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News from the Greater Munising Area: Virtual trainings for tourism industry employees scheduled

Jaymie Depew, communications and special project assistant, Alger County Chamber of Commerce/Greater Munising Bay Partnership for Commerce Development, Munising Downtown Development Authority and Munising Visitors Bureau

The Alger County Chamber of Commerce, Munising Visitors Bureau, Hiawatha National Forest, and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore are teaming up to help employees of the tourism and service industry prepare for the 2021 season.

Before the busy summer shifts into gear, a free virtual training anticipated to be 1.5- to 2-hours-long will be held on three different days at varying times to accommodate everyone’s schedules. The goal of the training is to ensure tourism industry employees know what’s available to area visitors.

Some of the topics that’ll be discussed include rules, regulations, and what’s new at the national lakeshore and national forest; information and resources for tourists, including visitor guide, maps, and brochures; and how to answer the most commonly asked questions from visitors.

“One of the most important aspects of a tourism-based community is having a strong and knowledgeable frontline workforce. It’s amazing the misinformation that is out there and combatting that helps everyone, locals and tourists alike,” said Cori-Ann Cearley, President of the MVB. “One of the easiest things to do is to work with the frontline workers to increase their customer service skills and their knowledge base. Simple things like knowing what resources are available and where to look for them can make a big impact in the overall profile of the area. This leads to a more confident guest service agent and a better guest experience when tourists visit.”

Last year, 1.2 million people came to see the Pictured Rocks park, breaking the 2019 record of just under 860,000 people. Although there are several visitor centers in Munising offering all sorts of information, travelers frequently ask those working at hotels, restaurants, gas stations, shops, and tour companies/attractions questions about the area.

“Offering information to our front-line service employees and individuals working with the public assists businesses in providing a more positive visitor experience,” said Kathy Reynolds, CEO of the Alger County Chamber of Commerce/Greater Munising Bay Partnership and Executive Director of the Munising Downtown Development Authority. “Another goal has always been to retain our visitors for a longer period of time, which this will aid in that endeavor. Having these workshops both virtually and at various times allows for participants to conveniently attend.”

The trainings will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 20; 11 a.m., Monday, June 14; and 5 p.m., Tuesday, June 22. Attendance will be taken for businesses that require their employees to sit in on one of the trainings. Random drawings for prizes provided by the MVB will also be handed out at the end of each session.

Those interested in attending or for more information email Pat Sanderson at pat@algercountychamber.com or call (906) 387-2138.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Jaymie Depew is the communications and special project assistant for the Alger County Chamber of Commerce/Greater Munising Bay Partnership for Commerce Development, Munising Downtown Development Authority and Munising Visitors Bureau.

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