August was another busy month and I was fortunate to be invited to attend the Tourism Symposium covering Tourism business &operators on the North Coast up to the border. One very interesting speaker was Darryl Wade who is the CEO of Intrepid Adventure Company. He made a point that I believe all of us in business are guilty of “Too much experience on Hardware, we need to add value on the Software side human experience/interactions” not just good service but human conversation and interaction. Make the planning appear spontaneous. Plan circumstances to ensure moments happen. For example, getting someone a glass of water before they even knew they were thirsty. Having the structures is great but the magic happens outside the structure where the interaction, personal contact happens. This is where we can build a great town built on experiences for locals and tourists alike. Something very important heading into summer and the Christmas season. To do this we must let staff be themselves with not too much scripted dialogue.
Another important point Darryl made was in regards to retaining staff. In Darryl’s experience he has found that it’s rarely about the money, but more about mutual trust & respect. Employers need to invest in their staff and show them they are appreciated. A bit of liberty is particularly good for improving the experience of customers. It’s the experiences that people don’t expect that they talk about the most. What experiences are you giving your customers?
Have you attended one of our coffee catch ups? We hold these1st Wednesday of the Month at the Corner Restaurant (cnr Clarence St& Munster Sts). This is a great way to meet other local business people in a very relaxed casual setting. Come have a coffee with us sponsored &supplied by Macquarie Waters Boutique Motel. To register go to www.businessportmacquarie.com.au.
Thanks to Todd Bates from McGrath Port Macquarie, we have been very fortunate to secure John McGrath for our September Boardroom Lunch on the 19th September. John is a well respected speaker, previous judge of The Block and renowned Real Estate professional. John will bespeaking not only on the housing market but also on going the extra mile to achieve your goals. Proudly sponsored by Mainyard.
In the office Malcolm and Kylie have been very busy listening to your feedback on what you would like to see from our Network opportunities but also feedback on our membership packages and value to members. Taking all of this on board as well as moving with the times, we are upgrading our membership offerings to ensure you get more value. Keep your eyes open for our new Membership launch.
Quote of the month- “People don't buy what you do; they buy why you do it. And what you do simply proves what you believe.” – Simon Sinek
Have a great month
Alex