Whether we like the idea or not, your customer judges you and your company within microseconds. And, I have news for you – so do you, when you are the customer! We all do it; making judgements even when no words have been spoken.

The following blog was written by Francis Prézeau, President and Managing Director of Signature Canada. This was originally posted on Signature Canada's blog, as well as on hotelleriejobs.com.

The immediacy provided by emails and messaging apps is wonderful, except when it isn’t. 

As someone who has delivered customer service and sales training to a variety of industries for the past 18 years, there is no better feeling than arriving at the training site and being welcomed with genuine smiles and excitement from the attendees – I love it when this happens!

My work anniversary was on February 1^st.  It’s hard to believe that I have been working with Signature Worldwide for 22 years! I love to see people’s reactions when I tell them that I have been with the company that long; I always wonder what they are thinking, but won’t say, especially the younger folks.  When I first started with the company, we were a very small, home based company with a few dozen employees. Needless to say, in the past 22 years, I have seen change; some changes that were minor and some that were significant, but somehow, I managed to survive them all.

"To be successful in the market, you must deliver a product or service that is unique, attractive, and of very high value to your target customers. This strategy needs to be difficult - if not impossible - for the competition to copy. You must know how to execute it with perfection”. (Spence, 2017)

It’s a normal Friday night: Occupancy is high, the lobby bar is buzzing, and, in the ballroom, a party is just getting started. A deejay has set up his sound system at one end of the room, the F&B manager set up a portable bar at the other, and servers have started circulating among the guests with platters of appetizers.

“We’re going to the zoo.”

I’m all about reducing the number of clicks to access information electronically – that’s why I choose “e” for bank balances, weather forecasts, sports updates and more.  However, as much as I might not want to admit it, nothing beats one-on-one service delivered sincerely, swiftly and with a smile.

How many people do you know who get to plan luxury trips for a living? I am sure it is not many, but at Signature Worldwide our mystery shoppers are some of the lucky few who spend their days dreaming and planning the ultimate luxury get away.