WA:West Australians told to smile for CHOGM

AAP General News (Australia)
08-10-2011
WA:West Australians told to smile for CHOGM

PERTH, Aug 10 AAP - A $200,000 training program will be rolled out across Western Australian
telling baristas, waiters and bar tenders to smile.

The customer service training program is aimed to lift the standards of restaurants,
cafes and hotels across the state ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
(CHOGM).

WA Premier Colin Barnett said he hoped the `Service with a Smile' program will lead
to a "quantum leap in the level of customer service" in the state's hospitality, tourism
and retail sectors.

"I want WA to not only be known as this great mining state, as this state that has
increasing ties with Asia (but) I want WA to be known for its people," Mr Barnett said.

The Australian Hotels Association (AHA) of WA has spent $200,000 on developing the
voluntary training program which is the first of its kind in the country.

Bradley Woods, chief executive of the AHA WA, said the program was not about whether
the state had bad customer service or not but about ensuring industry was committed to
consistently delivering high standards.

"WA doesn't have a bad reputation in comparison to other states for poor customer service
and for anyone to suggest we have the worst customer service is wrong," Mr Woods said.

He said the key priority of the program was to ensure excellent customer service during
CHOGM but it would also benefit local and tourists in the long term.

CHOGM will be held in Perth in late October, with world leaders from more than 50 countries
expected to attend as well as a visit by the Queen.

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KEYWORD: CUSTOMER

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