Tourism masterclasses promise expertise boost

European business leaders will share their expertise with Northern Ireland’s tourism chiefs over coming months.

The series of ‘Tourism Masterclasses’ will look at three important areas: the future of tourism in Northern Ireland; enhanced customer satisfaction and how to develop a world-class tourism business.

Speaking at the first Masterclass at the Europa Hotel in Belfast, Tourism Minister, Angela Smith, congratulated the Northern Ireland Tourist Board on devising the event: “To achieve significant industry growth, we need inspirational and highly motivated business leaders. I am confident that events like this will encourage and support you, the industry, to be innovative and forward thinking.”

Professor Richard Scase, European Business Speaker of the Year 2005, will lead the first Masterclass on “The Future” of tourism and what customers will be looking for in their holiday choices.

Angela Smith said: “It is a feather in NITB’s cap to attract the highly acclaimed author, academic and entrepreneur, Professor Scase who is one of Europe’s leading business strategist.

“Northern Ireland’s tourism industry has developed significantly in the last decade and we should be proud that there are now more tourists coming to Northern Ireland than ever before. However, we can achieve further growth. We have much to learn from people such as Professor Scase, which we can apply to enhance the future growth of the tourism sector.”

The other two Masterclasses will be taken by Nigel Barlow, an expert in customer service, this will take place in March 8; Klaus Kobjoll, renowned within the hotel and restaurant business in Germany as being an ideal employer, will lead the Masterclass on May 23.

The Tourism Minister urged the audience to take positive action to improve the competitiveness of their businesses from what they learned at the Masterclass series.

Angela Smith said: “Competition in the marketplace has intensified tremendously. We are now operating in an international arena and to be serious competitors we need to embrace change and become globally aware.

“Leadership is key to the success of any business and all three Tourism Masterclasses are designed to educate, motivate and inspire everyone involved in the tourism industry.”

(SP)