Amish Country ambassador program
There are two things that make the businesses in Holmes County a cut above: the commitment to providing exceptional customer service and the willingness to cross-promote businesses throughout the area. It is for these reasons that the Holmes County Tourism Bureau has created the Amish Country Ambassador “Ask Me” Program.
“Ohio’s Amish Country is a premier tourism destination and we want visitors to see how committed the business people in our region are to customer service as one united, cohesive destination,” said Bonnie Coblentz, marketing coordinator for the Holmes County Tourism Bureau. “Our final objective is for visitors to go home and tell their friends, ‘We had the most wonderful trip to Amish Country. And it is amazing; wherever you go there are people in yellow aprons to help you with directions and recommendations. They were so friendly and helpful.’”
The program was kicked-off with an inaugural event on Tuesday, May 31, at the Berlin Hotel & Suites. Shasta Mast, executive director of the Holmes County Tourism Bureau, said, “We were thrilled with the response we received from tourism businesses interested in participating in the program. We have more than 70 ambassadors from 21 businesses who have committed their time and support to the program.”
Barry Hummel, owner of Hummel Insurance, addressed the newly inaugurated ambassadors during his customer service keynote speech. “What my dad envisioned years ago when tourists just began visiting this area is finally coming true.” When the Hummel Insurance office was located in downtown Berlin, Barry’s father, Paul Hummel, often mentioned that when he retired from the insurance business he would like to spend his days sitting on a bench outside the office, greeting visitors as they wandered through town and helping them with directions and suggestions of things to do during their visit. “He would have been excited about this program,” Hummel added.
Now, as tourists wander through Amish Country, there will be an army of ambassadors ready to greet them who are dedicated to making their visit an experience they can cherish. Visitors will be able to identify ambassadors by the yellow aprons or Amish Country Ambassador logo buttons they wear. “Ambassadors are encouraged to scout out Amish Country and become familiar with all of the great shops, attractions, restaurants, and hotels in the area so that when a visitor has a question they will know where to send them,” Coblentz said. “If visitors only knew how many hidden gems there are in Amish Country they would want to spend an extra day or book a return visit.”
Pat Schmucki Barker, assistant director of the Ohio Division of Travel and Tourism, attended the event to show support from the state level. She acknowledged the positive contribution they make to the tourism industry. In fact, for every dollar the division spends to promote tourism, $13 is returned in state and local taxes. The tourism industry contributed to Ohio’s economic recovery with 439,000 jobs and $38 billion in total sales last year.
According to Mast, that translates to 4,000 jobs and more than $140 million in direct traveler expenditures in Holmes County. “To put it into perspective, that means 22 percent of the jobs in Holmes County are tourism related. The ambassador program recognizes the importance of tourism to our economy by ensuring visitors have an exceptional experience while they’re here,” she said.
The ambassador program, therefore, will help ensure the sustainability and growth of the Holmes County tourism industry.
“Ohio’s Amish Country is a premier tourism destination and we want visitors to see how committed the business people in our region are to customer service as one united, cohesive destination,” said Bonnie Coblentz, marketing coordinator for the Holmes County Tourism Bureau. “Our final objective is for visitors to go home and tell their friends, ‘We had the most wonderful trip to Amish Country. And it is amazing; wherever you go there are people in yellow aprons to help you with directions and recommendations. They were so friendly and helpful.’”
The program was kicked-off with an inaugural event on Tuesday, May 31, at the Berlin Hotel & Suites. Shasta Mast, executive director of the Holmes County Tourism Bureau, said, “We were thrilled with the response we received from tourism businesses interested in participating in the program. We have more than 70 ambassadors from 21 businesses who have committed their time and support to the program.”
Barry Hummel, owner of Hummel Insurance, addressed the newly inaugurated ambassadors during his customer service keynote speech. “What my dad envisioned years ago when tourists just began visiting this area is finally coming true.” When the Hummel Insurance office was located in downtown Berlin, Barry’s father, Paul Hummel, often mentioned that when he retired from the insurance business he would like to spend his days sitting on a bench outside the office, greeting visitors as they wandered through town and helping them with directions and suggestions of things to do during their visit. “He would have been excited about this program,” Hummel added.
Now, as tourists wander through Amish Country, there will be an army of ambassadors ready to greet them who are dedicated to making their visit an experience they can cherish. Visitors will be able to identify ambassadors by the yellow aprons or Amish Country Ambassador logo buttons they wear. “Ambassadors are encouraged to scout out Amish Country and become familiar with all of the great shops, attractions, restaurants, and hotels in the area so that when a visitor has a question they will know where to send them,” Coblentz said. “If visitors only knew how many hidden gems there are in Amish Country they would want to spend an extra day or book a return visit.”
Pat Schmucki Barker, assistant director of the Ohio Division of Travel and Tourism, attended the event to show support from the state level. She acknowledged the positive contribution they make to the tourism industry. In fact, for every dollar the division spends to promote tourism, $13 is returned in state and local taxes. The tourism industry contributed to Ohio’s economic recovery with 439,000 jobs and $38 billion in total sales last year.
According to Mast, that translates to 4,000 jobs and more than $140 million in direct traveler expenditures in Holmes County. “To put it into perspective, that means 22 percent of the jobs in Holmes County are tourism related. The ambassador program recognizes the importance of tourism to our economy by ensuring visitors have an exceptional experience while they’re here,” she said.
The ambassador program, therefore, will help ensure the sustainability and growth of the Holmes County tourism industry.
Published: June 5, 2011
