Cincinnati USA CVB, Cincinnati State to host ambassador training to help region put its best foot forward during busy convention season
Sessions on June 21 and 22 will feature local hospitality industry experts discussing the power of customer service and the extraordinary social, cultural and economic impact new meetings and conventions can have on Cincinnati USA.
June 14, 2011
On June 21 and 22, the Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau – in partnership with Cincinnati State – is hosting two free Ambassador Education and Training seminars at the Duke Energy Convention Center.
The interactive sessions – geared to hospitality industry and other business professionals across the region – will highlight the power of customer service and the extraordinary social, cultural and economic impact new meetings and conventions can have on Cincinnati USA.
As the busy summer convention season begins, 2011 is shaping up as one of Cincinnati USA's strongest booking years in recent history. In the next three months, the region welcomes national conventions for LULAC (the League of Latin American Citizens), the Elks and the Prince Hall Shriners, and the Ambassador training program is designed to help local professionals create the best possible visitor experiences for convention attendees and leisure travelers alike.
“Our busy convention calendar is bringing tens of thousands of visitors to Cincinnati USA, many for the first time, and we want to take every opportunity to put our best foot forward and make the most positive first impression,” said Dan Lincoln, president and CEO of the Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The Ambassador Training program has proven to be a valuable tool to educate our front-line hospitality workers and volunteer ambassadors on the importance of providing first-class hospitality to visitors and techniques to improve their level of service.”
The CVB first introduced its Ambassador Education and Training program in 2008 in response to Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory’s “Operation Hospitality” challenge, and in preparation for the NAACP and National Baptist Conventions later that year. The impact on customer service and visitor feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and the program has continued to be an important part of the region’s positive momentum. The CVB has enjoyed six consecutive years of growth in hotel room night bookings and the economic impact they deliver to the region.
“These sessions are ideal for CVB members, our hotel and attraction partners and any other organizations with a vested interest in raising Cincinnati USA’s visitor profile,” added Lincoln. “I can’t overstate the importance of convention and leisure travel to our region, from the economic impact it delivers to the positive brand building opportunities it provides. Hosting these high profiles conventions is a golden opportunity to show the world what we already know: that Cincinnati USA is an extraordinary place to experience.”
The free sessions will be held Tuesday, June 21 from 9:00 - 11:30am or Wednesday, June 22 from 2:00 - 4:30pm and will include feature presentations by two hospitality industry experts from Cincinnati State: Robert Baylor, Program Chair, and Gema Bahns, Adjunct Faculty Member and President of the Cincinnati Chapter of the National Society of Hispanic MBAs. Attendees will also gain a better understanding of Cincinnati’s cultural and ethnic heritage, the region’s unique history, and specifics about downtown safety, transportation and attractions.
Local professionals can RSVP at www.CincyUSA.com/training or 513.632.5365. Space is limited.
About the Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau is an aggressive sales, marketing and service organization whose primary responsibility is to positively impact Hamilton County's and the City of Cincinnati's economy through convention, trade show and visitor expenditures. The travel and tourism industry traditionally has been a $3.4 billion industry in Cincinnati USA, employing 81,000 people in a variety of fields and, historically, bringing five million visitors to the region annually. To learn more about Cincinnati USA, visit CincyUSA.com.
