World Host message spreads across the ‘Heart of the Causeway Coast and Glens’

Last Thursday, the Chair of Moyle District Council Cllr Sandra Hunter presented staff from businesses and local business owners from the wider Moyle Area with their ‘World Host’ certificates at a special presentation ceremony in the world famous Old Bushmills Distillery.

Cllr Sandra Hunter used the opportunity to give her support for the World Host programme and congratulated all those who had taken the time to do the worthwhile training programme.

She sated “I would encourage our trade to embrace this training opportunity which will assist us in maintaining our warm welcome and help give the Village the opportunity to be branded as a World Host Village”.

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Claire Gibson, a local World Host Trainer, thanked everyone for coming along and explained some of the detail around how you can become a ‘World Host’ Business, Town or Village.

The Old Bushmills Distillery stated: “Bushmills Distillery is proud to be associated with the World Host Programme and offers congratulations to our own staff and all others who completed this worthwhile course. This has played an important part in preparing the tourist industry for Destination 2012 and beyond”

Caroline Carey, Acting Tourism Development Manager explained “With the potential for not just businesses but Towns and Villages to gain ‘World Host’ status I am delighted that the trade in Moyle have committed their resources to ensure so many staff have received World Host training. I would encourage local trade who have not yet taken part in the programme to consider doing so”.

Claire Gibson one of the local World Host Trainers, who trained some of those who received their certificates, explained that the programme is funded by the Department of Employment and Learning. It focuses on excellent Customer Service and Visitor Awareness as well as destination knowledge. Claire went onto to explain about ‘World Host Business Recognition Awards’ “World Host has recently introduced a Business Recognition Award and a Destination Recognition Award. The business Recognition award will be given to those businesses which have had 50% of customer facing staff obtain their World Host status. The Destination award applies to local businesses in a town or village where 20% of appropriate businesses have completed World Host. The great news is that in Moyle many businesses are eligible for the Business award and indeed our villages and Ballycastle are well on the way to destination recognition. This is a fantastic step towards showing visitors our absolute commitment to excellent customer care . If any business feels that they are on the way to recognition please contact Clare and please encourage those businesses who may not yet have done World Host to take that step and help us all on our way to Moyle destination recognition”.

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The presentation was arranged by the Tourism Department of the Council in partnership with Claire Gibson a World Host Trainer for our area.

It is hoped that the funding for the programme will continue for the foreseeable future and more programmes will be running in Spring.

For anyone interested in finding out about World Host you can contact Claire Gibson directly on 07971546221 or email [email protected]