Meet Chris Riehl

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Chris Riehl. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Chris below.

Hi Chris, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

Although I grew up just outside of the city line, I was raised in Baltimore. So much of my childhood was spent there. My parents seemingly never missed an opportunity to bring my sister and me downtown for concerts, events, ballgames, parades, or just dinner, so from a very early age I felt a strong connection to the city. On some level, I think I always knew my career would have that same connection. I wasn’t sure exactly how, but I knew in some way, shape, or form, I’d be working for Baltimore.

After four years of college in Florida, I was excited to begin my next chapter and the first thing I wanted to do was move into the city. It was during this period in my life that I began working in the tourism and hospitality industry and discovered that it was possible to make a living by welcoming guests to Baltimore and sharing our stories with them. I became a business owner and turned my passion into a profession.

Today my purpose is use whatever talent and gifts I have on behalf of the city I love.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

Rent-A-Tour is a receptive operator that specializes in creating custom experiences for a wide range of clients visiting the Baltimore/Washington region. We’ve worked with tour operators, school groups, conferences & conventions, and even individuals.

Personally, my passion is telling Baltimore’s stories. Over the years I’ve found that some people think they know Baltimore, but their understanding of the city is incomplete. My goal is to fill in the blanks and redefine our narrative on our terms.

I’m constantly looking for new ways to tell stories. In recent years we’ve begun offering virtual programming, scavenger hunts, trivia events, and training sessions. I want to use any and all methods to lift up Baltimore and show the rest of the world what makes our city such a special place.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1. Knowledge – It’s important that we’re honest with our guests and that means telling true stories so taking the time to research facts and understand the right context is critically important.

2. Logistics – This is sometimes what I’ve struggled with the most in my career; the nuts and bolts of running a tour and, in a larger sense, running a business. Attention to detail is crucial. If you’re not paying attention you might bill a client incorrectly or lead a bus down a road that’s too narrow. Preparation is key.

3. Storytelling – This is my favorite part of my job. I think I’ve always had something of a flair for the dramatic, but being a guide has really helped me understand what makes a story effective and memorable. A tour should do much more than list facts and figures. It should draw in the guest and make them feel like the outcome matters. It has to be relevant. The characters should come to life and the stakes should be clearly defined. Stories have drama, intrigue, and twists! Good storytelling can be useful in all fields. If you try to sell me something, I’ll likely tune out, but if you tell me a compelling story, I’m far more likely to be interested.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

The number one challenge I face in my career is negative perceptions of Baltimore held by people who have never actually taken the time to visit. They think they already know everything they need to know about our city based on news reports or television shows. But the that’s only part of the story. Once we have the opportunity to share our city and our stories, people’s opinions change dramatically, but the challenge is getting them here in the first place.

To overcome this challenge I work everyday to amplify a counter-narrative; one that tells a more complete story nd showcases our remarkable history, vibrant culture, and fantastic people. After every tour or presentation, I ask everyone to take those stories with them and share them with their friends, families, and colleagues. If I can tell a story that’s compelling and memorable enough to be repeated over and over, than we can slowly start to change hearts and minds. The more people that give Baltimore a chance and buy into our success, the brighter our future will be. We are a city with timeless history and limitless potential.

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