BahamaHost Program Expands

While Bahamahost has traditionally focused on improving the level of service given to tourists, the Ministry of Tourism and the private sector have realised the need to improve customer service across all businesses and launched ‘Bahamahost Corporate’.

Hyacinth Winder-Pratt, speaking yesterday on behalf of the absent director-general of tourism, Vernice Walkine, at the launch of the programme, said Bahamahost realised the need for every Bahamian to “expect the best possible service in their own country”.

According to Mrs Winder-Pratt, the Bahamas can expect to see the service standard in this country increase through the life of the programme.

Businesses will be able to enter their employees into the five-day programme at a price of $100 per person. They will be put through a flexible, five-day sweep of workshops, after which a test will be administered.

Workforce

If 60 per cent of a company’s workforce passes the programme with a 70 per cent or more grade average, the firm will be awarded the Bahamahost Corporate Seal.

“So we look forward to even greater things from Bahamahost over the next several years,” said Mrs Hyacinth Winder-Pratt. “We are happy the direction now taken to get better and better to meet the needs of Bahamians and visitors alike.”

The programme also has an arm that will seek to educate non-Bahamians living in this country about the indigenous way of life to help them better service the local and visiting public.

Bahamas Hotel Association vice-president, Frank Comito, said while some visitors may not come into contact with businesses “Over the Hill” and outside of the major tourist centres in the Bahamas, those businesses must have customer service values that can be passed on from clerk to client.

“We need to reach beyond hotels to the broader community, corporate and private sector,” he said. “We can’t just look at it (customer service) through the eyes of visitors.”

Source: The Tribune