The Mersey Partnership (TMP) – Official Tourist Board for Liverpool City Region – has successfully co-ordinated a training programme to recruit and coach a new group of 24 International Visitor Hosts to greet overseas visitors as part of its Destination Welcome.
Liverpool City Region’s popularity with international visitors continues to grow thanks to its rich cultural heritage, stylish hotels and world class events, and the programme is part of TMP’s ongoing tourism development work to further strengthen the overall visitor experience.
Following interviews and a short audition, during which the applicants had to give a short talk on their favourite place in Liverpool, a total of 24 fluent language speakers were successful in securing places on the six-week course. The programme was completed with written and practical examinations, so the group could put into practice everything they had learned.
The visitor hosts were presented with their certificates at a special event hosted by Hope Street Hotel in Liverpool.
Between them the new team of International Visitor Hosts are able to greet and guide overseas visitors in French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Slovakian, Czech, Finnish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese and Thai.
They will operate on a self-employed basis and also have the opportunity to work with the two official Tour Guide Booking Agencies – Liverpool Tour Guide Service (Hilary Oxlade/Paul Beesley) and Pool of Life Tours (Tim Hemmings), who have fully supported the programme and will be mentoring the individuals in the months ahead.
Work undertaken by the International Visitor Hosts may include meeting and greeting at airports and stations, transfers to hotels and airports, as well as full guided tours for conference delegates, cruise liner passengers, travel trade and travel media, visiting European football teams, and corporate visits for businesses hosting overseas visitors.
The cosmopolitan group ranges from students to the early retired and includes those working in a variety of professions from teaching, translating, hospitality services, entertainment and writing.
Pam Wilsher, TMP’s Head of Visitor Economy Development, explained: “We were delighted with the initial interest in the programme to find and train our new International Visitor Hosts, but the calibre and enthusiasm of the trainees we eventually recruited has really impressed us.
“Liverpool has just been confirmed once again as the 6th most visited city in the UK by international visitors and it is important that we offer our increasing number of overseas visitors a really warm welcome in their own language. Our new recruits join our existing team of Blue, Green and other Tourist Board accredited guides who do such a great job in meeting and greeting our visitors.”
This is the second cohort of guides to complete their training this month. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) have recently completed a training programme for volunteer guides who will conduct a programme of guided weekend Waterfront walks this summer. More details can be found at www.architecture.com/liverpoolcitytours
