Apparently, putting a necktie on a driver can settle the question of professionalism.
I wish the job were that easy.
The clothes should suit the service. They do not replace knowing how to deliver it.
A formal transfer and a journey through the Atlas Mountains are not identical working situations. Treating them as if they were does not make our standards more serious.
Different services have different expectations
A suit has its place. If I am providing a formal service where that is the agreed presentation, I understand the expectation.
I also understand why someone working on an outdoor journey needs clothing that is comfortable, respectful and appropriate for the conditions.
Desert heat, mountain weather and the practical work of a tour all matter when choosing what to wear. A rule that ignores those conditions is not a serious assessment of the service.
A dress code can be useful. A dress code is not a substitute for judgment.
What would I actually assess?
Does the person understand their responsibilities? Are the arrangements clear? Is the vehicle ready? Are they punctual? Do they communicate respectfully? Do they know when a problem needs to be raised rather than hidden?
Those questions tell me something about the work.
The answers do not become better because someone has tightened their tie. Equally, wearing casual clothes is not permission to be careless.
I am not proposing lower standards. I am asking for standards that tell us whether the job is being done properly.
Presentation still matters
Clean, modest and appropriate clothing is part of how we present ourselves. So is treating the people traveling with us with respect.
The choice is not between a suit and looking as though you have just rolled out of bed. There is plenty of room for sensible professional clothing that fits the day ahead.
Morocco has its own clothing traditions too. I do not think we need to treat a single imported image of formality as the only way someone can look respectable.
But the point of this Note is not a competition between garments. It is the relationship between appearance and responsibility.
Competence is harder to photograph
It is easy to take a picture of a uniform. It is harder to show that someone checked a detail the night before, handled a change calmly or noticed that a guest had not understood the plan.
Those things still matter. I wrote about some of that work in A Good Tour Starts the Night Before.
I also think professionalism includes respecting boundaries. A polished appearance does not excuse intrusive questions or unwanted familiarity.
Wear the clothes the service calls for. Be presentable. Understand the setting.
Then show your professionalism in the way you do the job. That part cannot be borrowed from a wardrobe.