By Gretchen Millich, WKAR News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-980297.mp3
Lansing, MI – Thousands of people visit the Lansing area every year. They come on business, for conventions, or to go to a Spartan game, and they spend money on hotels, restaurants and shopping in local stores.
The Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau wants those people to have a great time, so they'll come back. Last year, they started a program called "Certified Tourism Ambassadors". Since then, more than 300 people have been trained. WKAR's Gretchen Millich has our story.
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Julie Pingston's job is to promote Lansing. She's with the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau. She trains people on the front lines of hospitality, such as hotel and restaurant employees, to help visitors find fun things to do in Lansing.
"We train them to know more about the community, to be proud of the community," says Pingston. "So that they don't have a visitor come up to them and say "What is there to do in this area?" and they say "Um, nothing." That's our worst fear."
Pingston's worst fear begs the question: what is there to do in Lansing?
"It's funny, that's where we spend most of our time," she says. "And by the time we finish going through all the things there are to see and do, we often ask if anyone still thinks there's nothing to do."
The course for Certified Tourism Ambassadors covers what's called the core of the Lansing area. That includes East Lansing, downtown Lansing, Old Town and REO Town. It also touches on outlying areas, like Grand Ledge, Williamston and St. Johns. Ambassadors even learn about "destination shopping," because some people come to Lansing specifically to go to shops such as Preuss Pets and Elderly Instruments. At the end of the course, they come away with a wealth of knowledge about Lansing.
Geoff Parkerson is with Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center at Michigan State University. He and many of his staff are Tourism Ambassadors. The front desk is a busy place this week. One person after another comes looking for information.
Paul Wieckowski from southeast Michigan is attending a week-long conference at the Kellogg Center. He needs some art supplies.
"We have to make some posters for the presentation we have to give," says Wieckowski. "We need markers and glue sticks and poster board."
Parkerson suggests an office supply store at the Frandor shopping center and offers Wieckowski a ride.
Juliet Johnson from Portland, Oregon is also attending a conference. She's looking for a yoga class and a health-food store.
"I have a strict diet," says Johnson. "I'm vegan and gluten-free. I know that the food at the conference also has some vegan and gluten-free options, but I tend to be a little bit picky, so I'm going to buy some stuff myself."
The staff gives her directions to a health food store, while Parkerson fields more questions. Where should we eat tonight? Are there any art museums around here? He says he's always been able to handle queries graciously, but since training as a Tourism Ambassador, he knows a lot more about Lansing, especially about cultural events.
"There's Wharton Center and the different playhouses, all kinds of concerts," says Parkerson. "We just had the music festival Common Ground. It's a great opportunity for someone who's in town to see someone they would never have a chance to see. There's also Lugnuts baseball and MSU sporting events. It gives us a chance to sell not only the university, but also the city and the state."
So far, 316 people have become Tourism Ambassadors since the program began last summer. Many are from hotels and restaurants, but Julie Pingston with the Convention Bureau says realtors, police officers, even students find this kind of training helpful.
"I'm putting together a class right now for the Michigan State University Student Alumni Foundation," says Pingston. "These are the students that help with tours of all the perspective students that are coming in. They obviously know about campus, but this is going to broaden their experience to know more about the whole region."
Pingston says the Convention Bureau wants ambassadors to have personal experience with what Lansing has to offer. To keep their certification current, they must visit some of the shops, restaurants and other venues they're recommending to visitors.