Member Article

Meet and Greet cards help tourism and exporting

A North East business has launched new innovative Meet and Greet language guides aimed at increasing tourism and exports in the region and the UK.

Going Global Skills want to help businesses overcome communication barriers as well as improvingcustomer service and their very latest idea does just that. The guides come in a choice of 11 languages ranging from Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian to Spanish with everyday meet and greet phrases and how to pronounce them.

The business is a division of Academy Marketing Ltd which boasts more than 20 years experience working with businesses and organisations in the private and public sector Richard Sice, director explains:

“The purpose of the language guides was originally to be used to support tourism for major sporting events and they are evolving into a handy business tool for exporters. Imagine how wonderful it would be for clients, customers and visitors to be greeted in their own language.”

The North East Chamber of Commerce, which Richard has been a long serving member of, recently reported that 21% of businesses identified language and culture as barriers to entering the overseas market.

“Just last year alone more than 19 million visitors came to the region, tourism is big business and people in the North East are well known for their friendliness so think how much bigger a smile would be if they also said a few words in their customers language.”

“My vision is that eventually the cards will sit on reception desks in every hotel and guest house in the country.”

The business is constantly on the go visiting companies all over the UK and overseas so when it began to grow Richard decided to base his businessat the North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC). Richard explains:

“I decided to come to the BIC because of its great choice of accommodation starting from a virtual office to larger premises and the support that was on offer, not to mention the connections I have made so far through them, the facilities are first class and the staff are so friendly and polite.”

Louise Hardy, business mentor, added: “My role involves working with a variety of companies making the BIC a diverse place to do business and we understand that people work in many different ways. We pride ourselves in ensuring that virtual tenants get the same service.

“The BIC have always maintained a high interest from international delegates and we regularly get visitors from overseas, having used the language guides myself they really are a fantastic way of meeting and greeting people and I wish Richard all the best.”

To arrange a site visit to the BIC to view the business space available or to enquire about a virtual office, please call Donna Surtees on 0191 516 6066 or email space@ne-bic.co.uk

Separate Meet and Greet language guides can be purchased online at www.goingglobalstore.com or for more information on the business visit www.goingglobalskills.com

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sarah Spence .