Staff Stories: A day in the life of a Wimbledon tour manager
Tour manager, Paul, talks early starts, tennis-mad customers, and why an escorted Wimbledon break beats going it alone.
Every summer, our tour managers spend their days ferrying customers to and from SW19, fielding questions, smoothing out hiccups, and making sure everyone gets their moment of Wimbledon magic. Paul has run several of our Wimbledon breaks and knows exactly what a day at the Championships looks like, from the coach park to No. 1 Court. We sat down with him to find out what really happens behind the scenes, and why having a tour manager on hand makes all the difference.
What makes experiencing Wimbledon as part of an escorted break different to going independently?
I think being part of an escorted break is of real benefit to our customers. From the moment they arrive, the tour manager is a focal point for all the questions that come up, things like 'where can I get a taxi from at Wimbledon?' Many customers book through travel agents, so they've had no direct contact with Newmarket Holidays before the trip. Having a tour manager on hand right up to departure is invaluable for them.
Do you have any personal highlights from your previous Wimbledon breaks?
Getting to see the matches is special; it's such an iconic British sporting event with a truly global following. But the wheelchair players are the ones who really stay with you. This year I had a 93-year-old grandma in my party, and she was an absolute joy. Instinctively, you want to look after her and make her day as easy as possible.
Can you talk us through a typical day on the tour?
The day starts early, with breakfast and the coach leaving the hotel at 08:00 for the journey to Wimbledon. There are always plenty of questions about tickets on the Wimbledon app, so you reassure everyone that our dedicated on-site team will sort out any issues. From there, customers head into the grounds to enjoy their day.
At 17:30, the event coordinator runs through the departure procedure with all the tour managers, making sure everyone is accounted for and safely back on the coaches. With a 19:00 departure, customers start arriving back at the coach park in a steady stream, full of praise for the day, 'brilliant', 'fantastic', that sort of thing. Once everyone's aboard, the coach sets off, full of happy, tired people heading back to the hotel.
Is there anything that tends to surprise customers about our Wimbledon breaks?
Not so much a surprise, but customers often comment on how well they're looked after and how smoothly the whole event is run!
Are there any behind-the-scenes touches or added extras customers might not expect?
Customers don't tend to expect to be contacted directly by their tour manager, but it's an important first step. It's your introduction, and it's a chance to find out roughly when they'll arrive at the hotel. If someone's running late, you can let them know they can collect their welcome pack from reception, along with their coach number and departure time, the two things they need most.
What's your top tip for someone attending Wimbledon for the first time?
Drink plenty of water and use the toilet facilities when they’re available.
What keeps customers coming back to Newmarket Holidays for events like this, in your opinion?
On the whole, I think we deliver what we promise. The preparation and organisation the events team put in is superb, though customers never see any of that. What they do see is the Newmarket Holidays team on site, guiding, advising, and answering questions. The tennis speaks for itself, and that's rather out of our hands. Our job is to make everything around it brilliant, and plenty of customers tell us they'll be back with us again.
Witness the Championships in 2027 with Newmarket Holidays
Fancy witnessing sporting history in the making, or soaking up the pageantry of this world-class event? Give our holiday planners a call to book your 2027 Wimbledon break, or visit our website for more details. Prefer to travel independently? We also offer make-your-own-way breaks.
