Welcome to Morecambe Bay, a new and bespoke customer service training programme encompassing local destination knowledge, was launched in March 2014 at a high profile event held at the Midland Hotel, Morecambe.
The programme forms part of ‘700 Days to Transform The Bay’ which is a joint initiative between Marketing Lancashire, Cumbria Tourism and the Morecambe Bay Partnership and aims to further enhance and develop the reputation of Morecambe Bay as a world class visitor destination.
The Welcome to Morecambe Bay programme is based on the nationally recognised and industry led Welcome Host Gold customer care course with content dovetailing around local Morecambe Bay destination knowledge. This offers those participating in the one day courses the chance to gain a nationally recognised certificate and also an option to build towards a City and Guilds level 2 customer service award.
Improving skills and employability
Welcome to Morecambe Bay courses are delivered through the Via Partnership, experts in professional development training, and Karen O'Donoghue from Via feels that the initiative will improve skills and increase employability throughout Lancashire. She particularly praised staff at the Midland and Lancaster House Hotels (part of the English Lakes Hotel Group) who were amongst the first to participate in courses saying ‘this initiative will help sustain and grow visitor numbers to Morecambe for years to come.’ Douglas Dale of English Lakes Hotels echoed her words and was keen to point out that ‘guests need to feel confident that the information they request about the destination is well informed and up to date and I know now that our front line staff will make our guests feel even more welcome and genuinely valued.’
Funding support for local businesses
He also recognised the vital role of the Coastal Communities Fund which has provided funding to enable businesses to access funding subsidies to underpin training costs. He believes this initiative will help further develop the visitor experience of the Morecambe Bay area and this will ultimately help and support local businesses and the wider community.
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