This half-day course does not intend to repeat any Customer Service training that businesses carry out. It does intend to offer something additionally. It is not part of the Tourist Board “Welcome Host” packages - it is very much a locally designed course to meet local needs.

The course was devised by tourism businesses and is geared specifically to their needs.

It covers:

• About the Local Area. This talks about attractions, shopping & dining, highlighting things to do for families, overseas visitors and weekend breaks.

• Dealing with people with special requirements. This covers visitors with disabilities as well as those with cultural differences and foreign language difficulties. It helps to respond to the Disability Discrimination Act (1999) which says that all employers and employees should ensure ACCESS FOR ALL.

• Growing your business. This talks about the competitiveness of the industry and includes an exercise about how individuals, in their roles, can encourage visitors to “stay longer, spend more and come back again”.

• There is also an introductory video and a short Positive & Negative Behaviours exercise.

Delegates receive pre-course work in advance. To pass the course delegates must attend the full training session and attain the minimum pass mark in the quiz. Successful delegates receive a certificate and a set of vouchers, offering free admission to local visitor attractions. The vouchers encourage them to go and experience the local attractions so that they can tell guests about them with confidence.

The half-day course costs £35 per person + VAT. Most courses take place in Windsor’s Guildhall (on the High Street). There is, however, an opportunity to run courses on your premises at £30 per person + VAT (min 12 people).

For further information contact Julia White on tel: 01753 743918, email: julia.white@rbwm.gov.uk.