Buzzworks is preparing for the 152nd Open that is taking place at Troon later this month and enlisted its teams with a series of training sessions and quizzes over a period of six weeks, designed to equip staff with the skills needed to showcase the best of Scottish hospitality.
With 300,000 guests from around the world expected to attend the event, Buzzworks Learning and Development Manager, Holli Gordon, said, “Our teams have been training hard over the last six weeks to ensure visitors who come to Troon during The Open leave with the best possible experience, and so that we can spotlight Scotland’s best food and drink while staying true to our values.
“A large part of this training has been about storytelling, so staff can give visitors local knowledge and local products to talk about. But the sessions have also been designed to be engaging and fun, because we believe that when our staff are enjoying themselves, they’re more motivated and effective in delivering excellent service.
“We want to offer everyone the most that we can and showcase the local produce and we’ve trained our teams to deliver that in the best way possible.”
Sponsored by Loch Lomond Malts, the whisky training session was a highlight for employees developing their skills ahead of The Open, featuring tasting sessions and a knowledge-building quiz.
Gavin Goslan, Buzzworks’ Bar Training Manager, said, “We have a lot of visitors from far and wide and we wanted to highlight Scottish products, with whisky obviously being a huge pull for these visitors.
“We made sure our knowledge was up to speed with whisky and premium dishes such as lobsters, steaks, and Scottish beers. The excitement is palpable, and our teams love the fact they get to dive into what we have to offer as a country and as a business in the local area during such a prestigious event.
“From our world-renowned whiskies to the freshest seafood and finest cuts of meat, we take immense pride in presenting the best of our local culture and flavours to an international audience.”
Meanwhile, a cocktail competition sponsored by Ben Lomond Gin added an element of fun and creativity to the training. Robbie Quinn, team leader at Scotts Troon, won first place with his cocktail, ‘The White Horse’, which will be featured on the drinks list during The Open. The winning cocktail includes a refreshing blend of Ben Lomond gin, cucumber & mint oleo, fresh lime juice, absinthe, seaweed bitters, saline, and sparkling water.
Further training sessions covered various aspects of hospitality, including Customer Experience, Barista Skills, the Art of Hospitality, and How to Wow.
Holli also shared insights on the holistic approach taken in their training. She said, “We’ve put a lot of effort into customer profiling to ensure each visitor has the best host suited to their tastes and preferences. This personalised approach ensures a memorable experience for all our guests.”
She added, “Our hope is to really elevate the experience for our customers and to help boost future tourism for the area, and to ensure a lasting legacy for Buzzworks and some of the amazing brands we’ve been working with.”
The team behind Buzzworks, which has been named in the Best Companies to Work for List consistently over the past few years, says that it is “looking forward to another fantastic season of serving up superb food and drink during The Open.”