1. Take Pride in Providing Service to Visitors

Being of service to others is essential and valued. Be courteous and friendly. Smile and greet your customers in a welcoming manner. Ask how you can help. Listen to them and make them feel like they are an essential part of your day. A positive, cheerful attitude is pivotal to a great first impression.

2. Know Your Community As A Destination

Develop a thorough knowledge of local activities, events, and attractions. Make a list of your favorite things to do in your area. Better yet, make it a community effort—work with other businesses, associations, and town administrators to create a list of attractions, events, and popular activities. Distribute the list to every local business and organization and encourage operators to share it with staff. As a bonus, you may discover something new about your community and develop a more profound sense of pride in your hometown.

3. Share Information and Resources

You can just stock up on maps and materials offering visitor information. Travelers will be grateful when you can provide them with information or show them directions. Organizers of local events or festivals may have brochures or flyers that you can distribute to your customers. The materials often become conversation starters. They are reminders of the busy schedule of local activities and enable fast and easy reference. With examples on hand, no one can say, "There is nothing to do around here." If there are no specific activities that day, you can use the examples and resources to highlight upcoming events. Your guests may decide to extend their stay or plan a return visit.

4. Take the Lead

Your leadership and the positive experiences that you provide as a tourism ambassador will inspire others. People may come forward with their ideas for making the community a welcoming destination. Informal networks may grow into formal tourism and economic development strategies. Your effort may be what it takes to get the ball rolling.

5. Share Your Community and Celebrate Accomplishments

Organize, as a community, to recognize and reward those who go “above and beyond.” Highlight their efforts in the local newspaper or a company newsletter. Share stories of appreciation that you hear from visitors.

6. Take the Tourism Ambassador Training

You can click here to see if your destination offers online tourism ambassador training.

The Learn Tourism offers a wide range of services to help destinations build, deliver, track, and efficiently manage their tourism ambassador training. We make it easy for individuals, businesses, and groups to become involved, turning community members into tourism ambassadors and advocates. Are you interested in building an ambassador program for your community? Call 954 947 6134.