Certified Tourism Ambassadors: How Greenville Turns Locals into Tourism Experts

June 30, 2026 by Katy Smith

This episode of Simple Civics: Greenville County is brought to you by Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, providing free books to children zero to five throughout Greenville County.

Have you ever pointed a lost visitor toward a great local restaurant and felt a surge of hometown pride? In this episode, we explore how Greenville County is turning that exact feeling into a professional standard through the Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA) program. Listeners will discover how this unique certification equips everyday residents to become expert storytellers and elevate the local hospitality experience. 

Katy Smith sits down with VisitGreenvilleSC’s Michelle Guevara and Adam Jennings to unpack how this nationally recognized curriculum transforms realtors, baristas, and retirees into confident community guides. They explore the rewarding process behind the certification, detailing everything from a surprisingly fun local history deep-dive to exclusive behind-the-scenes tours of iconic attractions. By standardizing authentic Southern hospitality, these ambassadors are trained to turn basic visitor questions into unforgettable, curated destination experiences. Tune in to find out exactly what it takes to earn the coveted gold lapel pin and maintain your insider status year after year. 

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