CERTIFIED TOURISM AMBASSADORS ARE THE FUTURE OF TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
The Frisco Convention & Visitors Bureau is on a quest to get visitors to have more fun, extend their stay, make return trips, and share their positive experiences with family and friends. That's the idea behind joining the North Texas Tourism Ambassador Program and conducting the first Certified Tourism Ambassador training class in Collin County.
Why is there a need for Certified Tourism Ambassadors? Because tourism means big business for the City of Frisco and the entire DFW area. Who gets to participate? Front-line hospitality workers, emergency services employees, attractions and venues, volunteers, and anyone else who comes in immediate contact with visitors. The four hour program teaches participants the importance of tourism, exceeding visitor expectations, assisting visitors in regards to information, builds upon facts about Frisco, as well as the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area, and how to turn visitor encounters into positive memorable experiences.
Those awarded the Certified Tourism Ambassador designation include: Vicki Blakely / Frisco CVB / Administrative Assistant; Cindi Cash / Hilton Reservation & Customer Care / Hotel Desk; Glynda Covington / Frisco Police Department / Community Relations Officer; Tony Felker / Frisco Chamber of Commerce / President/CEO; Abraham Gebrtensaye / Dallas CVB / Tourist Information Concierge; Jesse Lee / Comfort Suites / Front Desk Supervisor; Maher Maso / City of Frisco / Mayor; Barbara McCauley / Student / Collin County College; Maite Palma / Student / Collin County College and Marla Roe / Frisco CVB / Executive Director.
The Mayor of Frisco also qualifies as the first Mayor in the greater Dallas Fort Worth area to complete the training. Mayor Maso commented, "There are many positive aspects to visiting Frisco and we want to make sure that everyone who interacts with visitors leaves a favorable impression! The interactive classroom setting was fun and all of the graduates will serve as a resource for the city and region."
All are encouraged to use the initials CTA behind their name. Program graduates will receive certificates and a pin at the regularly scheduled City Council Meeting inside council chambers at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16. Each participant has made the commitment to recertify annually.
ABOUT THE NORTH TEXAS TOURISM AMBASSADORS PROGRAM:
North Texas Tourism Ambassadors Program (NTTAP) is a Dallas Fort Worth Area Tourism Council initiative to increase tourism by inspiring front‐line employees and volunteers to work together to turn every visitor encounter into a positive experience in the North Texas region.
ABOUT THE FRISCO CVB:
Founded in 2004, the Frisco, Texas, CVB has grown in tandem with the extensive growth of leisure travel, sports, and meeting facilities in the area. It's our mission to generate a positive awareness of Frisco as a premiere destination for meetings, sporting events, conventions, trade shows, and leisure travel and to positively impact the economic base of the City of Frisco. For more information, visit visitfrisco.com or call 877-GO-FRISCO.
