Port Everglades ILA-member porters get hospitality training

Porters' primary role is to greet cruise passengers, confirm stateroom numbers and stow luggage for embarkation. They also assist with with their luggage at disembarkation.

First and last personal contact for cruise guests

'Porters are integral to the port's success as they are often the first and last personal contact for our cruise guests,' Port Everglades CEO and Port Director Jonathan Daniels said. 'I applaud the ILA for taking the initiative to offer customer-service training that enhances the experience for the nearly 4 million cruise guests we anticipate will travel through our port this cruise season.'

250 porters scheduled for training

Approximately 250 porters are expected to participate in the two-hour training workshops that will be held at various dates in January.

'The interactive workshops are specifically designed to equip port porters with the best ways to deliver a well-received guest experience during the brief, and often rushed, time that they have with cruise guests,' said training facilitator Pam Evans, principal at The Evans Group of South Florida.

At the Broward County seaport, ILA members often work for both cargo and cruise operations. Third-party companies that offer shore and port services contract with the union to staff the cruise porter program.