Arkansas Tourism Partners

The Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism coordinates a statewide hospitality development program that provides free tools to help educate frontline employees regarding local attractions and activities. Tourism workers are educated about things to see and do in their communities so that they can better inform visitors and encourage them to stay longer.

The goals

• To increase customers' satisfaction with an Arkansas vacation
• To better inform industry personnel regarding local and state attractions
• To improve customer service

The incentives
"Welcome to Arkansas" is based on providing incentives for frontline employees to learn more about what there is to see and do in their towns and across the state and to share the information with visitors. Representatives of lodging properties, chambers of commerce, A&Ps, CVBs and Welcome Centers help identify exemplary employees who provide extraordinary customer service.

How it works
Participating communities receive free supporting materials, including "Welcome to Arkansas" lapel pins, laminated area information cards and access to Arkansas video content, to be shared with area businesses.

Through these free materials and grass-roots participation, local tourism industry workers unite efforts to attract and retain tourists. Communities are asked to:

1. recruit local lodging, restaurant and attractions participants;
2. distribute the supporting materials to these organizations;
3. recognize outstanding employees; and
4. procure local incentives to reward those who display exemplary hospitality.

Each community appoints a "point person" to coordinate the team to accomplish these actions. Incentives are as simple as inexpensive gift certificates to gas stations, restaurants or grocery stores. All recognized employees are entered to win a grand prize given away at the annual Governor's Conference on Tourism.

Training is available
The Department offers "Hospitality in a Heartbeat," an excellent training program that educates both the employer and employee about what can be accomplished through superior customer service. A trainer comes to the community to conduct a session for the work force, explaining skills and concepts needed to make hospitality top priority every day.

Participating is easy
To learn more about bringing the "Welcome to Arkansas" program to your community, contact Scott Sudduth at scott@arhospitality.org or 501-376-2323. For information on the "Hospitality in a Heartbeat" training, contact Kristine Puckett at Kristine.puckett@arkansas.gov or 501-682-1676.