Top service vital: McVinnie

Ray McVinnie was in Rotorua in June and will present a report about the city's service standards at the Princes Gate Hotel tomorrow. Photo / File

Great service can be the difference between success and failure, says television MasterChef Ray McVinnie.

Mr McVinnie will be back in Rotorua tomorrow to let the city's hospitality and retail service providers into a few service secrets at his day-long workshop at the Princes Gate Hotel.

The event was organised by Raising the Bar - an initiative run by a group of passionate Rotorua business people who want to help Rotorua become the best place in the country for friendly, efficient and high-level service.

Mr McVinnie said he was invited to Rotorua in June to do an appraisal of hospitality culture and service standards.

"I'll tell you what I found and tell people what I think they need to do," he said.

"There are a lot of great things going on in Rotorua, it just needs a little bit of polishing.

"It's not hard to do, a lot of it is common sense."

He said great service was all about the human experience.

"If you can deliver a really good experience to your customer you will have a good experience too - so it's a win-win.

"Attention to detail is also really crucial, but you have to be motivated and really love what you do.

"A lot of it is common sense and getting people to stand back from the glass so they can see through it."

Mr McVinnie said there was no such thing as a stupid question and wanted those attending not to hold back so they could get the most out of the workshop.

Raising the Bar spokesman Heinz Fett said about 80 people had already booked their places and there were limited spaces left for tomorrow's event.

He encouraged people to book as soon as possible.

The workshop runs from 8am to 11.30am followed by an open forum from midday to 2pm. The cost is $50 for the first person and $25 for each subsequent person from the same business.

RSVP to Brigitte Nelson at brigitte.nelson@rdc.govt.nz, otherwise register at www.rotchamber.co.nz