Fijian Hosts continue to receive increasing acclaim and appreciation for their excellent customer service by visitors to Nadi International Airport and the Fijian tourism industry.
Yesterday, five exceptional frontline staff members of Nadi Airport teams received awards at a presentation ceremony held at the Raffles Gateway Hotel, Nadi.
Ravinesh Kumar (FRCA), Joji Veiqaravi (AFL), Makereta Sakoro (Evergreen International), George Williams (AFL) and Sharmila Lata (Border Police) were presented their awards for Fijian Hosts of the Month for January to May respectively, by the Permanent Secretary for Tourism Ms. Elizabeth Powell.
Each winner received a FIJIAN HOST of the Month award from the Attorney-General & Minister for Tourism, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, acknowledging their exceptional service, a $250 grocery shopping voucher, and a dinner-for-two voucher courtesy of Sofitel Resort, Fiji Beach Resort & Spa and Starwood Resorts Fiji — with ground transfers provided by Tourism Fiji.
Fijian Hosts is a customer training and team-building initiative of the Ministry of Tourism, which includes Nadi Airport front-line team members from eight individual organizations.
Winners are selected from comment cards that are filled out by international visitors and posted in Fijian Hosts kiosks that are strategically located in Nadi International Airport’s departure and arrival lounges.
17 specially trained Fijian Hosts instructors were also announced today.
These instructors attended the train-the-trainers session in March this year and now qualify to conduct Fijian Hosts training sessions for the eight Fijian Hosts member organizations at Nadi International Airport.
Permanent Secretary for Tourism, Ms Elizabeth Powell, congratulated the monthly winners and the Fijian Hosts instructors and said “As the competition for international visitors increases globally and in the region, it is through the personal interaction of Fijians with our visitors that make their experience special and memorable”.
“The Fijian Hosts program unites the Nadi Airport teams in their efforts to proudly represent Fiji to international travellers. We are equally proud of their efforts and appreciate how each Fijian Host increases the wish of our visitors to return to Fiji.”
Ms Powell also announced the Fijian Hosts Sports Week scheduled from 14 to 19 July in Nadi which will be attended by close to 400 Nadi Airport team members who have been trained in the program.
In August this year, a refresher course will be held for current Fijian Hosts where they will share learnings and experiences on improving visitor experiences.
Ms. Powell also acknowledged the wide support of the local tourism industry and explained that without their assistance, the Fijian Hosts customer service training initiative could not succeed.
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