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Indiana Tourism Academy

In 2022, ITA launched the Indiana Tourism Academy. The mission for the academy is Indiana Tourism Academy sparks innovation, deepens expertise and builds empowering connections among tourism professionals through engaging education and immersive experiences. 

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 are:

  • Tuesday, March 4 - Tourism 101 (held during Indiana Tourism Conference in March and will only be a one hour session)
  • Tuesday, May 13 - Tourism 201: Strategic Opportunities in Destination Management Location at Huber Orchard and Winery
  • Thursday, August 7 - Tourism 301: Destination Development at the Indianapolis Airport Authority
  • Wednesday, November 5 - Tourism 302: Cultivating the Destination Experience at Fair Oaks Farms
  • Wednesday, December 17 - Tourism Marketing and Sales at the Indiana State Museum 
  • January/February 2026 - Tourism Advocacy in Downtown Indy

Participants will participate in four zoom calls throughout the year 10am (EST). The 2025 dates are:

  • Wednesday, February 26
  • Wednesday, April 30
  • Wednesday, June 18
  • Wednesday, September 24

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 January 10, 2025. Click here for the application.

Please contact Carrie Lambert if you have any questions.