Nearly five hundred taxi drivers, waiters, hotel staff and managers of service companies in the capital city started learning better customer service. They attend free-of-charge sessions offered by the hospitality project “Vilnius’09 Invites” of the National Programme “Vilnius – European Capital of Culture 2009”. Running until the end of December, training will involve a total of 400 service staff and around 100 managers.
“Project participants are invited to the training designed specially for the management and staff of catering institutions, hotels and tourist companies, taxi services and shopping centres. Apart from theory materials, training involves practical sessions for each sphere of services. Workshops offer video training and case studies, where participants will address simple to sophisticated situations involving customers and subordinates,” “Vilnius’09 Invites” Project Manager Eglė Dilkienė said.
In addition, during training staff and managers of service companies will be introduced to the National Programme “Vilnius – European Capital of Culture 2009”. Hopes are that this helps them to provide visitors with more valuable information about culture and art projects in 2009.
The aim of hospitality project “Vilnius’09 Invites” is to encourage Vilnius citizens to be hospitable hosts of the capital city and help the staff in the tourism and service sector to become more friendly, smile more and ensure broad publicity for the National Programme “Vilnius - European Capital of Culture 2009”. This year the project involves 300 friendly spots whereas plans are to include more next year.
In August the project participants decorated themselves in “Vilnius’09 Invites” symbols. Spots in Vilnius marked in special logos now have stands with information about the events of the National Programme “Vilnius – European Capital of Culture 2009” in Lithuanian and foreign languages. All companies, institutions and organisations involved in the hospitality project “Vilnius’09 Invites” are listed here. Organisers of the project hope that also after 2009 Vilnius remains the city of living culture – hospitable and smiling.
About the national programme “Vilnius – European Capital of Culture 2009”
“European capitals of culture has been the most successful culture project of the European Commission, which has involved over thirty European cities to date. Plans are that the National Programme “Vilnius – European Capital of Culture 2009” will offer more than 900 culture, art and social events, which will attract over 3 million people.
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