National Tourism and Travel Week begins May 2, 2015. In celebration, the City of Seaside Visitors Bureau is emphasizing the importance of Travel and Tourism to businesses in Seaside by offering a three-part training series focusing on Excellence in Customer Service. Use these practical tips to help your front-line staff offer the best service possible and watch your customers’ satisfaction increase.
Our first focus is the core of any customer service experience: the greeting. No matter what type of business you have, it’s vital that customers feel welcome. Here are 3 key elements of a good greeting that will set the tone for the most favorable experience.
1 Make eye contact. Even if an employee is on the phone or with another customer, making eye contact is the opener to any interaction.
2 Smile. A smile is what any customer looks for upon entering an establishment. That smile says he/she is important and welcome at this business.
3 Offer a greeting. Say, “Hello” or “How are you today?” This will open the opportunity to engage the customer in a discussion about their needs. Some just want to browse on their own, but they will know they are welcome while they do so.
Once the foundations of a pleasant interaction have been established with a friendly greeting, all further conversation is more likely to be pleasant for all involved.
Look for more tips like this one in our Hospitality Industry News blog and in our next quarterly Hospitality Industry Newsletter, coming out in late May. The next installment in this series will be “Customer Service as a Sales Strategy.” If you’d like to know more about our Customer Service Awards program, or to sign up for our Hospitality Industry Newsletter, email us at: travelinfo@cityofseaside.us.
