What is a Fractional Chief Learning Officer (CLO)?

A fractional Chief Learning Officer (CLO) is a senior executive responsible for overseeing an organization's learning and development (L&D) strategy but on a part-time or contract basis. This role allows organizations, especially those without the resources to hire a full-time CLO, to tap into high-level expertise in building and implementing learning programs and strategies. Fractional CLOs bring strategic leadership, experience in adult education, and a deep understanding of how to leverage learning for organizational growth, without the financial commitment of a full-time position.

In the tourism industry, a fractional CLO can play a pivotal role in shaping the way trade associations and destination marketing organizations (DMOs) educate, train, and develop their teams, members, and stakeholders.

The Role of a CLO in Tourism Industry Associations and DMOs

Tourism industry trade associations and destination marketing organizations face unique challenges in the rapidly evolving tourism landscape. These organizations must stay ahead of trends, ensure their teams and stakeholders are equipped with the latest skills, and help foster a culture of continuous learning. A fractional CLO can assist these organizations in several critical ways:

1. Strategic Learning Frameworks: A fractional CLO helps organizations design a cohesive learning strategy that aligns with their business goals. This includes assessing training needs, developing personalized learning paths, and ensuring the right skills are taught at the right time. For tourism trade associations and DMOs, this could involve tailoring content to address the specific needs of members and stakeholders, whether it’s educating tourism professionals about sustainability practices or equipping frontline workers with cultural competence and hospitality skills.

2. Cost-Effective Leadership: Hiring a full-time CLO can be prohibitively expensive for many organizations, especially smaller associations or DMOs. A fractional CLO provides access to high-level expertise without the overhead, offering organizations an affordable way to get the strategic insights and leadership they need in learning and development.

3. Curriculum and Content Development: A CLO, whether full-time or fractional, is instrumental in guiding the development of relevant, up-to-date, and engaging learning content. By working with experienced instructional designers and subject-matter experts, a fractional CLO can ensure the curriculum developed for members and employees is effective, timely, and engaging. In the tourism industry, this could mean creating courses about emerging trends in sustainable tourism, marketing, or customer service.

4. Integration of Technology: Modern learning demands a combination of both in-person and online education. A fractional CLO can help organizations select and implement the best learning technologies, ensuring seamless integration with existing systems. This can include recommending learning management systems (LMS), e-learning platforms, or creating custom courses that are easily accessible online for members or partners around the globe.

5. Measurement and Evaluation: A fractional CLO will ensure that the effectiveness of learning programs is continually assessed and optimized. By establishing performance metrics, tracking learner progress, and providing regular feedback, the CLO helps ensure that training initiatives are delivering tangible results, such as improved staff performance, better visitor experiences, and enhanced organizational efficiency.

6. Building a Culture of Continuous Learning: A CLO plays a key role in fostering an environment that encourages ongoing professional development. This is especially important in the tourism industry, where trends, technologies, and visitor expectations are constantly evolving. By creating a learning culture, a fractional CLO ensures that the organization stays agile and prepared for future challenges.

How Contracting Learn Tourism as a Fractional CLO Can Benefit Tourism Industry Associations and DMOs

Tourism industry associations and destination marketing organizations can benefit significantly from contracting Learn Tourism as their fractional Chief Learning Officer. Learn Tourism specializes in using cutting-edge learning methodologies, informed by the latest research in adult education, behavioral economics, and business psychology. Here’s how partnering with Learn Tourism can provide strategic advantages:

1. Tailored Learning Solutions for Tourism: Learn Tourism is dedicated to creating custom training programs specifically designed for the tourism industry. Whether it’s delivering online tourism ambassador training, workforce development, or sustainability education, Learn Tourism can develop programs that are relevant, engaging, and aligned with the needs of tourism professionals.

2. Advanced Learning Technology: With Learn Tourism’s Learning Experience Platform, organizations can access a robust suite of tools to support learner engagement, monitor progress, and integrate training seamlessly with their operations. This platform allows associations and DMOs to offer high-quality, scalable training programs to their members, partners, and staff with ease.

3. Expert Leadership with Industry Insights: With more than 25 years of experience in the tourism industry, Stephen Ekstrom, CEO of Learn Tourism, understands the unique challenges faced by tourism organizations. By leveraging his expertise and the collective knowledge of the Learn Tourism team, trade associations and DMOs can tap into strategic insights that will enhance the learning experiences of their stakeholders.

4. Global Reach with Local Relevance: Learn Tourism’s multilingual training solutions allow tourism organizations to offer education in multiple languages, making it easier to engage a global audience. Whether it’s creating a localized course for front-line workers or an international program for tourism professionals, Learn Tourism’s global expertise can help bridge cultural and geographical divides.

5. Seamless Integration and Support: Learn Tourism’s fractional CLO services come with the added benefit of ongoing support. From strategic direction to the technical aspects of implementing learning solutions, Learn Tourism ensures that all aspects of the learning journey are handled smoothly and effectively.

6. Commitment to Sustainability: Learn Tourism is focused on supporting sustainable tourism initiatives through its training and educational offerings. By partnering with Learn Tourism, DMOs, and tourism associations can not only improve their staff’s skills but also advance sustainable practices in the tourism sector, which is increasingly important to travelers and local communities alike.

Conclusion

Hiring a fractional Chief Learning Officer from Learn Tourism offers trade associations and destination marketing organizations in the tourism industry an affordable, expert-driven solution to building a stronger, more skilled workforce. By contracting with Learn Tourism, these organizations can implement a forward-thinking learning strategy that boosts performance, drives engagement, and cultivates a culture of continuous learning. Through personalized, high-quality educational programs and seamless integration of modern learning technologies, Learn Tourism helps tourism professionals stay ahead of the curve, ensuring long-term success and sustainable growth in an ever-changing industry.

About Learn Tourism the nonprofit academy...

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.