The Alliance Community Development Council and the Corinth Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau are joining forces to encourage excellence in hospitality throughout the area.

The organizations will host a hospitality training program and a special tour of the Corinth area on Monday, June 14 from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. at the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center.

Alliance Community Development Director Andrea Rose said the program will begin with a presentation from Mississippi Development Authority hospitality expert Diana O’Toole about the hows and whys of hospitality. The presentation will provide employers with information about how to encourage top notch customer service and equip their employees to provide visitors with a positive impression of the area.

The presentation will be followed by a tour of Corinth led by CACVB Executive Director Kristy White to educate participants about all of the unique attractions Corinth has to offer.

The event will also include the unveiling of a new initiative from the Community Development Council which will reward individual employees who go the extra mile for customers. Rose said the program will be a “secret shopper” type effort and employees who are spotted providing excellence customer service will be recognized with a gift card and a plaque.

Rose said the hospitality training is vital because potential employers, tourists and other visitors get their most lasting impression of the area from the people they interact with during their visit.

“The best thing we can do to bring jobs here is to have Corinth collectively put the best foot forward,” she said.

The experiences people have with employees in all types of businesses and roles will color their view of the area and often determine if they make another visit.

The upcoming program is free of charge and is especially aimed at managers, owners and human resource professionals who can take the lessons learned and bring them back to their businesses to educate their employees.

Those planning to attend should preregister by Friday, June 11 by calling Rose at 287-5269 or White at 287-8300.