With all the beauty that surround us, it is no surprise that tourism is one of the top revenue generating contributors in Montana; being second only to agriculture.

Non-resident visitors add money to Montana’s economy through supporting jobs and reducing state and local taxes for its residents. By category, gasoline, lodging and retail sales bring in the most revenue by non-residents in Montana.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Dept. of Commerce, “services” make up 79.7 percent of total employment in Sanders County. Services is comprised of utilities, wholesale and retail trade, transportation and warehousing, information, finances, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing, professional management of companies and enterprises, science and technology, administrative and support assistance, education, health care and social assistance, arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food supply.

Retail services are responsible for employing 15.9 percent of all employees county-wide, and 15.7 percent of workers are in accommodation and food services. This ranks them respectively as the second and third top employment sectors behind health care and social assistance, at 25 percent.

Therefore, Sanders County Community Development Coorporation (SCCDC) is teaming up with “406 Hospitality” and Flathead Valley Community College to offer a convenient, two and a half hour long professional development training highlighting customer service.

“We all know how to take care of a guest in our home,” stated Jen Kreiner, Executive Director for SCCDC. “Welcoming a guest to our business and community is no different. It’s that simple and that important. No matter how large or complex an organization may be, great service usually comes down to one employee, serving one guest, one day at a time.”

The training will help businesses evaluate and create consistent customer service standards, assess customer service behaviors and enhance the visitor experience.

The workshop, offered at two locations, will take place 5:30-8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 21 at the Lakeside Resort in Trout Creek, and Thursday, March 22 at Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort in Paradise. The cost is $25 per person with dinner included.

To register contact SCCDC at (406) 827-6935 or visit sanderscounty.org.