I don't know if all tour companies do this, but on both of our Rick Steves' tours, we had "buddies." We chose our buddies during our first group meeting, someone we don't already know. A buddy's main task is to make sure their buddy is in the hotel lobby, on the bus after WC (restroom) stops, or at the appointed gathering station whenever the group is going somewhere.
"Buddy check," announces the guide, and we pop up and down in our seats, or look around the group, checking to make sure our buddy is there. Having buddies is a good system and also a fun way to get to know other group members. Our buddies for this trip were Alan and Kim. We enjoyed getting to know each other during the trip.
After our group dinner on our last night in Murren, we introduced our buddies to the rest of our tourmates and included interesting details or revealed "something few people know" about our buddies while doing so. Some buddies were very creative with their introductions - fabricating elaborate, humorous stories. When his turn came, Tom explained how Alan learned to ride a unicycle as a young boy. Tom told everyone if we saw a unicycle during the trip, Alan would have to show us all how to ride one. Then the next day, as we were walking through Lindau, what did Tom spy? Lo and behold, there was a unicycle leaning against a pole along the waterfront. He immediately found Alan and said, "Hey buddy, there's your unicycle - show us how to do it."
How random is that? Not surprisingly, Alan had no intention of getting on that tall unicycle while on vacation - but we all had a good laugh about it and he was a good sport and let me take this picture. YOLO!!