool FAM Destination New Orleans (lead from Shrevport to Baton Rouge) 2024

TripSchool FAM Savannah to Charleston - November 2025

 

 

General Availability

Now until early March 2026 / Some openings during June - August 2026
Fall and winter of 2026

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