A stylish team dressed in three-piece suits, overcoats and bowler hats will be giving Chester city centre visitors a warm welcome from this week as part of a new CH1ChesterBID-funded scheme.
Two ambassadors will take to the city streets five-days a week to meet and greet visitors, guide them around the city centre and point out local attractions to ensure people make the most of their trip to the city.
Luka Morrell and Monica Roman speak more than six languages between them, including English, Italian, German and Romanian.
The pair, who have undergone a specialist customer service training course, have already met many city centre businesses and began their new roles at the Christmas lights switch-on and 12 Days of Christmas parade.
Chief executive of CH1ChesterBID Rita Waters said: “One of our key pledges as a Business Improvement District is to provide a world-class welcome for city visitors and we will continue to deliver on that promise with our fantastic Chester Welcome Team.
“Our ambassadors will provide a warm and friendly welcome to the city and will be highlighting Chester’s heritage, signposting visitors to attractions, shops and restaurants and helping to promote all of the businesses based in the heart of the city.
“We’re thrilled to have them in place in time for the busy Christmas period. We know they’ll provide a really positive and memorable experience for visitors to ensure they want to come back to Chester time and time again.”
Working 9.30am to 5.30pm five days a week, the Chester Welcome Team will also provide additional support to city centre manager Peter Lewis, reporting environmental issues such as broken street lamps or instances of anti-social behaviour, as well as being an additional point of contact for all BID member businesses.
Both roles are permanent following an exclusive deal with London-based firm The Welcome People, which has established similar welcome teams in 15 towns and cities across the UK, including London, Birmingham and Manchester.
For more information about the Chester Welcome Team or CH1ChesterBID visit www.ch1chesterbid.co.uk
