Awards & Honors
Telltale Tours has been recognized by the tourism industry's most respected organizations and platforms for consistent excellence in guest experience and storytelling.
TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Award
2024 & 2025Awarded to the top 10% of experiences worldwide based on verified traveler reviews. Telltale Tours has earned this distinction in back-to-back years, placing it among the most consistently praised tour operators in New York City.
Arival Spotlight Award
2024The Arival Spotlight Award recognizes outstanding operators in the tours, activities, and experiences industry. Telltale Tours was selected from hundreds of nominees across North America for exceptional guest experience and storytelling quality.
Top 8 NYC Tour Guides
RecognitionFounder Rory Lipede was named one of New York City's Top 8 Tour Guides - a recognition of nearly two decades of guiding experience, five-star reviews, and her status as a coveted Gold Star Tour Guide licensee with the City of New York.
Top Airbnb Experience
OngoingTelltale Tours is recognized as a top-rated Airbnb Experience in New York City, consistently earning five-star reviews from guests around the world who book through the Airbnb Experiences platform.
Emmy Nomination
2026Founder Rory Lipede received a 2026 Emmy nomination for her work in June Bug - a testament to the theatrical quality and storytelling craft that defines every Telltale Tours experience.
Women in Tourism Nomination
2025Rory Lipede was nominated for the Women in Tourism award, recognizing her leadership in the NYC tourism industry and her commitment to supporting minorities and fellow storytellers through Telltale Tours.
What Our Guests Are Saying
Verified reviews from Google, Airbnb, and Viator guests who have experienced Telltale Tours firsthand.
"Hands down the best tour I have ever taken in any city, anywhere in the world. Rory is a force of nature - funny, deeply knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about New York history. I've recommended Telltale Tours to everyone I know."
"We did the Glitz, Glam & Gangsters tour for a corporate team outing and it was absolutely perfect. The guide kept 20 people engaged for three hours straight. The bars were incredible and the history was genuinely fascinating."
"I've lived in New York for 12 years and this tour taught me things about my own city I never knew. The storytelling is theatrical and entertaining - it never feels like a lecture. Book this immediately."
"The rooftop stop on Midtown Unleashed was worth the price of admission alone. But the history and the guide made it a fully elevated nightlife experience. Best night out in NYC."
"We did this for a bachelorette party and it was PERFECT. Funny, educational, and the bars were fantastic. Our guide was hilarious and the whole group was talking about it for weeks afterward."
"Rory is a legend. She knows every alley, every story, every secret in this city. The Speakeasy tour is unlike anything else available in New York. Do not miss it."
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