Vouloir, c'est pouvoir
Founded in October 1999, by husband and wife team Guy Rubin and Nancy Kim, Imperial Tours began with the uncompromising vision of offering spectacular luxury travel exclusively throughout China. At that time nearly all ground-handling companies in China were state-owned enterprises – they didn’t understand Western visitors’ demands nor how to innovate relevant and remarkable travel experiences. Clients booking through well-known luxury tour operators in their home countries received shoddy and unimaginative vacations and mistakenly believed that this was all China had to offer as a result. China, meanwhile, was liberalizing at an astonishing rate across all realms with fabulous new restaurants, art galleries and hotels opening every month across the country. This cornucopia of services, arts and fashions was the basis for the China that Imperial Tours presented.
By July 2024 when Imperial Tours expanded into South Korea, the K Wave was already in full swing. Thrilled to be developing product in her own country, Nancy had immediate access to the knowledge networks of family and friends. We are at the cutting edge of creating new products and defining innovative itineraries for this burgeoning and fascinating inbound destination.
Born in Israel, Guy was raised and educated in Britain, attending Cambridge University. His work for a London-based strategy consultancy opened his eyes to many countries across the northern hemisphere. First setting foot in Beijing in 1994, he was immediately smitten and returned to study and live here in 1997. It was at a Chinese university language program that he met Nancy. Apart from tending a small patch of tomatoes, during Covid Guy completed an MSc in Psychology.
Born in Seoul, raised in Beverly Hills and schooled in Lugano, Nancy is able to jump the cultural stepping stones between Asia, America and Europe. With a BA in Western art history from the University of Pennsylvania and post-graduate degrees in East Asian art from the universities of London, Seoul and Beijing, Nancy is well qualified to advise on East Asian art and design.
Guy and Nancy’s vision is to marry the demanding expectations and interests of the discerning visitor with insightful and enjoyable cultural experiences in China and South Korea. Their vision stands firm in welcoming guests to experience the countries they love.
Never have I been on a tour that was so well organized. I can't even tell you what a wonderful trip it was.Mr. & Mrs. L., USA
Imperial Tours’ corporate social contribution program focuses on the welfare of underprivileged children. Our Guest Feedback program promotes charitable giving; for every completed feedback form received from our guests, we donate US$15 towards one of two charities, chosen by our guests. We support Half the Sky, which provides orphaned children with loving influences as they await family placement, and Shanghai Sunrise, which funds education for underprivileged students in Shanghai. In addition, once a year Imperial Tours recognizes our top agents and agencies by sponsoring the education of underprivileged students within China.
Apart from managing the tour and guaranteeing its overall quality, the China Host sets the pace and atmosphere of a tour. He or she is always watching for ways to customize and improve a tour while ensuring guests receive the highest standard in luxury travel. A China Host essentially acts as a bridge for cross-culture communication, helping guests negotiate China’s often unfamiliar and sometimes confounding environment. The ideal candidate for this role should be over 26 years of age, have been resident in China for several years, be a native speaker of English, speak fluent Mandarin and have past service industry experience. Additional languages are a plus. To apply for this position please send an email to newch@imperialtours.net with a detailed resume and cover letter explaining why you feel that you would make an excellent China Host.
Guides are vital not just to teach guests about China’s past history and culture, but also to share information about China’s present circumstances and future development. Guests visiting China are liable to be as interested in, for example, the provision of childcare centers as they might be in the manufacture of the Terracotta Warriors. A tour guide’s role is not to recite a litany of pre-learned information. Rather, a guide needs to take a leadership role in informing and teaching guests about China’s past, present and future. Imperial Torus has not taken a single guest that has not been impressed by China’s historic traditions and achievements as well as by its current development. If you are sure you can deepen this experience of your homeland, then please email newguide@imperialtours.net to tell us why.
