Great Falls Chamber helps city tune in to tourism-Destination Great Falls! trains businesses to deal with visitors

In her work as a room attendant at the Best Western Heritage Inn, Patty Greenough says guests often look to her for advice on their travel plans in and around the Electric City.

By BETH BRITTON
Tribune Business Editor

"Oh, we’re asked all the time," she said. Greenough moved to Great Falls from Wyoming just three years ago, however, and she admits that she too is experiencing many of Great Falls’ attractions for the very first time. It can be difficult pointing visitors in new directions, she said.

Enter Destination Great Falls! and its free training program, which began Tuesday for about 50 of the city’s service workers who interact daily with visitors from out of town.

Destination Great Falls! is the new name for the Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce’s Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Chamber President Rick Evans said the training’s goal is to get the management at local businesses to train their employees for successful interaction with tourists. The training videos will be available at the chamber, 710 1st Ave. N., he said.

"The more you can make them see the things to do the more their money gets circulated in our community," said session leader Art Taft of KRTV. "Be the best front-line people in the development of tourism and it will pay you back. You can be the most important factor in helping visitors enjoying their Great Falls experience."

The Great Falls Area Lodging Association sponsored Tuesday’s training session.

Heritage room attendant Lindsey Duprey said Tuesday’s meeting provided her with more ideas.

"This showed me things I can learn about and show others," she said.

For information on Destination Great Falls! or the training, call the Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce at 761-4434.

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