Flying the Blue Flag

They’re the best of the best. And 40 more have graduated from the island’s Top Gun school of hospitality training, the Blue Flag Ambassador programme. 

The Department of Tourism recently hosted a reception at the Coco Reef Hotel for all Bermuda Blue Flag Certified Ambassadors to thank them for their years of dedicated service to Bermuda’s hospitality industry

The Blue Flag Ambassador Course has been the nucleus for tour guide training and certification for taxi drivers since the mid 1960’s and has grown over the years to include all hospitality workers in Bermuda. 

Tourism Minister Shawn Crockwell said in a press release: “Last week’s reception was a great event for our front line tourism ambassadors. These are the people who promote Bermuda directly to our visitors and it is important we recognize and thank them for the important work they do.” 

The programme’s objectives include learning about the importance of customer service and the Total Quality Management approach to hospitality.

This includes:

• How to interact with customers so that Bermuda exceeds their expectations as a destination;
• How the economic value of customer service impacts our economy;
• The historical development of Bermuda with quick key facts and special places of interest;
• Bermuda’s culture, political styles and our flora and fauna:
• And a new focus this year includes an overview of the National Tourism Plan and the five destination Hubs.

This course helps to build pride in the industry through the special recognition as a certified Blue Flag Ambassador, it also helps to create awareness of all aspects of our island and provides training to those who would like to excel in our hospitality industry.

Of the 220 certified Blue Flag Ambassadors, 160 attended the event and received a newly designed Blue Flag pin and a photo identification badge that can be carried in a wallet or worn in a plastic holder. 

Minister Crockwell said these two new recognition tokens will help our Blue Flag Ambassadors stand out going forward. Those who could not attend have been advised that they can collect their new pin and badge from the Department of Tourism.

For more information or to obtain Blue Flag Ambassador Pin and badge, contact [email protected]