Over two dozen staffers of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, were given the opportunity to enhance their customer services skills at a training session organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA).

Staff of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport participating in the Customer Service Training organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and GTA at Timehri.

Service agents from various departments such as Customs & Immigration, Air Traffic Control, Security and airline staff participated in the training which will enable them to become more hospitable and welcoming to those whom they come into contact with on a daily basis.

The participants were taught basic rules of service such as how to meet and greet customers and ground rules in providing quality customer service.

Tourism and Hospitality Trainer from the Hospitality Management Service, Maureen Paul, who facilitated the training, stated that this ongoing training session is part of the Tourism Awareness Month activities which are being celebrated under the theme “Promoting Quality and sustainable Tourism in Guyana”.

Paul told participants that much is expected of them since they are the front line employees and it is vitally important that they demonstrate quality customer service, especially when meeting tourists for the first time, since they give the first impression of the organisation and the country.

During the session, participants were also provided with the opportunity to share their experiences and views about customer service and the challenges and constraints they may be liable to face when dealing with customers from different backgrounds.

The airport staffers were guided by the facilitator on the various ways in which they can improve their attitude and services towards customers in the hospitality environment and were encouraged to display empathy when handling difficult situations.

The training helped staff to identify who are customers, how important they are to the business, and how to develop positive attitudes in difficult circumstances.

It was also aimed at highlighting areas of service which need to be upgraded to ensure quality customer service is delivered, such as the promotion of a professional image, handling complaints, telephone techniques and using information.

The Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce along, with GTA, will be conducting more training sessions based on quality customer service at various locations and will be executing other activities throughout Tourism Awareness Month. (GINA)

OOPS!
The Chronicle wishes to correct a misrepresentation in yesterday’s Page 10 story headlined ‘LIAT flights to Guyana fully booked to December.’

The lead paragraph correctly stated that reports are that it is virtually impossible to secure a flight to Guyana after December 15.

LIAT Head of Operations, Mr. Stephen Michael, was inadvertently reported as saying, “flights from the island are fully booked up to December 16. What he did say was “as of December 16 .”
The Chronicle regrets the error.