The Prince George Airport became the first airport to achieve WorldHost certification on Tuesday.
The WorldHost program is a customer service training program offered by the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation. WorldHost is a continuation of the former SuperHost program offered by the province.
WorldHost training services manager Yavhel Velazquez said up to 100 employees of the airport authority, airport retailers and airline staff will receive the training. Velazquez presented the airport with a certification plaque at the Northern B.C. Tourism Association annual general meeting in Prince George on Tuesday.
"In addition to creating that great customer service... it demonstrates that leadership," Velazquez said. "While the success of the this airport depends on many factors... it's your people who make the difference."
Prince George Airport Authority vice-chairperson Les Waldie said the goal is to engage everyone from the security staff to the baggage handlers in making customers' experiences positive.
"It's helped them really identify with the job," Waldie said. "It's all about improving customer service for all of us who use the facility. This recognition really means the airport is working hard to engage staff in customer service."
Award winners
The Northern B.C. Tourism Association also honoured four other tourism industry leaders in the North.
Fort St. James National Historic Site received the Educator Award for the introduction of a schedule of special events to increase the re-visitability of the site.
In 2010 Fort St. James National Historic Site reversed a 10-year trend of declining visitors with an 18 per cent increase in visitors.
The Protector Award was presented to Ray Collingwood of Spatsizi Wilderness Vacations for his tireless work advocating for the the preservation of the Spatsizi region north of Hazelton.
The Innovator Award went to Brian Hall of Smithers for his work developing backcountry ski trails in the Hankin-Evelyn Mountain Recreation Area near Smithers.
Hall said with the help of federal funding and Bulkley Valley Backpackers Society, they have been able to develop 56 kilometres of multi-use trails.
"We have had a 3,770 hectare area set aside for non-motorized use. We're trying to build a non-motorized recreation culture in the North," Hall said. "We're kind of hoping this will promote tourism in all of Northern B.C."
The Walter Smith Visionary Award was presented to Prince Rupert journalist, travel writer, historian, author and museum curator Gladys Young Blyth.
Young Blyth was first curator of the North Pacific Cannery National Historic Site in Prince Rupert and is the author of A History of Port Edward, Salmon Canneries: British Columbia North Coast, A History of Wales Island, B.C. and When God Opens the Door. She is also the author of two children's books, Someone to Walk With and Summer at the Cannery.
