Connect
To Top

Meet Rachel Strobolson

Avatar photo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Strobolson.

Rachel, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was drawn to the hospitality and tourism industry from the time I was in high school. I knew I wanted to travel, see the world, and meet people from all different cultures and backgrounds. A normal 9-5 job was something that seemed very abnormal to me. I studied Global Tourism at Colorado State and started my career path within the hotel industry. I worked in various aspects of hotel management for about 10 years. Working in hotels granted me the opportunity to explore the world. The industry brought me to beautiful resort mountain towns, to beach towns, to city centers and international hot spots.

I hit the point of burnout within the hotel industry and after returning to Denver from a year long sabbatical around South America with my husband, I decided it was time for a career change. I love creating experiences for people and I have a genuine love for providing great service. As a Colorado Native I’ve always enjoyed sharing the best places to explore when visiting Denver, so becoming a tour guide was a real natural fit! In February of 2018, I launched Denver Local Tours to share my love for the Mile High City.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
My hospitality background laid the foundation for creating great experiences but just like anything new, there is a learning curve. This was my first time taking a leap into entrepreneurship and the biggest challenge was how do I start a business on a shoestring budget (aka no budget)? For the first year after starting Denver Local Tours, I felt like a lived a double life. During the day I would lead walking tours, research, work on the business, network, etc. After my last tour for the day finished, I would run, scooter, speed walk to a call center at a startup downtown where I would work 30-35 hours a week. It was a real challenge to manage a new growing business, with being able to afford to survive. All I can say hard work does pay off.

Tell us more about the business.
Denver Local Tours was formed through our genuine love for the Mile High City. We consider ourselves to be Experience Creators, not tour guides. We specialize in creating unique and exciting walking tours of Downtown Denver. We are known for our storytelling abilities and we bring history to life through interesting anecdotes and humor. This is not just a business or a job to us, it is who we are. When you take one of our tours you genuinely feel our love for hospitality and love for creating unforgettable experiences.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I believe you make your luck. I feel all the experiences of my past have prepared me for this moment, and for this business. It’s so interesting how I’m finding relationships I made five years ago, are now playing a big role in my business today. You never know who you’ve met along your journey in the past that will help you grow today or in the present moment.

Pricing:

  • Lodo Walking Tour – $19 per person
  • Whisky, History, Outlaws Tours – Starting at $29.99 per person
  • LoDo Photo Tour – $55 per person

Contact Info:


Image Credit:
all taken by denver local tours

Suggest a story: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.

Related Items

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in