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

2 minute read
Brain Power: How Neuroscience is Revolutionizing Tourism Leadership
Tourism thrives on great experiences, but behind every memorable visitor interaction lies an...
3 minute read
Tourism Industry Career Paths: A Serpentine Climb Fueled by Skill & Purpose
Careers in tourism don’t follow a straight line. After interviewing more than 250 CEOs across...
3 minute read
What Tourism Stakeholders Expect from Training in 2025: The Modern Blueprint
Tourism’s landscape is changing faster than ever, and in 2025, expectations for online training are...
1 minute read
Global Impact: Centre for Responsible Tourism Singapore Joins Learn Tourism
Global Impact: Centre for Responsible Tourism Singapore Joins Learn Tourism The Centre for...
2 minute read
Laugh, Listen, Lead: How Improv Comedy Makes Visitor Services Better
What if the secret to better visitor services wasn’t in a training manual, but on a comedy stage?
4 minute read
Elevating Destinations: Key Takeaways from the 2025 Destinations International Annual Convention
Elevating Destinations: Key Takeaways from the 2025 Destinations International Annual Convention ...
2 minute read
The Secret to Building Social Capital in Tourism: Lifelong Learning
Lifelong Learning: The Secret to Building Social Capital in Tourism Lifelong learning is more than...
4 minute read
Reimagining Tourism Training: Why Learn Tourism Is the Future
Unlocking Potential: How Learning Theories are Revolutionizing Tourism Education With Learn Tourism
3 minute read
I Slipped and Fell Into Tourism Learning (And Landed Exactly Where I Belong)
I didn’t choose tourism education. It chose me in a wonderfully chaotic, totally unexpected, and...
3 minute read
Borrow from Marketing to Boost Tourism Learning Impact
In today’s content-saturated world, catching and keeping someone’s attention is a tall order....

Where Will Knowledge Take You?

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