.Badge of Honour… Cathaoirleach of Tralee Municipal District Cllr. Terry O’Brien, with Proprietors Rory and Marnie O’Sullivan of Ballyseede Castle Hotel, Tralee, and Manager Hilla Jylhankangas, Cllr Jim Finnucane, Chairman ETB, Jean Foley, Tralee Municipal District Officer, and Mascot Irish Wolfhound ‘Molly’, who this week received their ‘Safe Destination’ Badge’. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
HOTELS, hospitality and visitor attractions across Kerry have begun to receive their ‘Safe Destination’ Badge following the completion by their staff of specialised training on cleanliness, hygiene and customer interaction in the COVID-19 environment.
Visitors returning to Kerry as the COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease can be assured that it is a safe destination to visit and stay thanks to the county’s Safe Destination Programme which involves the training of thousands of staff in the retail and hospitality industries in best practice cleaning protocols.
The ‘Safe Destination Kerry’ Programme, in association with Kerry County Council, Kerry Education and Training Board, the Kerry Branch of the Irish Hotels Federation, and the Kerry Tourism Industry Federation aims to reassure visitors returning the county that they can do so safe in the knowledge that staff are equipped with the skills and training to work safely under the current restrictions.
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Five premises – one in each of Kerry five Municipal Districts – were among those to receive their ‘Safe Destination’ Badge this week, including:
• Ballyseede Castle Hotel, Tralee
• The Thatch Bar and Restaurant, Lisselton
• The Boatyard Restaurant and Bar, Dingle
• Cahernane House Hotel, Killarney
• Shelburne Lodge Guesthouse, Kenmare
To receive the ‘Safe Destination’ designation, businesses must register with Kerry County Council to take part in the training course.
When their participation in the training is verified by the Kerry Education and Training Board, which is delivering the training, the business will receive their ‘Safe Destination’ badge and signage.
4,000 staff in the tourism and retails industries in the county are participating in training which has been devised and is being provided by the Kerry Education and Training Board.
Businesses and staff interested in participating in the training can register with Kerry County Council on its freephone Business Support Line on 1800 807 102 or business.support@kerrycoco.ie.
THE number of staff across the retail and hospitality sectors in Kerry taking part in specialised training on cleanliness, hygiene and customer interaction in the COVID-19 environment has now reached over 4,000 as Kerry continues to prepare for the return of visitors to the county.
The ‘Safe Destination Kerry’ Programme, in association with Kerry County Council, Kerry Education and Training Board, the Kerry Branch of the Irish Hotels Federation, and the Kerry Tourism Industry Federation has generated huge interest among Kerry businesses who will be provided with the new ‘Safe Destination’ Badge when their staff have completed training.
The aim of the training, which is being provided by the Kerry Education and Training Board, is to ensure that Kerry tourism and retail staff are trained in infection prevention, hygiene and cleanliness to the highest international standards as they reopen for business.
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Coupled with that ‘Safe Destination’ promotion will be an information campaign for visitors to the county to ensure that they are aware of and take their personal responsibilities seriously in relation to social distancing, cough etiquette and hand-washing guidelines.
“There has been enormous interest in the training being provided by the tutors in Kerry ETB as business prepare to open their doors to visitors again,” said Tourism Officer with Kerry County Council, John Griffin.
“This is about reassuring people who visit a hotel, a restaurant, a shop or any other premises that they can do so in the knowledge that staff have been trained to a high standard on how to deal with customers in the new environment. We want people to feel comfortable and safe when they visit the county as the local economy continues to be reopened and while certain restrictions remain in the interests of public safety.”
“However, we also want those visiting Kerry again to be mindful of the prevailing public health advice and the personal behaviours they need to follow to ensure the safety of themselves as well as others. This will include signage and advice in outlets and premises, much of which is already in place, to ensure that people are aware of their responsibilities,” he said.
“It is by combining a coordinated and effective approach by businesses and the adherence to the public health guidelines by individuals and families visiting the county that we will secure and maintain Kerry’s reputation as a safe destination to visit and stay,” he added.
Businesses and staff interested in participating in the training can register with Kerry County Council on its freephone Business Support Line on 1800 807 102 or business.support@kerrycoco.ie.
A MAJOR new programme of initiatives is being rolled out by Kerry County Council and other partners and agencies, to ensure that Kerry is a safe place to visit and stay as COVID-19 restrictions continue to be phased out over the coming weeks.
The goal is to make Kerry the safest and cleanest of destinations to visit and stay in.
Kerry County Council and its partners have launched a multifaceted ‘Safe Destination Programme’which will ensure that those who begin to visit and holiday in Kerry again can do so in the knowledge that it is a safe place to visit and stay. The Safe Destination Programme includes:
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• A bespoke training programme for tourism and retail staff
• A safer spaces plan for streets, shops and public spaces
• Preparing communities to welcome tourists back to the county
• A tourism marketing campaign to promote staycations in Kerry
The bespoke training programme for staff in the tourism and retail industries in the county has been rolled out by Kerry County Council and the Kerry Education and Training Board (ETB).
Over 2,000 employees have already signed up for the training. It aims to ensure that Kerry tourism and retail staff are trained in infection prevention, hygiene and cleanliness and dealing with customers in the new environment to the highest international standards as they reopen for business.
Business premises whose staff have completed the suite of training courses will receive the ‘Safe Destination’ badge.
Kerry County Council is also implementing a series of measures to ensure that towns and villages reopening for business are recognised as safe environments for commercial businesses to operate as well as for shoppers and visitors.
This includes a series of Safe Street and Safe Shopping initiatives developed with the business chambers and local communities.
Town Centre Mobility Plans are being implemented across each of the five Municipal Districts in the county and make provision for signage and revised parking arrangements to encourage social distancing.
The Council is also working with communities in the county to prepare for the return of visitors to the county, to ensure that residents and communities are reassured that the reopening of tourism is managed and in keeping with the national guidelines and advice.
Finally, the Safe Destination Programme will underpin a major marketing campaign to promote Kerry – to the domestic and staycation market – as travel restrictions continue to change over the coming weeks and months.
The marketing programme is being developed by the Kerry Tourism Industry Federation and Fáilte Ireland with the support of Kerry County Council and will be announced shortly.
Chief Executive of Kerry County Council, Moira Murrell said that Kerry had always been an exemplar in tourism and was now meeting the challenge posed by the new and evolving restrictions to ensure Kerry can welcome visitors back to county with the firm reassurance that is it safe to do so.
‘We want to reassure our visitors that they are safe in Kerry. We know that the tourism industry in Kerry is more impacted than any other in Ireland so that is why we are working to position the county to welcome visitors back to a destination which will implement and observe the highest standards of safety to restrict the spread of the coronavirus,’ she said.
The Chairman of the Kerry Education and Training Board, Cllr Jim Finucane said that having staff prepared for the reopening of hotels, restaurants and bars in the coming months is critically important.
‘Kerry County Council and the Kerry Education and Training Board are providing the training which staff will need to work in the new COVID-19 environment. It deals with practical steps which everyone will need to take to ensure social distancing and other important health guidelines are adhered to. When people do begin to visit Kerry again, they can do so in the full knowledge that staff know how to interact with them in a safe way for everyone’s benefit. Kerry ETB is delighted to pilot this programme which can, potentially, be rolled out nationally.”
