Destination marketing organizations are under pressure to do more with less—grow visitor numbers, enhance the guest experience, build community support, and develop a resilient workforce—all while staying within budget. That’s where Learn Tourism, the nonprofit academy, comes in.
With more than 30,000 students enrolled and nearly 60 destinations actively benefiting, Learn Tourism offers transformative online tourism training solutions that help DMOs save money, operate more efficiently, and build stronger, more sustainable tourism economies. Here’s how:
Forget costly in-person workshops and print materials. Learn Tourism’s digital courses eliminate travel, venue rentals, and facilitator expenses. Training can be delivered across an entire destination—frontline workers, community members, and even travel professionals—at a fraction of the cost of traditional methods.
“Without online training, there's no way we could reach everyone in our community and build the support we need to market ourselves as a prized destination.”
—Frances Manzitto, Clarksville-Montgomery County CVB
Every course includes built-in dashboards that allow tourism leaders to monitor engagement, track progress, and measure the impact—live.
“It’s easy to update, requires little to no maintenance, and produces results we can proudly share with our community.”
—Sheila Dougherty, Redding Tourism & Marketing Group
No more guesswork. Know exactly who’s completed the training and how it's making a difference.
Locals become advocates when they understand the value of tourism. Programs like Destination LEXpert and the Poconos Ambassador Program increase residents’ confidence and pride in promoting their hometowns.
“I didn’t realize how many resources there are for horse farm tours... The VisitLEX website is such a great resource for visitors and locals alike.”
—Mary Jeffrey, Destination LEXpert Graduate
“I feel much more confident about creating exciting experiences for visitors to the Poconos.”
—Andrew Loniak, Poconos Ambassador Program Graduate
Whether it’s frontline staff or hospitality managers, Learn Tourism helps teams understand the importance of tourism and how to serve with empathy, professionalism, and cultural competence.
“The training modules have provided invaluable insights and tools for our team, empowering us to enhance our marketing strategies and stay ahead.”
—Aerionna Skrutvold, Glacier Country Montana
“I feel more confident now about my ability to welcome visitors to our area.”
—Samantha Herring, Tourism Champions Graduate
RELATED: Tourism Ambassador Training & Certification
When locals and staff know how to direct visitors to authentic experiences, everyone wins. Courses include local attractions, self-guided tours, accessibility information, and insider knowledge that improves the guest experience.
“I discovered lots of new places to eat, got the phone numbers for horse tours, and learned about the total revenue from tourism last year.”
—Michelle Gantt, Destination LEXpert Graduate
Learn Tourism integrates sustainability practices into each course, from promoting local businesses to spotlighting green initiatives. Students are introduced to tourism’s ripple effect and how their actions contribute to a better future.
“Lexington is one of the best green spots for planet-friendly travel.”
—James Taylor, Destination LEXpert Graduate
DMOs can roll out their programs in weeks—not months—with multilingual options, branded content, and integration with their content management systems. Whether you're training travel agents overseas or volunteers downtown, your program is available 24/7, anywhere in the world.
“The platform allows us to create tailored modules that will elevate our training programs.”
—Angela Jones, Visit Detroit
Learn Tourism the nonprofit academy empowers destination marketing organizations to reach more people, deliver better training, and strengthen the tourism ecosystem—all without overspending. Whether you're focused on improving service quality, boosting sustainability, or creating a groundswell of local pride, Learn Tourism has the tools, team, and tech to make it happen.
Learn Tourism is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the tourism industry through innovative educational practices and professional development initiatives. Our mission is to harness the power of science, business psychology, and adult education to build sustainable economies and enrich the tourism landscape.