Blackpool's Houndshill ready to welcome the world

By Happy Creative

27 Oct 2016

Staff at Blackpool’s Houndshill Shopping Centre are celebrating after achieving WorldHost status.

Twenty-four in-house staff at the resort’s premier shopping destination have become the largest retailing organisation in the town to gain the recognition.

Houndshill now joins other tourist attractions and leisure venues across Blackpool to gain the national award which recognises commitment to excellent customer service.

With all their staff now trained by local WorldHost providers, the centre is now eligible to apply for Business Recognition status.

WorldHost is a suite of world-class customer service training programmes which has been used to train more than 200,000 people across the UK. The courses include training on serving customers with disabilities, welcoming customers from other cultures, increasing sales through service and an introduction to the general principles of customer service.

Earlier this year, Blackpool became the first tourist resort in the UK to be awarded WorldHost Recognised Destination status after more than 2,500 front-line staff qualified for the award.

Staff at Houndshill have gained WorldHost qualifications in working with customers with disabilities, as well as management solutions and customer service standards and will roll out other programmes.

The shopping centre now hopes to join the likes of Blackpool Pleasure Beach, the resort’s Merlin attractions at the Tower, SeaLife Centre and Madame Tussauds, as well as Blackpool Zoo, Sandcastle Waterpark, the Winter Gardens and Blackpool Transport to be awarded Business Recognition Status.

All businesses in the town form part of the Blackpool Tourism Academy which was formed with the aim to achieve the WorldHost Destination Status and delivering continuous excellent customer service.

Debbs Lancelott, Houndshill centre manager, said: “Houndshill took a commitment with the Coastal Communities Trust team to commit to the WorldHost training programme to promote Blackpool as a customer friendly town.

“Our commitment was to initially enrol the Houndshill staff onto the various training sessions and then to impart this to the Houndshill retail managers.

“We are delighted to have taken part in this scheme which further emphasizes our commitment to excellent customer service. To have a retail offering as part of Blackpool’s WorldHost status is a real coup for the resort.”

Nigel Kilgallon, Chair of the Blackpool Tourism Academy, said: "As Blackpool's premier shopping centre, it is great to hear Houndshill have now achieved WorldHost Recognition status as this adds further commitment to excellent customer services across the resort. "To have a WorldHost logo displayed at a recognised brand retailer is testament to the fantastic commitment that businesses in Blackpool have made to delivering excellent service in everything they do."

Latest news

1

CMAC Group appoints Matthew Ratcliffe as chief operating officer Matthew Ratcliffe CMAC

CMAC Group appoints Matthew Ratcliffe as chief operating officer

03 Apr 2025

2

For sale signs at The Villa Villa Wrea Green has been brought to market (Image credit: The Villa Wrea Green)

For sale signs at The Villa

02 Apr 2025

3

Montane group expands with new Lancashire hub Anthony Rae Scott Murcott And Adam Lee

Montane group expands with new Lancashire hub

02 Apr 2025

4

Trio of wins for Lancaster brand and digital consultancy Tom Grattan MD and Daniel Wallace

Trio of wins for Lancaster brand and digital consultancy

02 Apr 2025

5

College excellence highlighted in Ofsted report Fazal Dad

College excellence highlighted in Ofsted report

02 Apr 2025

Pc Prestonmacan Gif980x120 March
Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200px
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

Chamber Breakfast Networking – April
Chamber logo - new-02.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
03 Apr 2025 - 03 Apr 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – April

The Dukes Theatre, Lancaster, LA1 1QE

08:00 - 10:00

WHN Charity Quiz Night
Evenbrite Quiz 2025.png.png
LBV Hub Fundraisers
03 Apr 2025 - 03 Apr 2025

WHN Charity Quiz Night

The Stables Country Club, Bury , BL9 1PU

18:00 - 22:00

Lancashire Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880395853-4862066883-1-original.20241022-091152-2.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
04 Apr 2025 - 04 Apr 2025

Lancashire Business Expo 2025

Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre, Preston, PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
24 Apr 2025 - 24 Apr 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

People Power: Exclusive Event Series
Stay ahead in 2025.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
29 Apr 2025 - 29 Apr 2025

People Power: Exclusive Event Series

People's History Museum, Manchester, M3 3ER

17:00 - 21:00

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes
Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes for website.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
01 May 2025 - 01 May 2025

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes

Stanley House Hotel, Mellor, Blackburn, BB2 7NP, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

08:00 - 10:30

A night at the races
1.png.png
LBV Hub Dinners / Balls
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

A night at the races

Morecambe FC, Morecambe, LA4 4TB

19:00 - 23:59

Amber River True Bearing quarterly investment seminar
LBV Hub Seminars
22 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

Amber River True Bearing quarterly investment seminar

Cottons Hotel & Spa , Knutsford, WA16 0SU

16:00 - 18:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more Lbv121 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin