Sunday, June 26, 2005
Smile for tourists, Sullivan County campaign urges
What's there to do around here, the undercover reporter asks the unofficial ambassadors of Sullivan County, clerks at convenience stores and gas stations. This is within a half-hour's drive of attractions like the Forestburgh Playhouse, the Monticello Raceway racino and more lakes, streams and golf courses than you can count.
"No idea," says a clerk who doesn't look up from the lottery machine spitting out tickets.
"Go to Middletown," says another clerk, who does step from behind a hot dog grill to help.
Finally, someone is specific.
"Go to White Lake for boating and jet skiing," says the clerk. "And the Concord has golf. But that's about it."
That's not it in Sullivan County, where tourism is worth more than $200 million per year.
But that's the attitude that needs to change, say the organizers of the county's new hospitality campaign, "Be Proud of Your Sullivan Smile," which kicked off yesterday with a Chamber of Commerce breakfast at Kutsher's Country Club.
"That's absolutely the type of behavior we're trying to correct," says Les Kristt, fingering a Sullivan Smile button at the breakfast attended by about 50 members who noshed pastries like prune rugelach.
After all, 67 percent of customers who leave a business cite an employee's bad attitude, says keynote speaker Rod Decker, head of Delaware County's County Shopper.
Who better to explain hospitality than another speaker, the grand dame of the Catskills, Helen Kutsher? With a firm handshake and warm smile, she's welcomed thousands to the county for more than half a century.
As a girl, she asked her mother what to do when a "just looking" guest walks in the hotel at lunch time.
"What would you do if a guest walked into your home?" her mother asked.
"Give them coffee and cake," Helen replied.
Then that's what you should do here, her mother said.
"Always remember this is your house and that's the way you should treat your guests," says "Mrs. K," whose mother made her practice that firm handshake every day.
Not everyone is Helen Kutsher. That's why Sullivan Smile is the first step in a campaign that includes ads, hospitality awards, "good behavior" handbooks and reaching out to the future work force in the county's schools.
"It is going to take some work to adjust some attitudes toward a positive slant," says Kristt.
So after the meeting, the undercover reporter checks one last attitude.
"Go to the racino and White Lake," says the convenience store clerk.
And?
The clerk shrugs.
How do you get there?
He points to a map of Sullivan, hidden behind a jar of pickles.
http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2005/06/24/hospital.htm
What's there to do around here, the undercover reporter asks the unofficial ambassadors of Sullivan County, clerks at convenience stores and gas stations. This is within a half-hour's drive of attractions like the Forestburgh Playhouse, the Monticello Raceway racino and more lakes, streams and golf courses than you can count.
"No idea," says a clerk who doesn't look up from the lottery machine spitting out tickets.
"Go to Middletown," says another clerk, who does step from behind a hot dog grill to help.
Finally, someone is specific.
"Go to White Lake for boating and jet skiing," says the clerk. "And the Concord has golf. But that's about it."
That's not it in Sullivan County, where tourism is worth more than $200 million per year.
But that's the attitude that needs to change, say the organizers of the county's new hospitality campaign, "Be Proud of Your Sullivan Smile," which kicked off yesterday with a Chamber of Commerce breakfast at Kutsher's Country Club.
"That's absolutely the type of behavior we're trying to correct," says Les Kristt, fingering a Sullivan Smile button at the breakfast attended by about 50 members who noshed pastries like prune rugelach.
After all, 67 percent of customers who leave a business cite an employee's bad attitude, says keynote speaker Rod Decker, head of Delaware County's County Shopper.
Who better to explain hospitality than another speaker, the grand dame of the Catskills, Helen Kutsher? With a firm handshake and warm smile, she's welcomed thousands to the county for more than half a century.
As a girl, she asked her mother what to do when a "just looking" guest walks in the hotel at lunch time.
"What would you do if a guest walked into your home?" her mother asked.
"Give them coffee and cake," Helen replied.
Then that's what you should do here, her mother said.
"Always remember this is your house and that's the way you should treat your guests," says "Mrs. K," whose mother made her practice that firm handshake every day.
Not everyone is Helen Kutsher. That's why Sullivan Smile is the first step in a campaign that includes ads, hospitality awards, "good behavior" handbooks and reaching out to the future work force in the county's schools.
"It is going to take some work to adjust some attitudes toward a positive slant," says Kristt.
So after the meeting, the undercover reporter checks one last attitude.
"Go to the racino and White Lake," says the convenience store clerk.
And?
The clerk shrugs.
How do you get there?
He points to a map of Sullivan, hidden behind a jar of pickles.
http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2005/06/24/hospital.htm
Comments:
Post a Comment
