Do we know much about the tourist attractions on our doorstep? We’re very good at visiting tourist attractions when we are on holiday but we are not so good at visiting what’s in our locality. People from six local businesses recently took part in the WorldHost Customer Service Programme which included visits to the Irish Linen Centre in Lisburn and the Ulster Aviation Society at the Maze. WorldHost is an international customer service programme developed in Canada in 1985 and now used in over 17 countries around the world.
“WorldHost ticked all the right boxes for us,” explained Zara Duffy, Director of Finance and Operations at the Employers For Childcare Charitable Group based in Lisburn’s Altona Industrial Estate. “It reminded us about the basics of customer service such as giving a warm welcome, remembering customer names and answering the telephone.”
The two day WorldHost programme combines learning about customer
service in the training room as well as going out and about to experience
customer service firsthand in local tourist attractions. The
Northern Ireland Tourist Board, the Department of Employment and Learning and
training company People 1st are the driving forces behind this initiative.
“We were delighted to welcome the WorldHost group,” said Ernie
Cromie of the Ulster Aviation Society. “Most of the group were completely
unaware that we have 24 historic aircraft in a hangar at the Maze/Long Kesh prison site.
Now that they have visited, they will be able to recommend our centre to their
customers, friends and family.”
Lynda Willis from Aghalee based Customer Sense Training and Consultancy was the trainer who delivered the programme. Future courses are planned for Newry (5 and 12 November), Lisburn (18 and 25 November) and Antrim (19 and 26 November). For more information, please call 07773 423675.
