About Imperial Tours Imperial Tours offers luxury tours of China, combining local expertise with the high levels of service and quality expected by sophisticated western travelers. Imperial Tours has first-hand knowledge of world-class hotels and restaurants as well as the history, culture, arts, and little-known exclusive destinations within China. Founded in 1999, Imperial Tours operates out of Beijing, China, Frankfurt, Germany and San Francisco, USA. The Imperial Tours Difference Imperial Tours combines high-quality with locally specialized luxury tour services. The company was founded by Guy Rubin and Nancy Kim, Westerners who have lived in China for over a decade. Uniquely, Imperial Tours employs bilingual, China-based Western China Hosts to accompany each tour; this "traveling concierge" helps translate the exotic mysteries of China while ensuring the excellent quality and service expected by luxury travelers. Tours Imperial Tours offers regularly scheduled group tours as well as customized private tours to well-known and off-the-beaten-path destinations throughout China. - Imperial Tour - 15-day set-departure group tour covers Beijing, Xian, Guilin, Hangzhou and Shanghai - Majestic Tour - 13-day set-departure group tour covers Beijing, Xian, Guilin and Shanghai - Family Tour - our 13 day set-departure group tour visiting Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin and Shanghai includes a wide range of traditional Chiense activities of particular interest to children - Culinary Tour - our 12 day set departure group tour visits the regional culinary capitals of Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai and Hong Kong - PHotography Tour - accompanied by Master Photographer Doug Gifford, this 14 day set-departure visits the photogenic destinations of Beijing, Guilin, Lhasa and Shanghai - Private Tours - Customized private tours based on special interests (e.g. culinary or shopping themed tours), or to other destinations such as Hong Kong, Lhasa, Dunhuang, Huangshan, Suzhou, the Yangzi River, Lijiang, Shangri-la and Chengdu Executive Profiles Guy Rubin, Founder and Managing Partner Guy Rubin is responsible for general management. Guy was born in Jerusalem, Israel and raised in Manchester, England. Guy's work for Arkwright strategy consultancy took him all over the world. When he first traveled to Beijing in 1994, he was immediately fascinated by China's culture and awed by its wealth of travel destinations. Guy has degrees in Russian and French language and literature from Cambridge University. Nancy Kim, Founder and Managing Partner Nancy Kim is responsible for operations and quality assurance. Though born and raised in the United States, Nancy Kim is well qualified to advise on East Asian culture by merit of under- and post-graduate art history degrees from the Universities of Pennsylvania, London, Seoul and Beijing. She is founder and chair of Beijing's annual Special Olympics fundraising ball. Margot Kong, Director of Marketing and Sales Margot Kong oversees the company's global sales and marketing efforts. Ethnically Chinese and born in South Africa, Margot was raised in the United States. She has ten years of sales and public relations experience working with blue-chip firms. Her extensive travels have taken her across six of the world's continents. Margot holds a B.A. in English and sociology from Barnard College, Columbia University. Milestones and Accolades 1999: Guy Rubin and Nancy Kim found Imperial Tours 2000: New destinations - Hong Kong and Yangzi River cruise 2001: New destinations - Lhasa, Dunhuang and Huangshan 2002: Opening of San Francisco office; Recognized as a China Specialist in Travel + Leisure 2002 top 70 Super Agents A-list; Selected as the China On-site Specialist for the Virtuoso On-site program 2003: Selected to appear in Condé Nast Traveler "World of Virtuoso"; Partnership with Radisson Seven Seas' Voyager events; Introduction of annual Family Tour; Recognized as a China Specialist in Travel + Leisure top 125 Super Agents A-list 2004: Received Virtuoso Performance Accolade; Selected for Neiman Marcus InCircle Rewards Program; Organized conference for world's largest endowment funds; Selected to appear in Neiman Marcus' Entrée Magazine; Recognized as a China Specialist in Travel + Leisure top 125 Super Agents A-list: Recognized as a World Travel Expert for China by National Geographic Traveler magazine. VIPs include Mark Getty. 2005: Selected to participate in Bergdorf Goodman Rewards Program; Departures magazine rates Imperial Tours an "Outstanding Outfitter"; Financial Times profiles Imperial Tours as one of 10 of the world's Super-Agents. Selected for Travel + Leisure top 125 Super Agents A-list. VIPs for the year include Eunice Kennedy-Shriver and Katie Couric. 2006: Selected as a Signature Preferred Supplier; Selected for Travel + Leisure top 125 Super Agents A-list; VIPs include Lloyd Blankfein and Sara Lee. 2007: Selected for Travel + Leisure top 125 Super Agents A-list; VIPs include Natalie Portman, Anthony Edwards & Senator Austin. For further information, please email Margot Kong or phone her in San Francisco at 888 888 1970.