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i a Staff are the 'front line' Attitude to tourists important, meeting told BY MURRAY MOORE A consultant with the Ministry of Tourism and Recreation speaking about. tourism, in Midland on Tuesday, stressed the importance of attitude when dealing with tourists. "The staff are the business in the eye of the customer," Anne Davis said. The staff of a business which deals with tourists are --the "front Jine,"' she said. A bad experience will stay with a visitor a lot longer than a number of good experiences, Davis said. A little extra in- terest can result in the repeat business that a businessman wants. Davis gave the example of a motel owner with a restaurant offering hot soup to a late arrival who had gone without an evening meal. SPECIAL FEATURES Most towns have only' a few special features that separate them from all the other towns a tourist might visit, Davis said. The correct strategy is to take ad- vantage of the special features that a town has, in Midland and area's case, the historical _ attractions and Georgian Bay. People need a reason fo visit an area, Davis said. The place and the product has to be right, as well as the price. The fourth element is promotion. Tourists today are attracted to experiences that are both = en- tertaining and educational, Davis said, entertaining in the sense of a person being en- tertained while involved in a learning ex- perience, something as simple as skiing. AUDIENCE Liz Downer, manager of the Midland Business Improvement Area, a member of the audience at the Midland Chamber of Commerce-sponsored evening. agrees with Davis that attitude is very important. It is okay "to do a little pampering to get the return business that we really need,' she said. A summary of points made by Davis' will be included in the next issue of the BIA newsletter. Midland will be represented today through Sunday at a Travel Canada show in London, Ont., by Gale Niblock, representing the Midland Chamber of Commerce, and Carol Ashworth, representing the Highland Motel. PEOPLE Ashworth, an owner of Midland's largest motel, said she wished that more people. in- volved in the f6urist industry had gone to the meeting. She didn't learn anything new, but she went anyway. "Maybe | have missed something along the way, she said. nt haven't given up on learning." "We have to work together,"' Ashworth said. Ideas have to special change. The tourist suites, business to date in 1983 has not been good. Tourists are staying home and companies are not sending as many salesmen on the road, she said. bathtubs NEW IDEAS An example of a response of the Highland Motel to the need for change, for new Ward = Midland Bear Gale Niblock is in London, Ont., today. tomorrow and Sunday representing the Midland Chamber of Commerce at a Travel Canada show. Part of the Midland display is thz ideas, is the addition of honeymoon one completed and two more to follow. The suites offer sunken whirlpool bath for two. Nothing similar is available in Orillia or Barrie, Ashworth said, explaining hopes to draw people from those cities as well ~s local people. Midland Councillor Dan Herbert said yesterday he thinks that package deals, as described at the meeting by Carol Ash- worth, should' be promoted more than they are. The tourist committee of the Midland Chamber of Commerce might promote package deals, he said. Perhaps special discounts redeemable at BIA-member _-- stores could be included as 'is |} lle - and a that she cutout Midland Bear seen above, and three panels of cartoon figures illustrating the attractions of Midland and area, some of which is visible in the background. part of package tours to this area, package tours for example for a day on Georgian Bay out of Mid |saonid or Penetanguishene. "T think that Midland does have to make some sort of committment to tourism besides paying for the printing of brochures," the councillor said. Herbert noted that the chamber is doing a good job with its building at the town dock, and said that the proposed new building for the chamber on the waterfront is a good idea. a Tourism seminar Most of the available seats in the Midland council chamber were taken on Tuesday evening for a seminar held to take the mystery out of tourism. Members of eouncil, manager the town hand. Wally Midland BIA manager Liz Downer, and local business people were on Chamber of Commerce Cunningham, Career in newspapers leads to Great Britain Bill Jory, a native of Midland and a senior editor with the London Free Press, will study journalism in Great Britain for three months this summer through a journalism fellowship. Jory worked summers and part-time as a reporter with the Midland Free Press from 1965 to 1968 while attending Midland Secondary School. While attending the University of Western Ontario in London, he worked summers for Markle Community Newspapers as_ the editor of the Georgian Holiday. After graduating from Western's journalism program in 1972, he was the editor of the Collingwood Times and the district editor of the Guelph Daily Mercury, before joining the London Free Press. Rt Sr Bill Jory -- Emergency funding SCRCSSB has to move St. Louis Schoo! is apparent that it is time that it became a complete and separate On Wednesday the Simcoe County Roman Catholic Separate School Board decided to seek emergency funding from the entity," the committee said in its report. Ministry of Education to enable the board to buy land, and to build a school on that land, in Penetanguishene, for Ecole St. Louis. Ecole St. Louis and Ste. Croix School have been sharing the annex to St. Joseph School since 1980. The French Language Instructional Units committee of the separate school board in its report this week to the separate school board said that Ecole St. Joseph has indicated it wants more space in the shared school this September. "Ecole St. Louis has }a projected enrolment of 153 for September, 1983, including a kindergarten of 30 plus students. It Gladys Lillow of the Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts has an- nounced the names of the jurors for the First Annual Juried Craft Show. This show is to be held in conunction with the Third Annual Juried Art Show, April 23 to 30. Gordon Barnes is a well known juror who lives in Aurora and teaches at Seneca College. He is a man of many ~ talents, who _ teaches photography, pottery and ceramics, and computer technology, as well as maintaining an _ interest ~ in blacksmithing, jeweller and weaving. Michael Fortune of Toronto is a professiona] craftsman in wood, whose work appears in the Massey Collection. He has juried in the past, and has taught at Sheridan College. Susan Warner-Keene of Toronto is a professional weaver. She is also assistant editor of Craftsman Magazine, published by the Ontario Crafts Council. The Juried Craft Show is open to entries from artisans living in the counties of Bruce, Dufferin, Grey, "This conclusion has been reached following discussion among the senior staff of both boards and Ministry of Education officials,' the report continues. "Tt has been determined that there is a site available in Penetanguishene which would suit the need."' The separate school board is approaching the Ministry of Education on the basis that the needed money is in addition to the board's 1983 capital priorities. "Not the least of the priorities is an appropriate replacement for the demountable facilities currently housing St. Ann's School in Penetanguishene,"' says the instructional units committee. Jurors announced in 1st craft show ---- Simcoe and the District of Muskoka. Works may be in one or several media; the entry form lists clay, fibre, glass, leather, metal and wood. It is expected that at least some en- tries will cross these arbitrary categories. Each arusan may enter up to two pieces, andthe works will be juried on their merits without reference to these categories. Prizes will be awarded to a total of $600. The Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts office has already received inquiries from an interesting cross- section of artisans from the area. Potters, weavers, workers in wood, glass and many other media, have asked for entry forms. Forms have been sent to quilt-makers, doll makers and workers in slate. The show is expected to provide a very eclectic art experience for the public. For information and entry forms, contact the Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts, 22 Second St. Box 581, Collingwood, Ont. L9Y 4E8. Phone (705) 445-3430. Friday, April 8, 1983, Page 3