Enhancing the Visitor Experience ™
Industry-Recognized Certification
Enhancing the Visitor Experience ™
Industry-Recognized Certification
Enhancing the Visitor Experience ™
Industry-Recognized Certification
Enhancing the Visitor Experience ™
Industry-Recognized Certification
Enhancing the Visitor Experience ™
Industry-Recognized Certification
Enhancing the Visitor Experience ™
Industry-Recognized Certification
WELCOME TO CTA
Investing In Your Destination's
People Infrastructure
The Certified Tourism AmbassadorTM (CTA) program is industry-recognized certification that aligns the destination's people infrastructure ─ its stakeholder businesses and front-line ─ to increase tourism by Enhancing the Visitor ExperienceTM. With over 17,000 current CTAs and 50,000 certified since its inception, this affordable program drives visitor spending through in-depth knowledge of the destination 'product'; gives destinations a competitive advantage; and ensures consistent delivery of a positive destination brand experience. In today's consumer-driven world, savvy destinations realize the importance of CTA. More
CTA DESTINATIONS
Destinations Committed to the Visitor Experience.
Over 17,000 CTAs & Growing!
- CTA Spotlight
- Testimonials
CTA Spotlight
Dee Tokarski, CTA, Grand Rapids, MI
Airport Ambassador, Gerald R. Ford International Airport
"I LOVE being a CTA, because it gives me the opportunity to share my love of West Michigan with visitors, with residents, with the curious, and with those looking for something to do. People listen, because of the pin. People ask me about the pin, so I have the chance to tell them about the program and invite them to become a part of us. The camaraderie among those of us who are CTAs is wonderful!"
Testimonials
"We are proud that Louisville has over 700 CTAs. This national certification program helps us elevate Louisville as a meeting, convention, and leisure destination. We want our visitors to have outstanding service and the best experience…CTA helps ensure this."
Karen Williams, CTA, President & CEO
Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau
CTA In The News
Downtown Guides Earn National Certification
Posted 01/04/2021Fun fact: approximately 100 years ago, Olympia was home to a bicycle parade centered around Read More
Experience Olympia & Beyond Announces the Thurston Tourism Ambassador Program
Posted 08/28/2020Thurston County, Wash. August 28, 2020 - Starting this fall, Thurston County will have a new Read More
BUTTE COUNTY'S CTA GROUP IS GROWING IN NUMBERS
Posted 02/19/2020BUTTE COUNTY, CA - Butte County is training a cadre of CTA's. CTA stands for "Certified Read More
Bermuda Shorts and a Huge Smile are Proudly Worn by the First International CTA of the Year
Posted 07/11/2019Bermuda businessman Dennie O'Connor, CTA sees hospitality not as a job, but a passion. A Read More
Destination Ann Arbor to receive 2019 Yankee Air Museum Visionary Award
Posted 03/12/2019FOR LOVE OF THE CITY: MEET ANAHEIM’S CERTIFIED TOURISM AMBASSADORS
Posted 03/03/2019Kent tourism officials report full slate of activities on tap
Posted 02/24/2019Kent tourism officials report full slate of activities on tap
Posted 02/24/2019Greater Columbus Convention Center Announces Promotions of Amy Huggins and Lea Westerfield
Posted 02/21/2019Franklin County Visitors Bureau Highlights Growing CTA Program in 2018
Posted 12/21/2018Volunteers join ambassador effort to boost Calhoun County tourism
Posted 04/16/2018Sonoma County tourism ‘ambassador’ program drives up visitor spending
Posted 03/26/2018Battle Creek, Calhoun County, Michigan announces CTA Program
Posted 12/29/2017Jack Moneypenny, CEO, CTA Recognized for 10 Years of Service
Posted 10/26/2017At-Large CTA Troy Thorn is Part of Chesapeake Conference Center History
Posted 09/13/2017Become a Grand Rapids Ambassador
Posted 12/23/2015Click on the link to view this great video! Become a Grand Rapids Ambassador Read More
CVG leads region in Certified Tourism Ambassador program training
Posted 12/21/2015COVINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 21, 2015) - The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport (CVG) has had 49 Read More
This Isn't Peanuts!
Posted 09/09/2015Volunteer at Charles Schultz Sonoma County Airport Puts CTA Program Over Milestone 15,000 CTAs Read More
Lawton Fort Sill now home to Certified Tourism Ambassadors
Posted 06/03/2015LAWTON, Okla._Tourism partners in Lawton Fort Sill received a national certification in hospitality Read More
2015 International CTA of the Year Aims to Give Greater Columbus Visitors the Ultimate Experience
Posted 06/01/2015Amy Huggins, CTA wants every visitor to leave with a smile and a great feeling. Amy Huggins, Read More
All-Star Ambassadors Prepare to Help Visitors...
Posted 04/29/2015by Larry Davis Local12 Note: Click on link at bottom to see video story. CINCINNATI -- It Read More
Tourism 'ambassadors' will help city visitors
Posted 04/20/2015Did you know Cincinnati was the first U.S. city to establish a Jewish hospital and publish greeting Read More
Cincinnati recruiting tourism ambassadors for All-Star game events
Posted 04/16/2015by Erik Zarnitz WLWT5 Note: Click on link at bottom to see video story. CINCINNATI -The Read More
Tourism ambassadors help sell Lansing
Posted 04/15/2015by Vickki Dozier Lansing State Journal In 2010, the Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Read More
Hospitality Month is launched
Posted 03/31/2015by Sarah Lagan The Royal Gazette Hospitality Month was launched at City Hall this afternoon Read More
Hospitality ambassadors 'polish' Rochester's apple
Posted 03/27/2015by Jeff Kiger PostBulletin.com While Rochester is known for its hospitals, hospitality is key Read More
Experience Columbus Certifies 2,000 Tourism Ambassadors
Posted 03/24/2015COLUMBUS - Since launching the Greater Columbus Tourism AmbassadorTM Program in 2013, Experience Read More
Rebranding brings multimillion-dollar boost to N. Ky. tourism
Posted 03/20/2015A new branding campaign is being credited for an $11 million increase in economic impact from Read More
Our town is a tourist destination
Posted 03/08/2015by Amy Schneider, CTA Columbia Daily Tribune The mission of the Columbia Convention and Read More
Lake County CTA program conducts first focus groups; county, Marymount collaborate
Posted 01/29/2015Lake County News LAKE COUNTY, Calif. - On Dec. 9, the Lake County Board of Supervisors, upon the Read More
America’s Cup is an airport ‘game changer’
Posted 01/22/2015The Royal Gazette by Sarah Lagan Higher visitor numbers during the America's Cup, a certified Read More
Alcoa High students become tourism ambassadors
Posted 09/25/2014By Matthew Stewart The Daily Times Blount County's tourism development program has found its Read More
Enhancing visitors' experience
Posted 07/17/2014Galveston Daily News By JOHN WAYNE FERGUSON GALVESTON - A Park Board-sponsored program has Read More
Joe Jarosh is CTA of the Year
Posted 07/17/2014Green Bay Press Gazette Without Door County business owner Joe Jarosh, a Certified Tourism Read More
Grand Rapids CTA Program Recognized As The Fastest Growing In The Country
Posted 06/12/2014In just ten months Experience Grand Rapids has trained 1,002 CTAs GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (June 12, Read More
Mississippi transplant is Stockton’s lead ambassador
Posted 05/21/2014Central Valley Business Journal STOCKTON - Joshua Mangum is a relative newcomer to Stockton, but Read More
Fort Collins plans state-first tourism program
Posted 05/19/2014by Pat Ferrier The Coloradoan More than 1 million tourists visit Fort Collins every year. The Read More
Galveston Island Convention & Visitors Bureau Launches CTA Program
Posted 05/09/2014Galveston Island, TEXAS (May 5, 2014) - In an effort to enhance the tourist experience, the Read More
CTA Founder Receives Honor
Posted 03/25/2014Congratulations to Mickey Schaefer, CEO & founder of the Tourism Ambassador Institute and the Read More
The Impression That You Get
Posted 02/01/2014by Jennifer N. Dienst PCMA Magazine When it comes to destinations, you can talk about brands Read More
Tourism Ambassadors group keeps growing
Posted 01/22/2014Green Bay Press Gazette Eleven more people have completed the Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA) Read More
Healthy Living in Rochester: The Mayo Clinic Effect
Posted 01/10/2014by Beth Erickson Virgin Atlantic Blog Exceptional Service Whether you're a patient Read More
CTA Accredited Provider Summit Hailed by Attendees
Posted 01/07/2014by Todd McElwee USAE News More than 30 Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA) program leaders Read More
Columbus Becomes Fastest Destination In America To Certify 1,000 Tourism Ambassadors
Posted 11/06/2013FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Read More
San Antonio CVB Tourism Ambassador Program Certifies 1,000
Posted 11/01/2013Texas Meeting + Events The San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau has certified 1,000 Read More
CTA Program Bestows 10,000th CTA in Columbus
Posted 10/02/2013by Dave Kovaleski MEETINGSNET The Certified Tourism Ambassador program reached a milestone in Read More
Venue Staff Can Make (or Break) an Attendee's Experience
Posted 09/27/2013Samantha Whitehorne Associations Now A new report shows how venue staff can affect an Read More
Be part in making Grand Rapids great
Posted 09/23/2013Wood TV GRAND RAPIDS, Mich (WOOD) - During ArtPrize, the community opens up to thousands of Read More
Greater Lansing CVB: FOX47 Morning Blend
Posted 09/18/2013Senior V.P. Julie Pingston talks about how to become a Certified Tourism Ambassador through the Read More
Could you be an ambassador for Grand Rapids?
Posted 08/14/2013by Andrew Krietz MLive.com GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The next time someone looks Read More
How well do you know Grand Rapids?
Posted 08/14/2013GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - How well do you know Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo or Lansing? Enough to be Read More
Tourism Ambassadors welcome visitors to Sonoma County
Posted 07/09/2013by Robert Digitale The Press Democrat Wanting a glimpse of some of the attractions Read More
Travel and tourism week: The secret's out
Posted 05/08/2013by Warren Bluhm Door County Advocate Christine Salmon reminded participants about the Read More
A plan for Michigan’s tourism industry
Posted 05/07/2013by Charlsie Dewey Grand Rapids Business Journal Well timed with the goals of the Read More
Dublin to begin CTA Program
Posted 04/27/2013by Jennifer Holt ThisWeek Community News Dublin is creating its own special kind of Read More
500th Sonoma County Tourism Ambassador Certified
Posted 04/12/2013SONOMA COUNTY, CALIF. - Sonoma County Tourism certified its 500th tourism ambassador, six months Read More
Chamber training to support tourism
Posted 04/05/2013The Record STOCKTON - Aiming to improve the tourist's experience of Stockton, the Convention Read More
Blount to start state’s first Certified Tourism Ambassador Program
Posted 04/02/2013The Daily Times Blount County is establishing the first Certified Tourism Development Read More
16 Earn Tourism Ambassador Designation
Posted 03/13/2013Door County Daily News Door County now has 16 new tourism ambassadors. The 16 completed the Read More
Volunteer ‘ambassadors’ to help Arnold Sports Festival attendees
Posted 02/26/2013by Brian R. Ball Columbus Business First More than 300 bellhops, concierge service Read More
GREATER COLUMBUS CERTIFIED TOURISM AMBASSADOR PROGRAM LAUNCHED
Posted 02/26/2013COLUMBUS, OH (Feb. 26, 2013) Just in time for Columbus largest annual event, 300 new tourism Read More
Mayor, Local Officials Graduate CVB Ambassador Program
Posted 01/30/2013CORPUS CHRISTI (Kiii News) - Corpus Christi Mayor Nelda Martinez is the newest ambassador for Read More
San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau Launches Certified Tourism Ambassador Program
Posted 11/20/2012In keeping with San Antonio's priority on the attendee experience, the San Antonio Convention & Read More
Tourism bureau wants rep in Mexico
Posted 10/29/2012by Neal Morton mySA As convention bookings and hotel occupancy rates inch closer to Read More
Sonoma County puts out welcome mat for tourists
Posted 03/04/2012By STEVE HART THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Each year, Sonoma County draws 7 million visitors, who spend Read More
City wants to fluff up the welcome mat
Posted 07/01/2011July 1, 2011 Post-Bulletin.com, Rochester, MN By Ken Hanson kenhanson@postbulletin.com It's Read More
Baltimore's Inner Harbor Gears Up for Summer Tourism
Posted 06/14/2011by Amy McNeal bmore - Baltimore News Tourism is heating up for the summer in Baltimore. As the Read More
Stites: We must be advocates for region to boost tourism
Posted 06/12/2011by Doug Stites Lansing State Journal Have you ever thought about making Greater Lansing even Read More
Door County celebrates National Tourism Week
Posted 05/13/2011by Warren Bluhm Door County Advocate If you're in Door County, it must be time to unwind. Read More
It's Happening in Lansing
Posted 05/10/2011Scott Keith is president and CEO of Lansing Entertainment & Public Facilities Authority (LEPFA) Read More
Area Workers Learn to Promote Tourism
Posted 08/25/2010When people visit the Lansing area, their experiences can be shaped by encounters with taxi Read More
Frisco leaders converge on Collin College for ambassador program
Posted 06/15/2009A mayor, chamber of commerce president, executive chef, a police officer and a college student Read More
Anaheim signs up Disney District workers for tourism etiquette classes
Posted 08/03/2008The Los Angeles Times Paloma Esquivel Los Angeles Times Staff Writer If Disneyland is Read More
