How Guide Associations Are Going Digital with Keyguides Connect
TL;DR
Guide associations across Europe are now actively using Keyguides Connect
UBTG in Bulgaria became the first association to invite their members
Latvia’s LPGA was the first to manage their own page and appoint admins
BVGD in Germany is now the largest association on the platform
We’re proud to support both WFTGA and FEG—and to create a trusted place for certified guides to be seen and booked
Guide associations are stepping into the digital era — together
The last few months have been transformative for the guiding community in Europe.
What started as a vision—to give certified guides a digital home that they own—has now become a living, active ecosystem inside Keyguides Connect.
Through webinars with WFTGA and FEG, dozens of 1:1 conversations, and ongoing collaboration with national and regional associations, we’re now seeing something powerful:
This is exactly what the platform was designed for.
Union of Bulgaria: The first association to invite their guides
The Union of Bulgarian Tour Guides became the first association to officially invite their members through our Membership Portal.
When their guides log in via that invitation, they’re automatically verified — eliminating manual checks, spreadsheets, and email back-and-forth.
This is what digital verification should look like:
fast, trustworthy, and in full control of the association itself.
Latvia LPGA: The first to manage their own page and appoint admins
And we also have the Latvian Professional Guide Association (LPGA).
They were the first association to fully manage their own public page on Keyguides Connect, appoint their own administrators, and start verifying guides independently.
This is a milestone not just for Latvia, but for the entire guiding community:
Associations can now manage visibility, member verification, and guide profiles—all in one place, with no technical setup.
It’s digital transformation made simple.
BVGD (Germany): The largest association now active on the platform
Germany’s BVGD quickly became the largest association represented on Keyguides Connect.
They have been efficient and proactive in approving members, ensuring guides across Germany can:
appear as verified professionals
be discoverable to booking partners
gain visibility directly to travelers
When associations move fast, guides win.
CEFAPIT (Spain): Bringing their regional associations into the conversation
Spain’s national guiding federation, CEFAPIT, represents one of the most established and structured guide communities in Europe — and we’re thrilled to be working closely with them as they move into Keyguides Connect.
Not only are their regional associations preparing to verify and manage their members on the platform, but CEFAPIT has also invited us to their annual national convention to host a live Q&A for all regional leaders.
This is an important moment for Spain’s guiding community:
Regional associations can manage and verify their own members
Guides gain a unified digital home where their credentials are clearly represented
The national federation can ensure visibility and professionalism across the entire country
For us, this collaboration reflects exactly why Keyguides Connect exists:
to give guide organisations the tools to support their members, strengthen trust, and make certified guides easier to discover and book.
Spain is stepping in with intention — and we’re excited to help bring their national and regional efforts together in one place.
These were just some of the examples of associations taking control of the legitimacy of certified guides on our platform.
A new standard for trust in guide bookings
For decades, the travel industry has struggled with one core issue:
Travelers don’t always know who their guide will be.
And guides don’t always control how they’re represented.
By working closely with associations in WFTGA and FEG, we’re helping to solve that.
Keyguides Connect provides:
Verified guide identities and qualifications
Public association pages showcasing certified members
A safe place for travelers, hotels, DMCs, and cruise lines to find professionals
A system designed to protect guides and elevate their profession
This isn’t just technology. It’s infrastructure the industry has needed for years.
What’s next? Even more associations coming online
Every week, new associations reach out to onboard, verify their members, or set up their public landing page.
This momentum shows a clear shift: guide organizations want digital tools that protect both quality and identity—without becoming another OTA.
Keyguides Connect is here to support them, at their pace, with their needs at the centre.
Want your association to join?
We’d love to show you how simple it is to onboard, verify members, and build a public-facing page for your community.
👉 Book a walkthrough with our team