As stakeholders in the hospitality and tourism sector prepare for the start of the 2009-2010 cruise season next month, the Centre for Enterprise Development Inc. (CED) Business Gateway Project continues to do its part to equip the local sector to deal with customers.{{more}}

CED Business Gateway will next week conduct a three-day seminar on Quality Customer Service Management for the Hospitality Sector, under the theme, “Customer Service Excellence Opening Doors to Profitability”. The goal of the seminar, which takes place from September 16-18, is to perfect and improve customer service in this sector and help stakeholders understand that customer satisfaction is essential to the success of their businesses.

“Quality Customer Service is a culture that CED Business Gateway is working hard to develop here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” says CED’S Public Relations Officer, Miss Keisha Phillips. “With increased competition in the business sector – specifically the hospitality sector – it is important that businesses attract new customers and also keep existing ones. Quality Customer Services will help make this happen. It makes economic sense.”

The seminar will be facilitated by business consultant, Monica Thomas-Woodley, who will use theoretical and practical exercises to help participants develop and improve their customer service skills. A very dynamic presenter, Thomas-Woodley will be lecturing on What is Quality Customer Service; What does Your Organisation and Industry Expect from Customer Service Providers; and the Relationship between Professional Image and Excellent Customer Service.

The seminar will also examine Issues that Impede Providing Excellent Customer Service and Measure Customer Satisfaction. Participants will also learn how to Communicate Effectively with Customers and acquire techniques for dealing with “difficult” and “different” customers, as well as how to take care of stress as a necessity for customer service excellence.

The seminar on Quality Customer Service Management for the Hospitality Sector will run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily at Joachim & Associates Conference Room. Interested persons have until today Friday, September 11th, to register for the seminar.