SA Guild brings together professional tour guides from across the tourism industry, representing walking tours, motorcoach tours, museums, historic sites, attractions, cultural institutions, and other visitor experiences throughout San Antonio and beyond. While our members come from diverse backgrounds and specialties, they are united by a shared commitment to excellence, lifelong learning, and creating exceptional experiences for every guest.
As the professional association for tour guides in the San Antonio region, SA Guild serves as a hub for education, networking, and collaboration. Whether you are an experienced guide, a new guide building your skills, or a tourism professional seeking a deeper understanding of the region, membership provides opportunities to learn, connect, and grow alongside fellow professionals while strengthening your craft, credibility, and connection to San Antonio’s tourism community.
Whether your passion is history, architecture, culture, food, public art, or the many stories that define our region, SA Guild offers a welcoming community dedicated to helping guides become more knowledgeable, more connected, and more effective ambassadors for San Antonio.
Why Become a Member?
- Community & Professional Networking – Tour guiding is often an independent profession, but it doesn’t have to be an isolated one. SA Guild connects guides from a variety of backgrounds and specialties, creating opportunities to exchange ideas, share resources, discuss industry trends, and build lasting professional relationships.
- Affordable Liability Insurance – SA Guild members have access to affordable professional liability insurance through a group policy administered by the National Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (NFTGA). By participating in a policy that covers hundreds of guides nationwide, members can obtain coverage at a significantly lower cost than is typically available through an individual policy. (Insurance premiums are separate from SA Guild membership dues.)
- Year-Round Educational Programs – Member meetings feature guest speakers (e.g., local historians, cultural leaders, attraction representatives, preservationists, and tourism experts) who provide historical insight, behind-the-scenes perspectives, program updates, and practical information guides can incorporate into their tours.
- FAM Trip Experiences – Throughout the year, SA Guild organizes Familiarization (FAM) Trips that allow members to experience museums, historic sites, neighborhoods, attractions, and cultural venues firsthand. These experiences deepen members’ knowledge while strengthening recommendations and stories shared with visitors.
- Stay Connected – San Antonio’s tourism landscape is constantly evolving. New exhibits open, attractions expand, historic research advances, and visitor expectations change. SA Guild helps members stay informed through relationships with community partners so guides can confidently provide current and accurate information.
- Education & Skill Development – SA Guild is committed to helping guides continually strengthen their knowledge and skills. In late 2027, SA Guild will launch a comprehensive education and certification program that will introduce the fundamentals of professional tour guiding in San Antonio while establishing a recognized standard of excellence. Beyond foundational coursework, members will have opportunities to participate in continuing education designed to deepen their expertise in specialized historical, cultural, architectural, and tourism-related topics.
Levels of Membership
SA Guild welcomes businesses and nonprofits to join as Partners. To learn more, click here.
Contact Us to Learn More
Please reach out to SA Guild’s Membership Secretary for more information about membership.