Wick hotel staff inspired by Olympic training
Mackays Hotel in Wick is only the 26th establishment in the country to have been awarded WorldHost Recognised Business status – a programme that was used to train nearly one million people worldwide in exceptional customer service, including volunteers at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The status is awarded only to businesses that have trained 50 per cent or more of their frontline staff using any of the WorldHost training programmes and signed a commitment to delivering excellent customer service.
Owners Ellie and Murray Lamont looked into the training programme and felt it was something they had to bring to Wick.
“Customer service is paramount in the hospitality industry – we are here, first and foremost, to serve people and to make their stay enjoyable and memorable,” said Mrs Lamont.
“We felt WorldHost training offered a structured and impressive approach to developing our team and bringing a little bit of that exceptional Olympic spirit to Caithness and Sutherland.
“I’m delighted we’ve been recognised as a WorldHost business – the only hotel in Scotland to achieve this standard.”
Mackays Hotel is famous for being situated on the shortest street in the world, Ebenezer Place. Its building dates back to 1883.
The Lamont family has owned the hotel for 55 years and Mr Lamont said that to be recognised for treating guests with exceptional customer service was a huge accolade.
He said: “This is a real honour to be recognised as a business which can deliver customer service to globally recognised high standards.
“We take customer service very seriously and will be wearing this accolade with a real sense of pride.”
The WorldHost programme is being rolled out across Scotland to help businesses gain a competitive edge and position the nation as a world-class tourist destination.
The WorldHost certificate is valid for two years and is renewable following completion of a refresher course.