New initiatives set to drive Olympics tourism
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Tourism South East is continuing its drive to prepare for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to ensure that the region’s tourism industry gains maximum benefit from the opportunities these major sporting events will provide.
Its latest initiative, funded by the South East England Development Agency, is aimed at helping businesses boost profits and gain repeat bookings through offering a world-class welcome to visitors. ‘Hosting the World’ is a South East wide initiative offering businesses the chance to sign up for a package of business support and training that is themed around major events and conferences.
Hotels in and around London Heathrow airport have been amongst the first to benefit from the funding, ‘We recognise the need to up the game on our service and mindset ahead of the 2012 London Olympic Games’ said Andrew Huxsted, General Manager of the Sheraton Heathrow Hotel ‘we’re going to be the gateway to this event for the whole world which will bring to the UK 203 competing nations, an estimated 10,000 athletes, 7 million fans and 20,000 press & media. The whole hotel team will be ready to give our guests an enhanced arrival or departure experience.’
A specially tailored programme of courses was devised for the hotels and this included, ‘Training the Team’ at Ascot Race Course, ‘Creating the Coaches’ at Sheraton London Heathrow and ‘Welcoming the World’ and ‘Meeting the Media’ at Heathrow Windsor Marriott. John Williams, Tourism South East’s Chairman presented certificates to successful participants at the Sheraton London Heathrow on Monday 7 December.
He said, ‘The warmth of welcome visitors receive from those working at hotels around Heathrow Airport as the UK’s busiest international gateway will be crucial to the success of 2012 and the longer term legacy that we want to create. By signing up to ‘Hosting the World’ these hotels are already one step ahead and their participation will help to deliver world-class customer-care, building a positive reputation not only for the hotels but for the South East region and the UK.’
A programme of ‘Hosting the World’ courses will shortly be taking place for the hotel sector around Gatwick Airport.
More information about Tourism South East’s Training Programmes can be found at www.industry.visitsoutheastengland.com.
ENDS
For further information contact: Hannah Payne on 02380 625471 or email hpayne@tourismse.com
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