LAKE BUENA VISTA – In preparation for Grand Bahama Island launching its new brand to the worldwide public, i.d.e.a.s. has completed the roll-out of The Grand Life Enculturation Toolkit which includes an eLearning component and a face-to-face classroom experience for all employees and residents of Grand Bahama Island.
“We’re delighted to reintroduce the Grand Bahamians to their island through interactive storytelling,” noted Kelly Pounds, VP, i.d.e.a.s. Learning. “Appreciation and pride of what they have to offer their guests is critical to their tourism business.”
The Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board, in conjunction with The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, embarked on a branding exercise for Grand Bahama Island in late 2006 by contracting the services of Orlando-based Ypartnership and i.d.e.a.s. Together they began the brandRing™ process to develop a distinctive and compelling brand strategy for Grand Bahama Island.
The i.d.e.a.s. StoryJam™ is the anchor of this brand development strategy. Many Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board members along with a cross-section of others from the island participated in this two-day event where they explored the power of story and began to create a clear and distinct identity for Grand Bahama Island. Using stories gathered in the StoryJam™ and the Ypartnership in-market research, the results gave birth to the new brand platform “The Grand Life.”
“Our journey with i.d.e.a.s. in the development of such a robust and modern program, has certainly set us apart from any of our competitors in terms of implementing such a state-of-the-art training program for our residents,” said Denise Adderley, Director of Marketing Services for the Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board and Project Manager for the Grand Life Enculturation Toolkit. Additionally, she stated, “Every resident and second home resident is encouraged to take this free training program. Why? Because each and every one of us can be Ambassadors of service and hospitality every day!”
In addition to an understanding of the new brand promise and the Grand Bahama Island hospitality standards, this toolkit directly addresses serious issues relevant to the people in the hospitality industry while providing an engaging and entertaining experience for participants. The online solution is mirrored by the face-to-face classroom materials that i.d.e.a.s. created. Real interviews and stories are included so Grand Bahamians can talk to Grand Bahamians about what it means to deliver “The Grand Life” to their guests.
