Newbies in the Tourism Biz Get Behind-the-Scenes Look at Laguna Beach

On Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014, Visit Laguna Beach led 30 front-line hospitality staff members on a five-hour Insider’s Laguna: Destination Training & Tour. This complimentary bi-annual training was designed three years ago to familiarize new hires and to provide an informative update for current employees of lodging establishments in Laguna Beach and the surrounding area.

This single-course session showcases exclusive insider information about Laguna Beach’s most popular attractions, historical landmarks, new businesses, upcoming happenings and events, and much more. From simple parking tips to planning the most detailed of itineraries, this session aims to equip staff members with the ability to provide each guest with everything from answers to simple questions to an individually tailored, ideal Laguna Beach experience.

“We know the more our hotel concierge and other staff knows about everything there is to see and do in Laguna Beach, the bigger the opportunity for us to extend the visitor’s stay,” said Karyn Philippsen, Chairman of the Board of Visit Laguna Beach. “We would like to encourage all Orange County hotel properties to sign-up their front-line staff including concierges, bellmen and valet attendees so they can further their knowledge of what Laguna Beach has to offer their guests.”

“The most recent training filled up the first day it was announced,” said Ashley Johnson, Director of Marketing for Visit Laguna Beach. “Due to the overwhelming response from hotels and their staff members, Visit Laguna Beach has decided to add two additional Spring training tour dates: Wednesday, April 23 and Wednesday, May 21, in addition to the already scheduled tour on Wednesday, June 18, 2014.”

The training began on the Sawdust Art Festival grounds with a demonstration by fused glass artist Maggie Spencer, followed by a hands-on Sawdust Studio Art Class. Attendees were then taken on a scripted driving tour of the Canyon, and North and South Laguna. Other points of interest included a behind-the-scenes tour of Pageant of the Masters, Nix Nature Center and the Pacific Marine Mammal Center. The tour culminated with a hosted Mediterranean-themed lunch at The Rooftop Lounge atop Hotel La Casa del Camino.

Tour participants represented the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce, Surf & Sand Resort and Spa, La Casa del Camino, Aliso Creek Inn, Casa Laguna Inn, The Retreat in Laguna, The Tides, St. Regis Monarch Beach, The Resort at Pelican Hill and The Waterfront Beach Resort Huntington Beach.

To date, more than 350 participants have completed the Insider’s Laguna: Destination Training & Tour. For more information, or to sign up a staff member, please contact Visit Laguna Beach at 949.497.9229, or email ashley@visitlagunabeach.com.

About Visit Laguna Beach

Visit Laguna Beach is celebrating 28 years of commitment to Laguna Beach and the tourism industry, and is located at 361 Forest Avenue, Suite 200, with its Visitors Center at 381 Forest Avenue. The Official Visitors Center is open daily, Monday – Sunday from 10 am-5 pm.