Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2017 8:47 am
BI - Sharin' The Dream
1) Back to One Hundred Thousand Welcomes! Post signs at the dock, marinas, airports, Community Center and through out the harbor. Not just signs but let it be our mantra. Greet people with the greeting in English or Gaelic. Let it become ingrained in our lexicon.
2) Put together a continuous video in 5 minute segments featuring any and all businesses or other organizations where a representative of that property greets people and tells them what the business/org has to offer, who they are, where they are located and when they are open. Have the video play a couple of loops on the Emerald Island on its way to the Island. By the time visitors arrive, they will not only feel welcome but know a lot more about us and what they might want to see or how to spend their time.
3) Seek funding for a Hop & Stop trolley that runs during day trip boats or other times and events. Many people coming to visit are not ambulatory enough to walk from the dock to the lighthouse and back let alone see the businesses we have to offer. Have the trolley make a loop through the harbor, back Highway, DB Road to the Resale, Lodges, Gene's garden, library, passed the school, church and museum. People could buy a day ticket with unlimited stops and hops.
4) Develop a map of the harbor all points of interest to include businesses. Eventually have it be a GPS map.
5) Provide walking tour map for interested people, guided or unguided.
6) Have volunteer greeters meet the day boats with a welcome sign indicating they are there to answer any questions visitors might have about the Island.
7) Have a welcome kiosk in front of the Community Center. It's a wonderful place but somewhat intimidating to go inside for people who might know what it is or what is has to offer. The kiosk can again be staffed during boat times to further answer questions.
Make a BI Passport folder that looks like a real passport and contains brief brochures promoting the Island, its businesses, organizations, events and harbor map. Have coupons in it from businesses. Great for handing out to visitors or to send to friends, family or anyone you know who is planning a trip to the Island. We had these back in Chuck Hooker's days with the Chamber.9) Purchase inexpensive pins and buttons promoting BI. One Hundred Thousand Welcomes in Gaelic, silhouette of the Island or a beaver, Island slogans as seen on this posting, etc. Anything people can wear after leaving the Island and have it be a conversation starter.
10) Provide a hospitality training seminar at the beginning of each season for all who want to participate and learn how to better serve visitors and patrons.
11) Have volunteers go to resort conventions or trade shows around the state or even out of state to promote BI.
12) Develop a Welcome Wagon concept for people moving to the Island, making a personal call on the newcomers, welcoming them, answering questions, providing written material and coupons from businesses.
13) Have a Host Family concept in addition to the above so if a family is moving here with children match them with a Island family with children so they can call on the newcomers, welcome them and answer questions. It doesn't have to long or complicated, it's the gesture that counts. This would work for single people also, retirees or couples without children.
14) Embrace the Irish heritage and traditions. If one goes to Frankenmuth they know it's German, in Holland you know it's Dutch. Show off our heritage. Be as warm and welcoming as Ireland. Come to Ireland, the Emerald Isle, without leaving the country.
There are many more ideas, we just need to set our minds to what we have to offer and therefore what we have to gain. If a visitor has a bad experience they tell 12 others about it, if they have a good experience they tell 6 others. We have to start working twice as hard.
I would be happy to volunteer for any of these ventures and I know others would also. Everything to gain, nothing to lose.
