Doolin, one of Ireland’s most popular visitor destinations has today, (Monday, 15th March) been awarded Fáilte Ireland’s Destination Award for Excellence in Customer Service. To achieve the Award, tourism businesses in Doolin undertook Fáilte Ireland’s Accredited Service Excellence Programme with nearly 120 local tourism frontline staff across 41 local businesses completing a dedicated course of customer care training.
Fáilte Ireland’s Accredited Services Excellence Programme is aimed at helping tourism businesses reach the highest standards in customer care, which can result in major benefits such as business growth, additional repeat business, increased visitor spend and positive recommendations. The Award can be presented to individual businesses or to a whole town, as is the case with Doolin today.
Speaking at the presentation of the Award, Dr. Dean Panter, National – Development Manager Hospitality Operations at Fáilte Ireland said that the Programme is an important aspect of Fáilte Ireland’s business development and training supports.
“It is a marvellous achievement for Doolin to achieve the Destination Award from Fáilte Ireland. The Accredited Service Excellence Programme is aimed at helping tourism businesses strengthen competitiveness and to help differentiate Ireland from its international competitors. Today’s Award substantially reinforces Doolin’s reputation as a destination where visitors are at the centre of everything a business does.”
Miriam Kennedy, Fáilte Ireland’s Head of the Wild Atlantic Way said:
“Tourism is our largest indigenous industry with 260,000 people employed in the sector and the importance of tourism to local communities along the Wild Atlantic Way such as Doolin cannot be underestimated. In Doolin, the support for the training from the local business community has been overwhelming with 41 businesses getting fully behind the Programme with nearly 120 front-facing staff now trained to provide excellence in customer care.”
Niall Hughes, Chairperson of Doolin Tourism said:
“It is a historic day for the village of Doolin and we are thrilled that our little village has been recognized for its big heart. Today's award for Doolin is a validation of the warmth and welcoming nature of its people, who annually host hundreds of thousand of happy visitors. We are thrilled that our little village has been recognised for its big heart’ and the award is a confirmation that Doolin guarantees "best in class" customer service with a memorable stay and experience for every guest. It shows that a Sustainable Tourism product based on its community and people is the true lifeblood of any village and we hope that Today's Award will encourage visitors new and old to come and enjoy staying longer in Doolin the Heart and Soul of the Wild Atlantic Way.”
The Programme trains front-facing staff across all sectors of a business to maximise their potential in the area of customer relationships and satisfaction. It aims to reduce and/or better handle complaints, introduce new operational standards and efficiencies through best in class service, and increase sales through up-selling and cross-selling techniques.
The Tourism Businesses who have completed the Accredited Services Excellence Programme in Doolin are:
• Aran View Country House
• Ballinalacken Castle Country House Four Star Hotel
• Burren Tours
• Churchfield B&B
• Climb It
• Cois na hAbhann B&B
• Doolin Café
• Doolin Cave
• Doolin Cliff Walk
• The Doolin Ferry Co
• Doolin Inn
• Doolin Music House
• Doolin Rent A Bike
• Doolin Village Lodges
• Emohruo B&B
• Garrihy's Doolin2Aran Ferries
• Gus O'Connors Pub
• Half Door B&B
• Harbour View Bed & Breakfast
• Hotel Doolin
• Irish Crafts
• McDermotts
• McGanns Pub and Restaurant
• Moloney House
• Oar Restaurant & Rooms
• O'Brien's Craft & Knitwear
• O'Connors Guesthouse
• Private Drive Chauffeur
• Rainbow Hostel
• Riverside Camping and Glamping
• Riverside Cottage
• Sea View House
• Seascape Bed and Breakfast
• Sheedy’s Doolin Boutique B&B
• Stone Cutters Kitchen Family Restaurant
• The Clare Jam Company
• The Doolin Ferry Co
• The Ivy Cottage
• The Lodge Doolin
• Twin Peaks B & B
• Village Crafts
About the Accredited Services Excellence Programme
The Accredited Service Excellence Programme is suitable for all management and front facing staff in a tourism related business who come into contact with visitors. The Award can be achieved in three ways:
• Individual Award – for individual staff upon completion of a full day or online workshop;
• As a Business Award whereupon 75% of front facing staff have completed the Programme;
• As a Destination Award - where a number of set criteria are met and where an agreed level of key businesses in the area have achieved the business award.
To achieve the Destination Award each of the Businesses who took part in this initiative were required to achieve the individual Service Excellence Business Award by having a minimum of 75% of their visitor facing staff and Management successfully complete the programme.
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