A new, online training program is providing a fun and easy way for local hospitality employees to learn about Brunswick & The Golden Isles. The eLearning program, introduced by the Brunswick-Golden Isles Convention & Visitors Bureau, is among the first of its kind in the U.S., according to Bill Tipton, executive director of the Brunswick-Golden Isles CVB.
“Brunswick-Golden Isles eLearning is one of the travel industry’s most comprehensive education and hospitality programs,” Tipton explained. “It is a free, online study program about Brunswick and the Golden Isles, designed to familiarize local hospitality employees with all our area has to offer.”
Though designed primarily for local hotel and restaurant employees, the basic program also has the potential for international marketing and education, pending further development. “The eLearning program was developed for our industry partner employees,” Tipton explained. “We believe that knowledgeable hospitality employees are the most effective ambassadors for our destination. With additional work, the program can be a great teaching tool for tour operators and travel agents overseas.”
ELearning is a multifaceted educational program that incorporates courses and activities on four key subject areas: History and Heritage, Nature and Outdoors, Food and Shopping, and Events and Attractions. Short training modules use a broad range of interactive media including animations, sound and videos. The modules are designed to provide an engaging, informative and fun learning experience.
Each subject area is organized with a series of lessons, each of which requires five minutes or less of study. Upon completion of the lessons, the user is given a quiz with questions that correspond to each lesson. A correct answer yields a dancing sand dollar; an incorrect response results an in invitation to try again. At the end of the quiz, the user is asked to enter his or her name and contact information.
After successfully completing all four quizzes, the user will receive a certificate and lapel pin that identifies him or her as a “Destination Ambassador.”
The BGI eLearning Program was developed by the CVB in cooperation with ITI Marketing, Inc. Based in Brunswick, ITI Marketing specializes in hospitality and travel industry education as well as online and mobile marketing. ITI Marketing has created seven interactive eLearning programs, which cumulatively have enrolled more than 3,000 hospitality employees and more than 6,000 travel industry professionals.
To access the BGI eLearning Program, go to the Brunswick-Golden Isles CVB’s official website – ComeCoastAwhile.com – and click on the “BGI eLearning” button near the bottom of the page.
The Brunswick-Golden Isles Convention & Visitors Bureau is the Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for the mainland city of Brunswick and four barrier islands: St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island. Through an array of destination marketing programs and activities, the CVB encourages travel by individuals, business travelers and groups. For travel information, contact them at (800) 933-COAST (2627) or visit them online at www.ComeCoastAwhile.com.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Patrick Saylor, Public Relations Director
Faulkenberry Certain
Phone: 912.638.7770 or 912.230.5030
Email: psaylor@comecoastawhile.com
