Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Riehl
Hi Chris, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
As one born and raised in Baltimore, I’ve always taken enormous pride in our city and I’ve always loved telling our stories to anyone who would listen. In 2007 I had the opportunity to purchase an existing receptive service called Baltimore Rent-A-Tour. I was largely unfamiliar with the tourism and hospitality industry at the time, but I trusted that my passion for the city would guide my business decisions. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of showcasing Baltimore and the surrounding region for hundreds of groups and thousands of guests, and managed to turn my passion into my profession.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Tourism is a seasonal business so there are busy seasons and slow seasons every year, but by far the biggest challenge was surviving the pandemic. The company’s revenue literally dropped to zero almost overnight. Luckily, we able to utilize some assistance programs and offer online programming to stay connected with our customers and weather the storm.
Another consistent challenge is that many people who have never visited Baltimore before form opinions about the city based on incomplete information, but I’ve found that once we’re able to get them here and show them just how special a place Baltimore is, their perceptions change dramatically. It’s extremely rewarding to define our narrative on our terms.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
While I am a business owner, I consider myself more of an artist/creative because my job is to find ways to tell compelling and memorable stories in engaging ways. I could know every last fact about the city and its history, but if I can’t tell a good story, I won’t be very good at my job. The stories belong to Baltimore, but the presentation of those stories is what counts in this industry. How can I make the events that happened hundreds of years ago relevant and meaningful today? What connections can I uncover between my city and my guests that have never visited before? Finding creative ways to craft these stories and then delivering them in front of a group is my favorite thing about this career. I’m not just a tour guide. I’m an educator and an entertainer.
What matters most to you? Why?
The people of Baltimore matter most to me. I know how great this city is, but I also know we face difficult challenges. My calling is to use whatever talents and abilities I’ve been given to lift up Baltimore and help us overcome those challenges. There are countless people who have the same calling. Some go into politics. Some work in non-profits. Some become teachers. I tell stories. And every day I ask myself what can I do today to make Baltimore even greater than it already is.
Pricing:
- Custom city tours (prices vary)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rentatour.com
- Instagram: @riehldeal125
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/riehldealbaltimore
- Twitter: @riehldeal125
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/chrisriehl
