tourism, customer service & economic recovery
karen klucowicz • June 22, 2021
how may I help you?
Well Canada we are going to have to step up our game to beat out critiques like one in a recent article in the New York Times about a quarantine hotel experience! [I cannot even bring myself to link you to that article.] Our Canadian hospitality reputation can be destroyed with a single visitor and no follow through by the powers that be. Enough said.
When I worked in a hotel I always tried to remember — no matter what was going on personally — that the guests had choices - where to stay, where to eat, how to spend their money — that meant that I needed to ensure their time at that hotel was great and had value to them to bring them back, and ultimately to keep me employed !
Not unlike customer service in every business.
Let your expectations dictate how you provide service to others. Sometimes their expectations are laid out (albeit sometimes misinterpreted) but if we implement and follow a standard it means opportunities are not missed and in fact they are had. Last week I hosted a team-building event primarily because I responded to the request for information promptly and directly and I followed up!
Automated responses should only be to acknowledge the persons request and set up their expectations of service from you. I recently reached out to a group to chat with them about an opportunity I knew to be relevant to their group. I was greeted with a response that requested I email them. I emailed them and was sent a reply that prompted me to do a separate email elsewhere … I did all three ways of contact and three weeks later I have not had any direct response from that group. Think I’ll be reaching out again? (And there is no phone number to contact.)
I will shop Canadian, locally when I can, support colleagues and relevant businesses to my industry however I have expectations and if they are not met I will be forced to go elsewhere. Don’t let your opportunities pass you by.
When we don’t get responses that actually bring mutual opportunities we move on — Are they too busy ? Complacent ? Simply not interested ? I give the benefit of a doubt like … maybe they didn’t receive the email? Okay, I’ll phone … I’ll do a followup email but after a time - I give up…
Local travel and activities over the next while are prime opportunities to deliver service and products that will recognize Canadian products and services and allow businesses to thrive beyond this crazy year. And build our reputation as a country with fantastic customer service and hospitality.
If you can’t deliver it’s time to scale up (there are lots of people available and willing to help) !
Our economic recovery depends on us.
#customerservice #tourism #hospitality
our feature image is a lovely collage piece entitled “customer service” by Jennifer Gruhl, and if you’d like to support this emerging artists it is available for $80Cdn and I’ll ship it out pronto! That’s a promise.
Artists often work in isolation but require the same kinds of breaks, diversions and work strategies to stay engaged, inspired and connected. These are a few ideas to keep remote team members feeling valued.
Building a team is an art. How the potential candidate fits with existing members and the role they are seeking, ultimately creates your team culture and the success of your business. This tour of the creation of a painting, may afford you the opportunity to look at new ways to interview and hire.
New ways to think of the days of a work week may improve productivity and dispel the myths surrounding some of them (like hump day). Does your typical week have a consistent routine, can you shake it up, should you shake it up? Thoughts like build a unique team culture.
The art that surrounds us is critical to our well-being. Your corporate interior should reflect, project and brand your business as well as your logo does! Inspire creativity in your clients and your team members.
Asking your team how they are, what they think and how it can be improved are critical to building and maintaining a positive team culture, and ultimately, to growing your business. Here are a few helpful methods!
Considering your thoughts and the thoughts of others make us aware – of ourselves, our relationships and communities. Visual artists show us how to do that.
As the season changes to Fall it's time to check in with yourself and your team to make sure you feel balanced so you can reach your full potential.
Our teams are in a fragile state. Time to embrace these 3R's for 2021. Reconnect. Recharge. Rebuild. We are all about relationships and this article explores how to check in on your team members and engage them in your business.
A new program launches in Hamilton to support emerging artists in establishing a career in the arts. A professional development program that builds the business skills of visual artists to run their art business.
Listening or talking to someone outside of your usual crew can inspire ideas or directions in problem solving that you have never considered. Artists are a great resource for that. Chat, listen, ask questions! Bring concrete ideas to abstract thoughts.
