Stephen Ekstrom

Advisory Panel Chair and Chief Strategist at Learn Tourism - the nonprofit academy at learntourism.org is Stephen Ekstrom. Ekstrom began his career in the 1990’s on college radio at Quinnipiac University. He went on to create and deliver successful tourism development strategies for now thriving destinations, theme restaurants, cultural institutions, theatrical management companies, and some of the world’s most recognized attractions. He’s called upon to speak at colleges and universities, conferences and countless panel discussions each year. He hosts Learn Tourism's Business Class podcast and is a featured writer for several travel magazines. He’s also been profiled by media giants like the New York Times, NBC, ABC, CBS Morning, and NY1.

Education that Takes you places

3 minute read
What "Global" Should Mean in a Tourism Training Partner | Learn Tourism
Picture someone on a destination marketing organization's partnerships team, three vendors into a...
6 minute read
Destination Transformation Is a Learning Journey
Why the destinations that learn fastest may be the ones best prepared to lead what comes next
4 minute read
What Dolly Parton Taught the Tourism Industry About Hosting, Healing, and Home
At Dollywood, nobody buys a ticket to see "customers." They come to be Guests, welcomed by Hosts,...
4 minute read
Does Your Tourism Ambassador Program Grow With Your Destination?
Somewhere in your destination's shared drive is a slide deck. It launched your ambassador program a...
4 minute read
The Innovation Problems AI Can't Solve for Your Destination
Picture your team's next brainstorm. Someone opens ChatGPT, types a prompt, and thirty seconds...
8 minute read
Your Destination’s Reputation Is Everyone’s Job
Why Education Belongs in the Reputation Strategy A destination's reputation doesn't live in its...
2 minute read
Can People Actually Learn From It? A 5-Question Accessibility Test for Training
Accessibility isn't a checklist. It's a design question. When most tourism and hospitality...
4 minute read
8 Things to Know About Accessible Tourism Learning in 2026
Destination leaders are under growing pressure to train diverse teams quickly, consistently, and...
6 minute read
What We Learned From 88 Applications
Shared feedback for everyone who applied to the Operations & CRM Intern role, Fall/Winter 2026 We...
6 minute read
5 Things You Need to Know Before Creating a Tourism Ambassador Program for Your Destination
A tourism ambassador program can be one of the smartest investments a destination makes in visitor...

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