Jadd is a City Segway Tour guide. He is one of several guides that can be seen leading groups of tourists throughout the District on Segways, two-wheeled electric vehicles that self-balance.
How did you become a tour guide?
I found a posting through the GW Career Center, through the George Washington University. I did some interviews, then did some training and riding around on some Segways. I eventually got to doing tours of my own after getting my D.C. tour guide’s license.
What is the most commonly asked question you get from tourists?
To be honest, it’s usually, “How much do the Segways cost?” After about 10 minutes on them, they all want to buy one. You can give a not-so-great tour, and people will still have a great time on the Segways.
What do you enjoy the most about what you do?
The thing I get the most joy in is meeting new people every day and sharing the cool facts about the city I live in. Not to mention the tons of fun that I get from riding around on the Segways.
Has tourism in D.C. been steady through these economic times?
Since the economic downturn, we haven’t felt it. We’ve been consistently booked every day, especially during the summer and even during the off-season. We haven’t felt the effects of the economy on tourism.
Do you get a lot of prominent personalities seeking tours?
We do have a couple come out here. We’ve had the one of the inventors of the Post-it note come out for a tour when he was down for his induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. They hear about us, and when they come to D.C., they always have a great time.
— Joey Flechas
