Recognition for i-SITE 100% Pure welcome champions

Three i-SITE 100% Pure welcome champions were honoured at the recent i-SITE Conference for displaying outstanding customer service.

The three champions, who received awards presented by Prime Minister John Key, were; Jude Clarke from the Timaru i-SITE, Amie Russell from the Waiheke Island i-SITE and a joint Christchurch award presented to Jo Lill and staff (Christchurch Airport i-SITE) and Gwen Creek (Kaiapoi i-SITE) in recognition of their efforts in extraordinary circumstances.

After the original September earthquake, the Kaiapoi i-SITE, run by Gwen Creek, became uninhabitable and a temporary location was required. Despite the challenges this presented Gwen Creek quickly reopened for business and when a mystery shopper visited the temporary building, Gwen remarkably scored 100%.

The dedication of Christchurch Airport i-SITE's Jo Lill and staff following February's events was also recognised. The judges commented, "challenges staff were facing in their personal lives did not impact on the high level of professionalism afforded to customers."

The Christchurch city i-SITE was also left uninhabitable after the February earthquake. However staff are now looking forward to moving into a new prominent temporary location next to the Canterbury Museum following approval of the location by the Christchurch City Council. The move is expected to happen by the end of September.

The Christchurch i-SITE is not the only one on the move. Blenheim has a new i-SITE building that opened last Tuesday in a prime location on State Highway 1. Completed in time to attract Rugby World Cup 2011 traffic, the new location is expected to increase visitor numbers above the 280,000 people that visited the Blenheim and Picton visitor information centres in 2010. The Otorohanga, Auckland Airport (International and Domestic), Christchurch Airport and New Plymouth i-SITEs are either redeveloping or moving to new locations over the next few months.