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FIRST PARTICIPANTS TEE-OFF

A potential 1,000 participants are set to benefit from a new Welcome to Excellence customer service training course aimed at tourism businesses across the Fylde, which was launched today (Monday 30 April, 2012)  by the very first participants at the inaugural Welcome to the Fylde Coast training day held at St Annes Old Links Golf, Club, Lytham St Annes.

Welcome to the Fylde Coast is a new bespoke training programme delivered by Marketing Blackpool, Fylde Borough Council, Wyre Tourism, Fylde Vision Local Strategic Partnership,  Lancashire County Council and Marketing Lancashire*.

Marketing Lancashire has already trained 8 trainers to deliver the course, who will roll out Welcome to the Fylde Coast to frontline staff in hotels, restaurants, bars and attractions in Lytham St Annes, Blackpool, Wyre and beyond. The course itself has been designed for staff who will be welcoming the influx of visitors for the Open Golf Championship 2012, the effects of which will impact deep into Lancashire.   200,000 additional visitors are expected during the Open Golf 2012 who will contribute around £100million to the local economy, with excellence in customer service a priority as many regard Lancashire as the location of ‘the friendliest Open’.

Welcome to the Fylde Coast follows the success of other tailor-made product knowledge based courses such as Welcome to Blackpool, which has seen over 3,000 participants successfully complete the course to date (since its launch in November 2008).  Product development is gaining further momentum with a Welcome to Preston course already in advanced planning. 

Welcome to the Fylde Coast gives delegates an excellent knowledge of the full range of facilities and services available to visitors to the Fylde Coast and covers areas including: Golf on the Fylde Coast, A Rich Heritage and Marketing the Fylde Coast.  Delegates will also learn how the Fylde Coast is marketed and how they contribute to the future success of the area.

The inaugural Welcome to the Fylde Coast course will be followed by 5 further opportunities at  Ribby Hall Village (10^th May), Old Links Golf Club (24^th May & 28^th June) and The Dalmeny Hotel (14^th June & 5^th July) all leading up to the start of the Open in July, with more courses being delivered by trainers across the Fylde Coast into the future.

Participation on these courses is complimentary (national price is normally £85.00 + vat).  Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis (limited to 2 per business).  Delegates will receive a high quality participant guide and Welcome to Excellence certificate.

For more information or to book these aforementioned Fylde Borough courses contact Helen Heyworth, Marketing Lancashire on Tel: 01772 426 454 or [email protected]

 Further dates will be announced shortly. For further information contact Diane Blakemore, Marketing Blackpool, on Tel: 01253 478223 or [email protected]

Photo shows: Club Pro Jonny Moss (right) drives off for the launch team.  Front row from left are: Viv Wood Tourism Officer, Fylde Borough Council; Helen Aldous, Training Manager, Marketing Lancashire; Sarah Dunn, Senior Project Officer, LCDL Lancashire County Council; Alexandra Holt, Visit Wyre Manager, Wyre Borough Council; Diane Blakemore, Business Support Co-ordinator, Marketing Blackpool; Bernard Whittle, Chairman of the Fylde Local Strategic Partnership.

<<ENDS>>

* Marketing Lancashire delivers the Welcome to Excellence suite of training for the North West region.

Media enquiries: Anna Izza, Communications Manager, Marketing Lancashire 01772 426 459 or [email protected]

Notes to Editors

1.         Marketing Lancashire is the new name for Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board (from 1^st April 2012) Our activities in marketing and communications, commercial membership, `Welcome to Excellence` training and place marketing are all designed to grow the visitor economy and develop the destination as a great place to visit, live and work.

In 2010 the Lancashire attracted 60 million visitors who contributed £3.25 billion to the local economy and helped support 55,227 jobs.