Do you think this is a necessary preparation for the 2015 Rugby World Cup or is it just an unnecessary cost for the city of Gloucester? There is not a big focus on customer service in Europe (especially Spain) so will the fans even appreciate this? Should they be putting more focus on the games? Is this pushing the tournament into more of a business than a sport?
Sources:
http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/Customer-service-polished-Gloucester-ahead-2015/story-23346925-detail/story.html
http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/6_l-MqLLfCj/London+2012+UK+Landmarks+Gloucester+Cathedral/YLqp6wKC2I9
http://www.heart.co.uk/gloucestershire/news/local/hartpury-college-chosen-as-world-cup-base/
While I understand that Gloucester is trying to get its name on the map and sees the rugby world cup as a way to increase tourism, I wonder if there would be a more effective use of money than training people for customer service. As you said, customer service is more attractive for people from outside of Europe and I do not see there being many non-Europeans traveling to the cup. This may be wrong to assume though. Do you think the money would be better spent cutting hotel rates or increasing traffic control etc rather than on customer service training?
ReplyDeleteI agree that the money could have been used in a different way to get Gloucester on the map or that lowering hotel prices could have been a good option too. I am not exactly sure what type of transportation Gloucester has to and from bigger cities in England but improving the transportation system could have been a better way to utilize their resources.
DeleteI also think that they might have been looking at the US as a model for successful events and they might have attributed customer service to that success and now are trying to implement that to get Gloucester on the map. They are also looking to expand their fan base to the US and so by focusing on something that is important to US fans could be a good first step to increasing the number of US fans.
People remember people. Either good or bad. Gloucester wants to make a memorable impact and its service industry is going to interact with the largest number of people. I see it as money well spent for the town.
DeleteWhile I agree that in certain situations people will remember people, at something such as a sporting event, let alone a World Cup, what is most remembered is the experience of the game and atmosphere of the surroundings. I will remember the chants, stadium and plays of the Barcelona game I attended, but not the attendant who let me into my section, or made me throw out my water. I think it's money poorly spent.
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