Groups’ Update
Words: Tracy Cullen, Group Sales and Friends Manager
again we have won the CIE Tours Award of
O nce
Excellence based on customer feedback
reaching a satisfaction rating of 90% and over. This is
the fourth consecutive year we have won and we are
absolutely delighted. CIE Tours invited us to accept
the award in Glasgow along with other winners at
the Hotel du Vin Devonshire. Will Douglas (Visitor
Services Manager) accompanied me and we were all
treated to a lovely meal followed by the presentation
ceremony.
Will was under strict instructions to ensure I brought
the award back this year and not accidentally leave it
on the train! I am pleased to say I managed this feat
without a hiccup and the award is safely tucked away
waiting to be displayed.
Following the success of Disney Magic’s visit last
year, we were delighted to welcome the ship’s guests
once again to The Garden and Castle. The actors had
the pleasure of welcoming visitors off the ship and
wishing them a safe bon voyage as the ship set sail.
We never have any problem recruiting staff to meet
the ship early at the docks and return the guests at
the end of the day, as they relish the opportunity to
hear the famous horn play a tune when leaving the
port. Nothing brings the child out in us like Disney!
What a treat.
One of my aims for the last couple of years has been
to increase the awareness of The Garden to the
international market. Our strategy contained an
ambitious three year plan focusing on the Chinese
market, due to their increasing appetite for travel and
a more modest approach to the European and wider
market as a whole. I am pleased to say the fruits of
our labour are starting to show and we have seen a
healthy increase in Chinese visitors. This year sees
the final push to improve awareness before targeting
the European market in earnest. It is all very well
securing international visitors but it is vitally
important we ensure they have an amazing day once
they are here. We are striving to enhance visits no
matter their nationality by having translated
literature for the Poison garden, maps of The Garden
and general information. We are also very fortunate
to have multi-lingual staff and volunteers who can
provide guided tours in Chinese, French, Italian,
Spanish, Croatian, German and Hungarian.
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