Rita Suiter

August 24, 2022, 10:45 am to 12:00 pm

Are You a Leader or Manager?

Management/Service, Professional Development
Are you leading or managing? Are you helping employees stay alive and engaged in their work? Are you role-modeling the behaviors you want to see? Do you have defined internal and external service guidelines? Is motivating employees on the front burner? Shifting one’s mindset of being responsible for the job to being responsible for the people who are responsible for the job, is vital in today’s challenging workplace. The leader’s role is to create a supportive workplace environment which will, in turn, increase productivity, improve morale, and help recruit and retain top talent. This session will provide tips to help grow your leadership skills with a focus on boosting employee engagement and provide practical strategies to help motivate your team.

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August 24, 2022, 12:15 pm to 1:30 pm

Travel Counselor Lunch & Learn: Revisiting the Visitor Experience..A Fresh Focus
*Current & past Certified Travel Specialist (CTS) participants only

Travel trends continue to emerge, and a renewed sense of urgency, for visitors to ‘hit the road,’ is at an all-time high. According to Expedia, we’re in the “Year of the GOAT – Greatest of All Trips,” so it is prime time for travel counselors to refresh, reenergize, and renew their skill sets to help create a memorable experience. This session will emphasize how staff engagements influence visitor engagements and impact social media reviews The strengths and challenges of Louisiana’s Visitor Centers will be discussed with a challenge to replace ‘best practices,’ ‘better practices.’ Join Rita and learn more about the vital role you play in creating a positive and contagious Visitor Experience.

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Rita is a Certified Customer Service Specialist and a Graduate of Disney’s School on Quality Service. She has served as a professor for the Southeast Tourism Society (STS) Marketing College for over 15 years, instructing tourism professionals from across the Southeast. Rita is also a graduate of the Baptist Healthcare Leadership Institute.

A highlight of her professional career was winning the Customer Service National Title at the Skills USA Championships in Kansas City, Missouri. She is passionate about service and is known as an “edu-tainer” for her unique and interactive presentation style.

Rita is a firm believer that service skills are transferable and essential to both your personal and professional life.