Algarve taxi driver raises the bar for passenger satisfactionA taxi driver in the Algarve has revealed his secret to keeping clients coming back; little treats like complementary waters, sweets, balloons and crayons are what keep his passengers happy and his business healthy, he says.
Originally from Oporto, 47-year-old Henrique Amorim has been driving his taxi in Vilamoura between April and October for the past six years.
The generous driver likes to offer his clients little treats like cold water in summer and as a result has amassed a number of passengers’ written recommendations as well as a mention on website Tripadvisor.
His good disposition is highlighted in most of the recommendations as is his availability.
“I like to make my clients comfortable, I want them to feel like they are in their own cars because that way they can relax and gain trust in me. I like to talk to clients, play a little, sometimes I even like to talk with an Irish or Scottish accent and they are quite surprised”, he tells Lusa News Agency.
In the driver’s opinion, a first-time client could be a client for life and many of his passengers – mostly foreign tourists – ask specifically for him if they return to Portugal.
Proof of this are the three passenger recommendation books whose hundreds of pages have had complements and messages of thanks written on them over the years in a number of languages, including Russian, German, English, Spanish, Dutch, Danish, Norwegian, Thai, Chinese and Portuguese.
“Henry is the best taxi driver ever. He is so friendly and generous with his sweets, water and conversation. Whenever we come back we always ask for Henry’s excellent services”, one British family wrote, declaring their “love” for the sweets and balloons.
“Henry is very good, makes us feel at home, he is great, kind and a wonderful driver and guide”, wrote another passenger from Mauritius.
Speaking to Lusa Henrique Amorim said he obtained a taxi-driver’s license after becoming unemployed six years ago and since then he has invested all his passion in driving tourists around.
He vehemently refutes that the gifts are ways of gleaning tips and claims that when he takes on a new profession he gives it his all.
“The emotion that I feel with these messages is one of accomplishment because I know I gave good service”, he adds.
Every October, at the end of the summer season, Henrique Amorim returns to his native Oporto for a few months’ rest before returning to the Algarve in April.
His ultimate ambition is to put his experiences into a book. He has already chosen the book’s front cover; a picture drawn by a little English girl called Kate of the taxi with Henrique driving, her family inside and Kate at the window smiling.
http://www.theportugalnews.com/news/alg ... tion/29736
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