Macon CVB Training Ambassadors
Clinton Bourgeois
Story Created:
Jan 22, 2013 at 7:00 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Jan 22, 2013 at 9:36 PM EDT
Graced with beautiful architecture, museums, and one of a kind festivals, Macon has a lot to look at. But lets face it, so do hundreds of cities across the country.
As the city of Macon keeps its eye on becoming the tourism destination it wants to be, Macon's Convention and Visitor's Bureau (CVB) is training "Ambassadors" for what they say keeps people coming back, customer service.
"Southern hospitality has stuck," said Stephanie Robinson, CVB Marketing Director. "So, people have a higher expectation when it comes to the south and the level of customer service they receive."
After a tour of the city, the ambassadors brain-stormed on what the city already has to offer and what the city is lacking. Customer Service Trainer and Macon native Debroah Jones says it starts with changing perceptions.
"This is not the Macon of 25 years ago, it's not the Macon of 10 years ago."
She points to the new art and entertainment the city has attracted in recent years, including Elton John's highly anticipated concert, a big drawing card.
"We've got so many things that people need to come and see and they'll be amazed," said Jones. I know they'll be back and tell other people and that's what this training is about."
Creating repeat visitors, and as Robinson puts it, putting "Heads in Beds". Visitors staying overnight and staying Macon hotels aids the local economy immensely.
"That is the goal, to get people to stay in our hotel," said Robinson. "Spend money in our restaurant, shop in our businesses, that money can be generated into our economy."
Bibb County ranks tenth in the state when it comes to tourism expenditure. Four of those counties are in the Atlanta metro area.
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