Dst In Sarasota Herald-Tribune 6-11-2020
Discover Sarasota Trolley Tours Reopen
To accommodate COVID-19 requirements, DST has teamed up with SRQ Trolleys on a UV light sanitation method to prepare all trolleys for tours.
Staff Report — 6/11/2020 at 12:01 am
Starting at the end of June, Discover Sarasota Tours will reopen its doors to offer a limited number of its most popular 90-minute, air-conditioned trolley tours. “City Sightseeing Tours,” “Circus Tours,” “Haunted Sarasota,” “Tiki Trolley Trivia Tours” and “Infamous Sarasota Happy Hour Tours” will be offered Thursdays through Sundays. Additional days will be added based on demand as the summer progresses. Fall and spring groups are actively being booked and a return to a full schedule is expected soon.
To accommodate COVID-19 requirements, DST has teamed up with SRQ Trolleys on a UV light sanitation method to prepare all trolleys for tours.
“I am delighted to be able to use this UV light system to keep our trolleys germ-free for our tour guests,” said CEO Tammy Hauser in a statement. “It’s an easy and seamless method of sanitation that brings a peace of mind.”
In addition, staff and guests will have their temperatures taken when they arrive. Anyone with a fever will be asked to leave and have their tickets refunded. All guests will be encouraged to wear masks and use the disposable hand sanitizer packets offered at no charge. For guests who do not have them, masks will be sold at the Vintage Sarasota Gift Shop.
Tour guides and reservation staff will wear masks while greeting guests. The first rows of seats will remain unsold to ensure distance from the guide and driver. Once trolleys are boarded, tour guides will remove their masks in order to deliver an entertaining tour experience.
Discover Sarasota Tours is also now offering a new half-day small group option for guests who prefer to tour with family and friends, allowing them to explore various Sarasota museums and attractions.
“We are so excited to bring our tours back,” Hauser said. “We miss our guests terribly and miss sharing with them all the wonderful things about Sarasota on our fun tours.”
During the pandemic, Hauser has been busy bringing joy and entertainment to Sarasota families through The ChillMobile, her ice cream truck normally parked at the trolley tours cottage.
“I am grateful to have been able to run this secondary business during the past few months; it’s helped me keep our tour business alive,” she said. “It’s also helped me stay sane and positive and given me time to reflect on all the fun tours we plan to launch in 2021.”
To book your tour online, go to discoversarasotatours.com. To book The ChillMobile for a neighborhood visit, driveway happy hour, or corporate event, go to thechillmobile.com.