Hospitality scheme for 2012 Games

Hospitality scheme for 2012 Games

A campaign has been launched to train 200,000 hospitality and tourism staff and improve customer service ahead of the 2012 Games in London.
The WorldHost training programme hopes to raise standards in training and in practice in the hospitality, leisure, tourism and travel (HLTT) industries, which employ almost two million people.
Among the sport and leisure venues which have signed up to raise their service standards are Twickenham Stadium and the London Eye, organisers People 1st said at the central London launch.
Tourism chiefs estimate that £2 billion could be generated from visitors to the 2012 Olympics.
The WorldHost programme aims to get the industry in shape in time for a range of world events set to be hosted by Britain including the 2012 Olympics, the 2014 Ryder Cup and Commonwealth Games plus the Rugby World Cup in 2015.
The customer service training scheme includes learning modules on serving customers with disabilities, service across cultures and an ambassador workshop aimed at volunteers helping visitors to Britain.
A similar scheme was set up in Vancouver to train 39,000 volunteers and tourism staff for this year's Winter Olympics.
The Institute of Directors and McDonald's have said they will include it in their employee development programmes.
Brian Wisdom, chief executive of People 1st, the skills council for HLTT industries, said: "There is a lot of focus on developing the infrastructure for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games but not enough on ensuring we have the softer skills needed to welcome the world to Britain.
"It's anticipated that up to half a million visitors will arrive for the Games and we need to ensure their experience of Britain is a very positive one."

Sources by  http://www.thinklondon.com