Tourism training is evolving faster than ever — and Learn Tourism, the nonprofit academy dedicated to advancing the tourism industry through innovative learning practices, is once again leading the charge.
This quarter, Learn Tourism is introducing the AI Teaching Assistant, a groundbreaking enhancement to its learning platform, designed to make destination and tourism training even more interactive, personalized, and effective.
Powered by advanced AI technology, this new feature gives learners access to an intelligent guide available 24/7 within each course. The AI Teaching Assistant can answer questions about course material, explain concepts in simple terms, summarize lessons, and even provide additional examples tailored to the learner’s needs.
For tourism organizations — from destination marketing teams to frontline workforce trainers — this means more engagement, better comprehension, and faster learning outcomes. Learners can now ask the assistant about anything from “how visitor spending impacts local economies” to “how to start a welcoming conversation with a guest,” and receive clear, contextual guidance instantly.
Tourism thrives on human connection, but education often falls short of meeting modern learners where they are. According to recent research, learners who use AI Teaching Assistants demonstrate increased retention and satisfaction rates, thanks to the ability to get real-time support and clarification at their own pace.
At Learn Tourism, this innovation aligns perfectly with our mission to bridge the gap between education and industry practice. Every learner — from students earning tourism certifications to local ambassadors completing destination courses — now benefits from an experience that mirrors real-world mentoring.
As one recent participant in the Destination LEXpert course shared,
“This program was incredibly valuable and I learned so much about the impact of tourism and the local resources available. Great presentation, thank you!”
Now, with the AI Teaching Assistant, that same program can go a step further — delivering personalized, conversational learning for every student.
The AI Teaching Assistant will be rolled out to all existing Learn Tourism partners this quarter, enhancing courses like the Poconos Ambassador Program, Tourism Destination Champions, and Train the Trainer: Customer Experience. Each program will gain a virtual co-instructor designed to help learners connect content to context and turn information into real-world impact.
Learn Tourism has long been recognized for transforming how destinations educate their teams, partners, and communities. With the addition of AI-assisted learning, the nonprofit continues to innovate where it matters most — empowering people to deliver better visitor experiences, support sustainable economies, and grow as professionals in a dynamic global industry.
“Education is no longer about memorization — it’s about activation,” says Stephen Ekstrom, CEO and Cofounder of Learn Tourism. “The AI Teaching Assistant helps learners activate knowledge in real time, and that’s the kind of transformation our industry needs.”
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. Visit us at learntourism.org.