PL ANNER PROFILE By Sarah Suydam
KRIS HOFF:
Providing Groups a ‘Distinctively Detroit’ Experience
W FUN FACT: Hoff plays the violin! “Not many people think that I’d be a musician, but I am.”
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GROUPS TODAY May /Ju ne 2 02 5
Wit h 26 years of indust r y ex perience, K ris Hof f is no st ranger to t he world of travel. Her journey began w ith a leap of faith after work ing as a paralegal, k now ing in her heart a change was needed. After the persistent urging of a close friend, Hoff mustered the courage to tr y something new. “She encouraged me to consider a posit ion w it h a local tour operator, assuring me t hat my sk ill set wou ld be an idea l match,” Hof f reca lled. “Reluctantly, I accepted the role, still unsure of where the path would lead.” But something quick ly clicked; the work energizing Hoff in a way being a paralegal never had. She quick ly realized this was her true calling—to be the orchestrator behind the scenes, seamlessly bringing travel experiences to life. “It was as if a missing puzzle piece had f inally fallen into place,” Hoff said. “After years of feeling unfulfilled, I’d at last discovered my passion and purpose. It proved to be one of the best decisions I ever made.” Now, as President of Distinctively Detroit Tours & Happy Times Tours, Hof f loves creat ing memorable tou r ex per iences for g roups, of fer ing a unique experience people couldn’t get other w ise. Founded in 2023 by Hoff and Tami Manton, Distinctively Detroit is a true steward of Detroit culture, emphasizing authentic experiences that benefit local communities through actions like hiring local celebrity guides (including Det roit hip hop pioneer Ron Watts aka Phat Kat), educat ing businesses on handling group tours, promoting meaningful interactions that respect and preserve local traditions and sensitive sites, and more. Hoff is particularly proud of the company’s behind-the-scenes tours. “From goi ng beh i nd-t he-sc enes of t he mu sic i ndu st r y i n Det roit to of fer i ng t he f i rst a nd on ly Hip-Hop Histor y Tou r of Det roit, we’ve accomplished some big things … and, there’s more coming,” she shared.