DIY Tourism

05/28/2026

🎙️ What if tourism education could do more than deliver information?
What if it could truly transform people, careers, and communities?

🎉 We’re excited to share a recent conversation featuring Learn Tourism CEO Stephen Ekstrom and Operations Manager Dee Kansiime on the Gather and Go podcast with Brian Jewell (hosted by The Group Travel Leader Inc.)

In this thoughtful episode, Stephen and Dee explore why so much traditional tourism education falls short, and why engagement, accessibility, and transformation matter more than ever in today’s travel industry.

🌎 From Dee’s powerful perspective on how education can create opportunity across communities and countries, to Stephen’s challenge for the industry to move beyond “talking at people,” this conversation gets to the heart of what meaningful learning should look like.

💡 Topics include:
• Why passive workshops and webinars often fail to create real change
• How education can help address community tension and overtourism
• The importance of transferable skills in tourism careers
• Why accessible learning matters for the future of global tourism

One of our team's favorite insights from Stephen:

In our organization, we've coined the term "education with empathy" - understanding what the needs are of the learner. Every conversation you have is a learning opportunity. When you apply empathy to learning experiences for people, you're reaching them how they communicate.

🙏 A huge thank you to Brian Jewell and the Gather and Go podcast for creating space for these important conversations.

🎧 Read more about the episode and listen here:
https://hubs.ly/Q04hkLWt0

▶️ Watch the episode on YouTube:
https://hubs.ly/Q04hl4zk0

Learn Tourism founder Stephen Ekstrom joins the podcast to explain why travel education is broken and how he's working to fix it.

05/27/2026

What if the most powerful marketing strategy in tourism isn’t promotion… but curiosity?

The tourism professionals people naturally gravitate toward are often the ones still learning:
✅ Asking thoughtful questions
✅ Exploring their own communities
✅ Discovering overlooked stories
✅ Listening more deeply

Curiosity creates authenticity. Authenticity builds trust.

Our latest article explores how tourism leaders, destination marketers, experience providers, and educators can “lead with learning” to create stronger connections and more meaningful visitor experiences.

Read the full article here: http://learntourism.org


https://hubs.ly/Q04h_T650

Discover how curiosity drives authentic storytelling in tourism, fostering connections and trust while enhancing visitor experiences through collaborative learning.

05/26/2026

More Than Marketing: Scott Larson on Tourism Leadership, Stewardship & Building Stronger Communities

Explore Scott Larson's insights on modern tourism leadership, community stewardship, and the evolving role of tourism organizations in building resilient communities.

05/25/2026

Overtourism is dominating headlines—but are we asking the right question?

It’s not about “too many visitors.” It’s about how destinations prepare for success.

New article explores how tourism training, community alignment, and smarter strategy can turn pressure into opportunity.

Read more below....

Explore how unmanaged tourism, not overtourism, affects communities and discover strategies for fostering sustainable travel experiences.

05/22/2026

🎙️Wisdom worth revisiting.💡

One of the things we love most about the Business Class Podcast is the honest, human moments that remind us what tourism leadership is really about. In one of our past episodes, Joanna Bear from Visit Laguna Beach shared powerful reflections on hospitality and creating authentic connections with visitors.

👋“I would say that one of the most impactful lessons I’ve had in my career is having a visitor come and be so grateful of the warm welcome. The sincere, authentic welcome that makes them feel at home. To me, that speaks volumes.”

And another reminder we all need sometimes:

💗 “It doesn't always take a lot to make a big emotional connection. It could be something very small, but it has to be thoughtful.”

Through the Business Class Podcast, Learn Tourism founder Stephen Ekstrom sits down with destination leaders from across the country and beyond to explore their stories, lessons, leadership journeys, and visions for the future of tourism. 🌍

These conversations go deeper than headlines and marketing trends. They’re about the people behind the work, and the experiences that shape how they lead.

A huge thank you to Joanna for sharing her perspective and wisdom with our community. 🙏

If you’re looking for thoughtful conversations about leadership, tourism, community, and the future of our industry, we invite you to listen to the Business Class Podcast https://hubs.ly/Q04hhYDn0

05/21/2026

How Tourism Ambassador Training Drives Repeat Visits - Discover how tourism ambassador training enhances visitor experiences, fosters emotional connections, and drives repeat visits to destinations.

Discover how tourism ambassador training enhances visitor experiences, fosters emotional connections, and drives repeat visits to destinations.

05/20/2026

Global Minds, Local Impact

Learn Tourism leverages a fully remote global team to create relevant and impactful tourism training programs that reflect diverse perspectives and real-world experiences.

05/19/2026

Tourism is often measured in dollars.

But what if we measured it in impact?

In this episode of Business Class, I sat down with Kireem Swinton, President & CEO of Visit Baltimore, for a conversation that challenged the way we think about destination marketing. for a conversation that challenged the way we think about destination marketing.

We talked about:

Why tourism needs to connect to residents, not just visitors
The power of storytelling inside your own community
Leadership lessons from sports that shape how teams succeed
And why the future of tourism is about “and,” not “either/or”

One line that stuck with me:
👉 Tourism isn’t just an economic engine—it’s a human one.

If you care about the future of destinations, workforce development, and community impact… this one’s worth your time.

🎧 Listen here:

Learn Tourism

Explore how Kireem Swinton's leadership in Baltimore is redefining tourism to benefit the community, inspire residents, and create lasting opportunities for all.

05/18/2026

What does your out-of-office message say about your company culture?

Most are forgettable. Some are helpful. A few are surprisingly delightful.

We encourage our team to make theirs thoughtful, insightful, and even a little fun—and it’s not just for laughs.

It builds trust, reinforces culture, and turns a routine interaction into a meaningful experience.

Curious why something so small matters so much?
Read more 👇

Turn your out-of-office message into a powerful reflection of company culture. Discover how thoughtful, engaging auto-replies can build trust, enhance customer experience, and showcase your team’s personality.

05/16/2026

Tourism Ambassador Training That Builds Destination Loyalty

Discover how tourism ambassador training enhances visitor experiences, fosters community pride, and builds lasting destination loyalty for sustainable tourism success.

05/15/2026

We Updated Our Glossary of Tourism Industry Terms

Explore our updated glossary of tourism industry terms, reflecting the evolving language of workforce development, community engagement, and inclusive practices.