Ottawa Tourism recognized a proactive opportunity to deepen its connection with global travel professionals and increase destination bookings through education. While traditional sales tools provided information, they lacked the inspiration and depth needed to turn agents into true advocates. By creating a more engaging and flexible learning experience, Ottawa Tourism aimed to unlock untapped potential within its global travel trade network.
Ottawa Certified Travel Professional Program: Inspiring Global Travel Planners

Industry
Destination Marketing
Opportunity
Ottawa Tourism needed a way to stand out in a crowded global travel market and better equip travel professionals to confidently sell the destination. Traditional tools like brochures and webinars weren’t generating lasting engagement or qualified leads. They sought a more immersive, scalable solution to inspire and activate agents worldwide.
Results
The Ottawa Certified Travel Professional program attracted engaged participants from around the world, equipping them with in-depth knowledge and a strong sense of connection to the destination. Graduates began actively promoting Ottawa, leading to a measurable increase in leads, bookings, and brand visibility. The program also strengthened industry relationships and built a growing network of Ottawa-certified advocates.
Key Services
Learning Experience Technology, Product Placement
"The Ottawa certification program was a refreshing change from typical destination training. The interactive content, local voices, and virtual experiences helped me truly understand the city’s appeal. I now recommend Ottawa with confidence—and my clients are responding!"
Lisa M.
Travel Advisor – United Kingdom
"This course made me feel connected to Ottawa before I even visited. The flexibility to learn at my own pace and the insider tips gave me a real edge when building itineraries for my clients. It’s not just training—it’s inspiration."
Diego R.
Tour Operator – Mexico
"Earning my Ottawa Certified Travel Professional badge added value to my credentials, but more importantly, it gave me practical tools to promote the destination. The downloadable resources and networking events were a huge bonus."
Mia T.
Group Travel Specialist – United States

About your Customer
Ottawa Tourism is the official destination marketing organization for Canada’s capital city, promoting Ottawa as a premier travel destination for leisure, business, and event travel. With a focus on cultural richness, history, and year-round experiences, the organization connects global audiences with the unique charm of the city. In recent years, Ottawa Tourism has invested in digital engagement strategies, including innovative training programs that empower travel professionals to better represent the destination.
The Challenge
The Solution
Ottawa Tourism had long invested in building relationships with travel professionals, but they wanted a more scalable and effective way to educate, engage, and inspire those partners globally. They evaluated several options, including traditional webinar series, downloadable toolkits, and third-party training platforms. However, none offered the mix of customization, interactivity, and industry-specific credibility they needed.
When they discovered Learn Tourism, the nonprofit academy’s unique approach stood out. Learn Tourism offered a custom-branded learning environment, interactive content modules, and certification backed by tourism industry expertise—all with the flexibility to serve travel professionals on their own schedule.
“We didn’t just want another destination course—we wanted something that made agents feel connected to Ottawa and confident selling it. Learn Tourism helped us build exactly that.”
— Training Program Manager, Ottawa Tourism
The Results
With Learn Tourism’s instructional design team, Ottawa Tourism created the Ottawa Certified Travel Professional program. It combined:
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🎓 Flexible, self-paced online learning to fit around busy agent schedules
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📍 Immersive virtual tours and interactive modules that brought Ottawa’s attractions, culture, and neighborhoods to life
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🎤 Exclusive video content from locals and tourism experts to deliver insider knowledge
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🧰 Custom-branded toolkits with itineraries, media, and sales content for graduates
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🎁 Incentive-driven enrollment, including fam trip eligibility and event invites
“The content was authentic and engaging, not just a list of facts. I felt like I was walking through Ottawa with a local guide.”
— Lisa M., Travel Advisor and Program Graduate
The program elevated agents’ expertise and gave them the tools and motivation to sell Ottawa with passion and precision. It quickly became a valuable part of the destination’s broader sales and marketing strategy.
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