Cabbies lead major drive to promote America's Cup
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Plymouth Herald
Taxi drivers are being recruited to spread the word about the America's Cup World Series races in Plymouth in September.
The city has printed 10,000 Service Excellence cards, packed with useful information about the prestigious international event.
Front-line customer service staff – including cabbies and private hire drivers, bus drivers, rail, retail and hospitality staff – will become ambassadors for the city.
The America's Cup World Series is part of a global series of regattas that will finish with two boats contesting sport's oldest trophy in 2013.
Plymouth is the second stop in the event. Specially designed high-speed catamarans will battle it out over nine days on Plymouth Sound.
The 35mph craft will race to within metres of the shoreline, giving spectators on the Hoe and around the Sound a close-up view.
Ground-breaking technology will bring moment-by-moment action coverage to a big screen on the Hoe, with images broadcast from a shadowing helicopter and crew view cameras on each of the nine boats.
Plymouth is hoping for hundreds of thousands of visitors.
As part of the effort to get the city ready, cards are being distributed to employers this week, including the private hire firm Taxifirst, which is encouraging drivers and customer service staff to talk up the event to all passengers.
City council leader Vivien Pengelly said: "The America's Cup World Series is going to be a great opportunity to show off our city to people from around the world.
"We must offer visitors a first rate experience so they have a fantastic time, encourage them to come back and in doing so further enhance Plymouth's reputation as a great place to visit."
Lesley Shorrocks, vice-chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses in Plymouth, helped to create the cards.
She said: "This is a huge opportunity for city businesses and one that can really make the tills ring whatever kind of business you are in."
David Trace, managing director of Taxifirst, said: "As Plymouth's largest private hire firm we are proud to champion the city and will take every opportunity to talk up Plymouth and this fantastic event to our customers."
Businesses who want to find out more about the Service Excellence cards should contact Dave Lea at Plymouth City Council on 01752 307996.
For more information on the America's Cup World Series in Plymouth visit
www.visitplymouth.co.uk or follow on Twitter @PlymAmericasCup
Source; http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/Cabbies ... story.html
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