Bontoc, Mountain Province- The Department of Tourism (DOT) in coordination with the Bontoc Local Government Unit (LGU) through the Municipal Tourism Office conducted a seminar on Filipino Brand of Service Excellence (FBS) on October 19-20, 2021, at the Samoki Valley Inn Extension, Samoki, Bontoc, Mountain Province.
According to Training Coordinator Hilary Abuel of the DOT-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), the activity aimed to apply the FBS way of interacting with guests and delivering a branded way of service excellence.
Abuel also expressed her appreciation for the positive response of the tourism frontliners in the municipality who actively participated in the lectures and activities during the seminar.
A total of 42 participants composed of tricycle drivers and operators, tour guides, personnel from the Bontoc Municipal Police Station, and staff from the Municipal and Provincial Tourism Offices attended the said seminar.
FBS Trainer Marybeth Yu So discussed several topics highlighting the 7Ms (Maka-May Likha, Makatao, Makakalikasan, Makbansa, Masayahin, May Bayanihan, May Pag-asa) of branded Filipino service.
Apart from the lectures of service excellence, she introduced several individual and group activities which encouraged creativity, innovation, cooperation and resourcefulness.
Participants from the various sectors expressed their profound gratitude to the DOT and the Bontoc LGU for the provision of said seminar.
“We are very thankful to the DOT for initiating this kind of training since we learned a lot of useful customer service skills that we can use once we open our doors for tourism activities,” a participant said.
Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey remarked that such trainings are necessary for the skills development of the tourism stakeholders as the tourism industry transitions to recovery.
“The tourism industry plays a vital role in the local and national economy. Thus, our frontliners from the tourism industry need to be re-equipped and re-tooled with skills to cope with the new normal of the tourist industry,” the mayor added. // Christy Mae Che-es, Bontoc LGU