Since launching in 2009, the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau‘s (GMCVB’s) Miami Begins with Me (MBWM) initiative, has trained over 40,000 members of the community, including Miami-Dade County taxi cab drivers and people who are employed by major community businesses and organizations such as Miami International Airport and PortMiami. Now, the Bureau announces its current training schedule for its Customer Service Champion Program, which offers complimentary certification classes to tourism industry professionals and GMCVB partners.
With 14.5 million visitors in 2014, Greater Miami and the Beaches is one of the world’s most popular destinations. In fact, Miami-Dade County currently provides 130,000 of jobs in the leisure and hospitality industry. By way of programs, such as the GMCVB’s Miami Begins with Me campaign, the destination aims to enhance its customer service standards and practices. The Customer Service Champion Program features the following classes:
- Economic Importance of Tourism & Key Events
- Miami’s Amazing Attraction
- Miami Heritage and Neighborhoods
- Customer Service Refresher
“As residents of Greater Miami, we all know how important tourism is to our local economy,” says GMCVB President and CEO William D. Talbert, III, CDME. “The Miami Begins with Me Customer Service Champion Program allows us to train professionals so they can help provide visitors with a positive experience in our city.”
The program’s purpose is to train individuals who work closely with visitors in Greater Miami and The Beaches, so they can provide them with the best service possible and therefore, the visitor will be eager to return to a place where they enjoyed themselves and were treated well.
By way of training employees in South Florida ports of entry, this program continues to effectively train participants from many industry sectors in South Florida including health care, telecommunications, aviation, retail, education, travel and hospitality and tourism.
The Miami Begins with Me Customer Service Champion Program classes are free and available to industry professionals as well as GMCVB partners. Participants are taught the importance of showing visitors we care by simply sharing a warm smile as they walk by, offering friendly directions to the nearest pharmacy or ATM, or giving suggestions on area restaurants with the best water views.
Upon completion of the program, graduates will receive a Miami Begins with Me Certificate and Rewards Packet that includes special offers from program partners and a chance to win a cruise for two, departing from PortMiami.
The following entail completing four (4) one-hour training sessions. Classes may be taken in any order and over any one-year period of time and are offered to industry professionals. These classes will take place monthly as one (1) three-hour course and are offered to GMCVB Partners in good standing.
Location:
Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau
701 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2700
Miami, FL 33131
Times:
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Dates:
Wednesday, July 24, 2015
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Additionally, classes that are specifically for Miami International Airport employees are held twice weekly at the airport. For a complete list of classes now available and more information, please visit www.miamibeginswithme.com