The 2013 Texas Friendly Hospitality Instructor Training at Texas A&M University in College Station saw literally hundreds of hospitality professionals attend.

Longview Tourism Services Manager Margie Harris and Longview Mainstreet Manager Kayla Cantey, both Longview Chamber of Commerce members, were in attendance. The Chamber’s commitment to providing development programs and building community leadership was well served by this seminar’s specialized training in how to better serve and impress visitors to Longview. Offered three times yearly, this event instructs hospitality providers with everything Texas has to offer and on how to be Texas Friendly.

The Texas Friendly Hospitality Instructor Training enables business and community leaders to become friendship ambassadors for their communities. Following this training participants are qualified to present Texas Friendly customer service workshops by acting as volunteers for the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. The two-part workshops consisted of two four-hour sessions over a two-day period. The initial afternoon session concentrated on how to carry out information-based reviewing methods, activities, and various Texas-friendly curricula. The second day provided a morning interactive session in which participants participated in play-role sessions based on information given the previous day.

ETR staff report