Organizations Find Hospitality Training Vital to Success

The 2016 Blue Ridge Hospitality Training workshops held in partnership with Biltmore and four community colleges are being hailed as vitally important to the success of many types of businesses. Below are the research and mystery shopping results:

Final Summary Report of Research Findings by Magellan Strategy Group for the 2016 Blue Ridge Heritage Hospitality Training

Final 2016 Mystery Shopping Report by Confero

Testimonials from the Training

“Thank you all for working so hard to make this grant possible in our county and in WNC. Everyone I was able to network with very pleased. We will relay all of our Hospitality Learning to our Downtown Waynesville neighbors and guests. We are smiling!”
Buffy Phillips
Executive Director
Downtown Waynesville Association

“The workshop was fantastic and I thought of several ways to link lodging and Agritourism.”
Debra Sloan, North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Agribusiness Development

“Great workshop! Good facility, equally good presentations, delicious lunch, warm welcome, well worth it. We had six people attend.”
Harris Prevost, Vice President, Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation

Part of the program was presented by Biltmore’s Center for Professional Development and focused on their “Gracious Hospitality” customer service ideals. Participants worked in small groups and offered ideas of their own with a sticky note board exercise. The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership provided information to help hospitality workers know more about what there is to see and do in their areas.

Below is a list of those who participated with links to their businesses.

Participants at Southwestern Community College

Participants at Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute:

Participants at Haywood Community College:

Participants at Mayland Community College

The workshops were funded in part by grants from Duke Energy, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, and the Appalachian Regional Commission and a generous in-kind contribution from The Biltmore Company.