CTA SPOTLIGHT

Nathan Gray, CTA
CTA Spotlight
Nathan began his career in the hospitality industry as a caddie at the Coeur d' Alene Resort Golf Course. He has worked in hotels in San Francisco and Albuquerque and for the past 8 years has worked at The Davenport Hotel and Tower, and Hotel Lusso in Spokane, most recently as the Director of Front Office Operations.

Nathan says, "Every guest I interact with benefits from my participation in the CTA program. We recently had visitors from all around the world...

EMPLOYER SPOTLIGHT

GO Airport Connection
Employer Spotlight
GO Airport Connection has over 60 CTAs on staff! GO Airport Connection front-line employees are required to obtain their CTA certification within 90 days of being hired. General Manager, Mike Schneider says, “The biggest benefit to us has been seeing the level of pride that our employees take in their job. They are ...

TESTIMONIAL

Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau
Testimonial
Our Tucson Ambassadors Program offers our tourism-industry partners unique and comprehensive front-line training on Tucson as a destination. It creates a community of Certified Tourism Ambassadors that are more knowledgeable for our visitors. Knowledgeable front-line staff creates more credibility for each of the businesses that participate in the Program.

Vicki Doyle, Vice President, Partner Development & Visitor Services
Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau
Launch Date: May 2007

Welcome to CTA

The Certified Tourism AmbassadorTM(CTA) Program is a ground-breaking, nationwide certification program that serves to increase tourism by training and inspiring front-line hospitality employees and volunteers to work together to turn every visitor encounter into a positive experience.  The CTA Program goes well beyond basic customer service training; it gives participants the opportunity to build upon their knowledge of the local region, enhance their skills in serving customers, increase their awareness of information resources and discover the power of tourism!

Thousands have earned the CTA designation.  We invite you to explore the benefits!


CTA Destinations

Destinations Committed to the Visitor Experience.
Thousands of CTAs and Growing!

Launched February 2009 Four-State National Heritage Area<br /><br />Launched August 2009 Launched July 2008 Launched February 2008 Launched May 2009 Launched October 2007 Launched May 2006 42 DMOs<br /><br />Launched May 2009 7 DMOs<br /><br />Launched September 2007 Launched May 2007 Launched March 2009 Launched August 2008

12 CTA Programs Involving Over 90 DMOs!


Why CTA?

Nationwide Certification
Your frontline will be part of a nationwide certification program – with annual renewal – proudly using the Certified Tourism Ambassador-TM designation behind their name (John Smith, CTA) and proudly wearing their CTA gold lapel pin. As with other certification programs, the CTA designation has become recognized nationwide as a valued part of the visitor experience by your frontline, their employers, and, most importantly, your visitors.
Product Knowledge
Through the initial certification, this program not only teaches the basics of exceeding customer expectations, it also teaches why tourism is important and gives valuable destination product knowledge to your frontline. The learning objectives and highly customized curriculum focus on giving your frontline employees or volunteers the tools and confidence they need to create memorable experiences. And, the annual renewal requirements ensure that your ambassador corps is forever building upon their product knowledge base.
Community Alignment
Our current clients have been amazed at how this program aligns all stakeholders throughout the community. From the beginning Research Phase to Program Launch, they are engaged in shaping the program and, thus, take ownership in its ongoing success. It gives your destination a common, collaborative project that will help reinforce the importance of working together, instead of apart, to enhance regional tourism.
Competitive Advantage
Meeting professionals and other decision-makers have indicated that they would select a CTA City over a non CTA city. By committing to the program, they believe a destination shows its commitment to working together as a community and, most importantly, to ensuring the best possible experience for their attendees.
Branding and Consistent Messaging
Through CTANetwork.com – the CTA Online Community – and through CTA networking events, administrators can push frequent messages to your CTA corps – important reminders and updates to build upon their knowledge base. As a result, your CTAs will develop a close-knit network that allows them to connect with one another to further their knowledge and fuel their motivation to serve the customer. By keeping your frontline engaged and connected to your destination’s attributes and vision, your ambassador corps will be at-the-ready, ensuring that groups and visitors hear a consistent story about your destination – powerful branding and marketing at the frontline!

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CTA Pride

CTA IN THE NEWS

Gettysburg 'ambassadors' train for 150th
Posted 01/15/2010
The Journey Through Hallowed Ground is training workers on the front lines...
» Read Original Article
Celebrating the Success of the NTTAP
Posted 01/07/2010
The Dallas/Fort Worth Area Tourism Council (DFWATC) and Foundation are pleased...
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Harpers Ferry Workers Become 'Tourism Ambassadors'
Posted 01/02/2010
As the anniversary of the Civil War approaches...
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Ready, Set, Spokane!
Posted 12/29/2009
When expecting guests from out of town most folks give their home an extra-thorough cleaning.
» Read Original Article
McKinney CVB staff receives hospitality certification via national program
Posted 11/19/2009
The McKinney CVB staff recently completed...
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Lexington Cops Certified In Bluegrass Tourism
Posted 08/14/2009
Many CVBs have made considerable efforts ...
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Cities Turn Workers into Tourism Ambassadors
Posted 07/10/2009
The Certified Tourism Ambassador program ...
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Frisco leaders converge on Collin College for ambassador program
Posted 06/15/2009
A mayor, chamber of commerce president...
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If a tourist walked into your business and asked about local history, would you know the answers?
Posted 01/28/2009
It’s a daunting question that hotel clerks...
» Read Original Article
Anaheim signs up Disney District workers for tourism etiquette classes
Posted 08/03/2008
If Disneyland is the Happiest Place on Earth...
» Read Original Article