As part of the continued Grand Life Ambassador training programme (a customer service awareness training programme spearheaded by the Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board), Pelican Bay Hotel at Lucaya completed the first of several planned training sessions with 15 employees on Tuesday, July 22, 2008 coordinated by Judy Duncombe, Director of Human Resources, Pelican Bay at Lucaya and co-facilitated by Gina Turner, Senior Officer, CHE and Pauline Wells, Executive Trainer, CHE both of the Ministry of Tourism.

General Manager, Magnus Alnebeck has committed to having all 75 of his employees complete the training over the next few months.

Every resident and second home resident is encouraged to take this free training programme. Why? Because each and every one of us can be Ambassadors of service and hospitality every day. Once we understand the ?Grand Life? brand, the next step will be to internalize the message and live it. We must reach everyone?taxi drivers, restaurant workers, hotel workers, tour leaders, straw market vendors, and the general public. Anyone that comes in contact with our guests (almost everyone living on Grand Bahama Island) can become Ambassadors before we begin marketing to the public! This new branding will also be placed into the school curriculum as low as the primary grades, as it is also a great way to reach all parents of school students right now, thereby increasing the initial outreach.

If you are interested in taking this training programme , please contact Mrs. Denise Adderley at the GBI Tourism Board ( denise.adderley@coralwave.com or 352-8356). The class is facilitated by either one or two representatives, or ?Grand Bahama Island Ambassadors,? chosen and trained by the Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board and the Ministry of Tourism (MOT), Grand Bahama Island. There is also an e-learning course available which can be taken online and is only one hour in length.

Upon completion of the course, learners will be able to create ?The Grand Life? experiences for guests, second home residents, and for Grand Bahamians who will play an essential role in ?The Grand Life? experiences that will keep guests coming back.

Let?s all begin living ?The Grand Life?.

By Denise Adderley, GBITB