MORAY’S GROWING REPUTATION for the very best in hospitality standards has been further boosted with WorldHost Recognised Destination status being granted to Fochabers.
The community received the status after a number of businesses put at least half their staff through the customer care training programme.
That demonstrated their commitment to providing excellent customer service to existing and new customers – and earned each a certificate from which visitors can be assured that they take customer care seriously.
Baxters Highland Village, Fochabers Fish Bar, Gordon Castle, Christie’s of Fochabers and Saltaire Security all successfully completed the training.
WorldHost is an internationally recognised programme that brings about a new industry benchmark that businesses and their operators can use to ensure that high quality customer service standards are integral to their operation.
It has already been used to train over 10 per cent of Scotland’s tourism workforce and represents an investment of over £2million since it was launched in Scotland.
The Moray Economic Partnership is leading the roll out of the initiative across Moray, under its Tourism and Culture Group with its goal to have Moray Speyside awarded WorldHost Regional Destination status to help boost tourism in the area.
Sam Dowdall of Christie’s said: “Excellent customer service is of the upmost importance to us at Christies, therefore we are delighted to have been awarded WorldHost status to seal our commitment to all of our customers, new and existing.”
Darren Boothroyd from the Fochabers Fish Bar added: “As a small business, excellent customer service is crucial to our success.
“The training we received through WorldHost was very comprehensive and gave my team the correct tools to deliver a very important aspect of our business and I take a great pride in being able to display our certificate in my shop.
“I am also pleased that by completing this training we have helped Fochabers get on the WorldHost map, it’s fantastic for our village.”
Last night Fochabers/Lhanbryde councillor Marc Macrae welcomed the news, saying: “Businesses in Fochabers with a high level of customer service have always taken that role very seriously – their commitment to providing excellent service has been second to none.
“So it is particularly pleasing to see WorldHost status being attained and I’m certain that the thousands who visit our area each year will appreciate the quality they receive as those who live here always have.”