MELANIE COLPITTS
About Me
Melanie Colpitts has been with the Aquila Team since she wentlooking for her first summer job in 1992, and landed the role of a TourGuide. In the years since, Melanie has been involved in every aspectof Aquila, from the motorcoach and travel learn markets to Aquila’sinitiatives in the cruise market, and more than 10 years ago, shebecame a partner in the company.
Melanie was integral in the founding of Aquila’s Center for Cruise Excellence and the development of
Aquila’s training programs, most notably Aquila’s Tour Guide Excellence International Certification. In her role
as Director of Aquila’s Center for Cruise Excellence, she develops and delivers training programs for Tour
Guides, Tour Operators, and Cruise Destinations around the world to help them deliver excellence to the
cruise industry. She puts her vast knowledge and expertise to work designing and leading workshops and
consultations with tour operators, ports and destinations around the world, and she leads the delivery of
Aquila’s International Tour Guide Excellence Certification Program and ACE Tour Operator Designation.
Engaging with the stakeholders and frontlines to deliver excellent service to guests is her passion, and she
has delivered training to frontlines onboard expedition ships, on cruise line private islands, and in cruise
destinations around the world.
Melanie has also been a leader in Aquila’s own initiatives in the cruise market, and she has been instrumental in the development of Aquila’s successful operational and sales strategies that have resulted in significant growth for Aquila in their “Living Lab” that is their homeport of Saint John. She developed Aquila’s innovative Tour Guide training program, which has resulted in their guides being named best in the world by Dream World Cruise Destination magazine on five occasions. Her influence has also reached beyond Aquila. Melanie’s involvement in the Bay of Fundy Cruise Partnership and her knowledge about increasing destination awareness – from involving all distribution channels to aligning the development of new tour products – led to significant cruise growth for the Saint John region, and she has actively been involved in the development of a number of niche ports in the region.
Melanie is actively involved in the tourism industry, as well as in her own community, having served as Director on a variety of boards including the Atlantic Canada Cruise Association and the Stonehammer UNESCO Global Geopark, and volunteered for a variety of organizations, including currently serving on the board of the Harbour Lights Campaign in support of the region’s food banks.
Melanie has also been a leader in Aquila’s own initiatives in the cruise market, and she has been instrumental in the development of Aquila’s successful operational and sales strategies that have resulted in significant growth for Aquila in their “Living Lab” that is their homeport of Saint John. She developed Aquila’s innovative Tour Guide training program, which has resulted in their guides being named best in the world by Dream World Cruise Destination magazine on five occasions. Her influence has also reached beyond Aquila. Melanie’s involvement in the Bay of Fundy Cruise Partnership and her knowledge about increasing destination awareness – from involving all distribution channels to aligning the development of new tour products – led to significant cruise growth for the Saint John region, and she has actively been involved in the development of a number of niche ports in the region.
Melanie is actively involved in the tourism industry, as well as in her own community, having served as Director on a variety of boards including the Atlantic Canada Cruise Association and the Stonehammer UNESCO Global Geopark, and volunteered for a variety of organizations, including currently serving on the board of the Harbour Lights Campaign in support of the region’s food banks.
