Vernon Matters file photo

By Liam Verster

Familiarization Tour Day

Tourism Vernon and city strengthening relations to better serve visitors

May 17, 2024 | 1:15 PM

The City of Vernon and Tourism Vernon are working together with a goal of improving relationships between tourism staff and local attractions.

As part of the annual Familiarization Tour Day, front-line staff will get first-hand experiences at local tourism attractions.

This year’s event will see participants, mainly made up of hotel front desk staff, visit six businesses to gather information, go on educational tours and hear stories so they can provide authentic information about the experiences to visitors.

“By visiting local tourism attractions and businesses, as well as experiencing Vernon as a visitor would, participating front-line workers gain invaluable insights,” said Torrie Silverthorn, Manager of Tourism Vernon.

“These experiences equip them with the knowledge and understanding necessary to make informed recommendations to visiting guests.”

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The day is a cornerstone of the city’s Local Concierge Training Program, which aims to educate front-line staff within the accommodation sector. It also aligns with the priorities of Activating Local Pride and fostering tourism ambassadors, as outlined in Tourism Vernon’s Five Year Strategic Plan.

“It’s crucial that we invest in initiatives that elevate our tourism industry and empower our front-line staff to be true ambassadors for Vernon,” Mayor Victor Cumming said.

“Equipping them with firsthand experiences and knowledge, provides genuine connections to our city’s offerings that they can authentically share with visitors.”