This was provided by the Aquila Center for Cruise Excellence through a Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association Customer Service Training Workshop.
To better serve visitors and locals
The training was tailored for frontline personnel in tourism and hospitality to 'elevate the level and standard of service that we provide to our visitors,' according to May-Ling Chun, St. Maarten interim tourism director. Going forward, the intention is to have all frontline workers participate in training to better serve visitors and locals.
The workshop sprang from Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic & Telecommunications Stuart Johnson's meeting with Aquila founder Beth Kelly Hatt at Seatrade Cruise Global. Johnson stressed the importance of continuing education for those in the hospitality sector to ensure they meet the expectations of an improved customer service standard for the island.
'This is a critical part of our goal of ensuring that with these new hotels coming online, our people here in St. Maarten are the first and best candidates for the jobs that will become available,' Johnson said.
Plus 'St. Maarten Pride with One Voice'
The training also included 'St. Maarten Pride with One Voice,' a certified culture and history course presented by Josianne Fleming Artsen, founder/manager of the St. Maarten Service Academy.
Upon successful completion of the workshop, all participants were awarded a certificate of achievement.
