Ottawa Valley Visitor Information Centres Open for 2011 Season Renfrew County Visitor Information Centre (VIC) Staff pose with Crystal Kippenchuck of Discount Rentals – Pembroke. Discount Rentals generously sponsored 2 vans and 1 car for the duration of the VIC FAM tour. (Pembroke) - The Visitor Information Centres in Renfrew County are now open to welcome visitors to the Ottawa Valley.
In preparation of the opening of the centres, the Visitor Information Centre (VIC) staff, also known as Tourism Ambassadors, recently participated in a 3-day familiarization tour to the various tourism businesses located throughout the Ottawa Valley. Organized and hosted by the Ottawa Valley Tourist Association (OVTA), the tour is designed to: increase the staff’s overall understanding of the unique tourism products in the Ottawa Valley; provide an opportunity for them to experience first-hand the services and hospitality of some OVTA members; as well as, assist them in gaining a better understanding of the travel time and distances between geographic locations. Understanding the importance of the tour and the value of having well-informed staff, numerous OVTA tourism operators welcomed the group to their businesses and sponsored various activities and meals.
Prior to the start of the tour, staff attended a half-day Customer Service Training workshop at Best Western Pembroke, sponsored by the Buy Local Initiative. The workshop delivered by Chris Hinsperger, co-owner of the Bonnechere Caves and associate with the Delfi Group, taught staff the 7 steps to effective customer problem solving; how to deal with difficult customers and challenges; the recovery process, and more.
The end result is having well informed and knowledgeable people providing tourism information about the Ottawa Valley.“The Visitor Information Centres are vital points of access for tourism information for hundreds of thousands of tourists who visit the Ottawa Valley every year,” noted Lauren McIllfaterick, OVTA Communications Coordinator. “It is important for the staff to be well informed about the Ottawa Valley.”
Discount Car and Truck Rentals donated the use of two vans and one car for the 3-day tour and the Best Western in Pembroke and Renfrew are the continuing sponsors of the staff identification badges.
“It is wonderful to have the generous support of the membership who sponsored the various activities and donated time to give personal tours and offer experiences on some of the unique features that the Valley has to offer.”
There are 10 visitor information centres located throughout Renfrew County including Arnprior, Calabogie, Renfrew, Cobden, Pembroke, Petawawa, Eganville, Killaloe and Barry’s Bay.
The OVTA is the Ottawa Valley’s official destination marketing organization, proudly representing more than 215 tourism businesses and suppliers. For more information or to help plan your summer in the Ottawa Valley, visit www.ottawavalley.travel or call 1.800.757.6580. Contact Information:
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