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Indiana Tourism Academy


In 2022, ITA launched the Indiana Tourism Academy. The mission for the academy is to provide education, resources and networks needed to develop tourism professionals for the state of Indiana. Graduates of the academy are designated as a "Certified Indiana Tourism Professional."

Why:

  • Need to educate more individuals in the tourism industry to deepen Indiana's tourism bench for the future
  • This is the only education program for tourism industry professionals to grow their knowledge on a statewide level

Who:

  • Any individual in the Indiana tourism industry who is looking to grow in their knowledge of the industry from a statewide perspective
  • Preferred two years in the tourism industry
  • ITA limits one person per organization in each class

What:

Over the course of a year, participants will attend six, in person sessions held from 9:30am-3pm (EST) covering core topics. These meetings are held on Wednesdays. The 2025 dates have not been determined, but the months and topics for 2024 are:

  • Tuesday, March 4 - Tourism 101 (held during Indiana Tourism Conference in March and will only be a one hour session)
  • April - Tourism Executive Operations Location at Minnetrista Museum and Gardens (Muncie)
  • June - Tourism and Hospitality Assets at the Indianapolis Airport Authority
  • October - Community Development/Quality of Place/Economic Development at T.C. Steele State Historic Site (Brown County)
  • December - Tourism Research at the Indiana State Museum 
  • January/February 2025 - Tourism Advocacy in Downtown Indy

Participants will participate in four zoom calls throughout the year 10am (EST). The 2025 dates have not been determined, but the months are:

  • February
  • May
  • August
  • November

Other Requirements:

  • Participants will submit a final "project" that will showcase the information learned and apply it to a destination/community/region; past projects can be viewed here
  • Participants will have a book component to read/discuss with their class
  • Participants will leave with an overarching understanding of the tourism industry and be able to articulate that to others as well as advocate for the industry

Application and Program Details:

  • Cost for the academy is $799/Member and $999/Non Member. This includes:
    • All five sessions (outside of the conference session), lunch and parking
    • $100 off Indiana Tourism Conference registration for current year
    • Payment is due before the annual conference. An applicant may withdraw their application up to two weeks prior to the April session and receive a full refund. After the April session, any participant who withdraws from the program, for any reason, will not receive a refund.
  • In addition to the application, a letter of recommendation from a current ITA member and a current resume is required
  • Deadline to apply for 2025 will be December 31, 2024. Click here for the application.

Please contact Carrie Lambert if you have any questions.