Newbridge Silverware, one of Ireland’s leading tourist destinations, has been awarded a ‘Chinese Tourist Welcome’ accreditation which ensures the Kildare-based attraction is a must visit venue for visitors coming from China.
The Museum of Style Icons(MOSI) at Newbridge Silverware has been awarded Chinese Welcome Accreditation after implementing specialist training workshops with assistance from the China Outbound Tourism Research Institute (COTRI), making it a key destination for Chinese tourists.
Sue Fong Gan, a fluent Mandarin speaker and Guest Relations Executive at Newbridge Silverware, was joined by 19 other colleagues as they completed four core modules that covered areas such as communication, marketing, Chinese attitudes to foreign travel and information on the background of Chinese tourism in Ireland and the UK. The team were awarded their certificates by a representative of the Chinese Embassy for Ireland Mr Li Shaofu and Tony Lenehan – Chairman, County Kildare Failte.
Speaking following the presentation of the certification, Newbridge Silverware CEO William Doyle said, “I’m very proud of my staff who have worked so hard to achieve this special accreditation to mark us out as the first attraction in Leinster to be Chinese Tourism ready. Recent figures released by Tourism Ireland have shown us how important the Chinese tourism market has become and indeed we see it daily through our showrooms and museum. We are committed to ensuring that Newbridge Silverware is one of the main destinations for Chinese tourists to visit when they come to Ireland.”
More than 500 companies from 32 countries and regions around the world have already participated in the programme, but Newbridge Silverware has become the first in Leinster to be accredited with the award, ensuring that Chinese visitors are more likely to visit Kildare.
The Chinese visitor is very different to holidaymakers from the USA or the European continent, and, through workshops with COTRI, Newbridge Silverware has been provided with a genuine insight that will help to accommodate Chinese visitors coming to the Showrooms, Silver Restaurant and the iconic museum, MOSI.
The Chinese Tourist Welcome is the official certified travel service standard and platform recognised by the Chinese Travel Authority, and to achieve this Newbridge Silverware took part in a training workshop that focuses on how front of house staff and marketing personnel can meet the needs and expectations of those travelling from China. Participants in the workshop also had to undertake a written test as part of the individual certification process.
The Chinese tourism market is the most lucrative in the world right now, with 116 million outbound crossings from China in 2014, while they also spend the largest amount of money on their travels. Recently, James Kenny from Tourism Ireland spoke of the lucrative nature of the Chinese tourism market and said, “The potential of the Chinese outbound travel market is significant, with Chinese travellers expected to take some 200 million trips overseas by 2020. Currently, four million Chinese travel to Europe annually and Tourism Ireland is working hard to win a greater share of that business for Ireland.”
That market can now be fully tapped into by Newbridge Silverware following their completion of the welcome programme, and they are now able to display the Chinese Tourist ‘Welcome’ logo on their premises, website and marketing material.
It ties in well with Tourism Ireland’s planned trip to China which will be undertaken by 15 Irish companies, including Newbridge Silverware. The trip is a major sales mission to promote Irish tourism attractions and businesses to Chinese people and takes place from April 24th-28th. The team at Newbridge Silverware together with their colleagues at Tourism Ireland will target top Chinese travel agents and tour operators in the key cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.
Since 1934, Newbridge Silverware has been Ireland’s premier designer and producer of homeware and giftware products. Today the Newbridge Visitor’s Centre hosts the acclaimed Museum of Style Icons (MOSI) which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. The museum is a permanent exhibition dedicated to design and style excellence while celebrating some of the world’s most iconic personalities.
The museum features personal effects and items from Ireland’s most notable designers and displays artefacts from legendary stars of film and television known worldwide. These include Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, Princess Diana, Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Elizabeth Taylor, Barbra Streisand, Julie Andrews, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Bette Davis, Gloria Swanson, Vivien Leigh, Jean Simmons, Ingrid Bergman, and so much more. The opening hours of the Museum of Style Icons are Monday – Saturday 9am-6pm and Sundays and Bank holidays from 11am – 6pm. For more information on Newbridge Silverware and The Museum of Style Icons go to www.newbridgesilverware.com or call +353 (0) 45 431301.
