Hospitality and Customer Service

There are four elements to the Office of Tourism's hospitality and customer service efforts. Each one is beneficial on their own, but taken together they provide opportunities for you and your employees to excel at making your business and South Dakota something visitors will rave about.

1. Great Service Star Program

This program is a way to identify and recognize businesses that complete a set of service-related criteria. Businesses meeting the criteria are awarded a symbol to use in their marketing and post at their business to demonstrate to visitors their commitment to "Great Service." Receipt of the Great Service Star designation automatically qualifies a business for consideration for the George S. Mickelson Great Service Award.

2. Governor's Hospitality Certificate Program

Governor's Hospitality Certificates are awarded to employees who demonstrate excellent customer service within a calendar year. An employee must be nominated by his or her supervisor for this program.

3. Online Customer Service Training

Primarily for front-line employees, this training is a series of eight skills that can be completed entirely online. After successful completion, employees receive certificates of completion and businesses receive certificates of participation, suitable for display.

4. Training sessions at the annual Tourism Conference and in partnership with local businesses and organizations.

FOR INFORMATION

Please contact Eileen Bertsch for more information at 605-773-3301 or  Eileen.Bertsch@state.sd.us.