Taxi Driver Online

April 1, 2008 Tuesday

Training course for taxi drivers

Hampshire Chronicle

TAXI drivers in Winchester are being offered a free one-day customer care training course.

The event, Welcome to Winchester, will take place on Monday, April 14, at the West Wing, Winchester Guildhall, adjacent to the Broadway taxi rank.

Welcome to Winchester has been organised by Winchester City Council's tourism service in conjunction with the regional tourism agency, Tourism South East.

It has been tailored specifically to meet the needs of taxi drivers based in the Winchester district and uses the nationally recognised Welcome Host programme.

The course, a version of which was piloted in Southampton and Portsmouth, will help drivers to hone their customer service skills and improve their knowledge of what the Winchester district can offer visitors.

Alison Woods, Winchester tourist information centre manager said: "First impressions are important and a taxi ride often provides a visitor's first impression of our lovely city.

"Our taxi drivers already provide a great service but this course could help make the service even better: an outstanding service for an outstanding city."

Eloise Appleby, Winchester City Council's Head of Cultural Services added: "We are committed to raising standards across the tourism industry, and have taken a lead in doing so with our award-winning tourist information centre.

"Better service should mean more business, and we are keen to see all local businesses benefit from visitor spend in the district. As a City Council we already work closely with taxi drivers in a licensing role, and we hope this opportunity will strengthen and develop that relationship."

For further information, visit www.welcometoexcellence.co.uk or pop into Winchester Tourist Information Centre. Spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. To book your place, contact Gill Heighington at Tourism South East on tel: 023 8062 5436 or email: gheighington@tourismse.com
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