The University of Lynchburg’s Professional Development Institute has partnered with the Virginia Association of Destination Marketing Organizations on the VADMO’s new tourism leadership credentialing initiative, the Tourism Leadership Institute.
The program is designed to prepare industry professionals who want to advance their careers and blend their knowledge, skills, and abilities with leadership theory and business strategy.
The VTLI will focus on leadership, communication, advocacy, community development, finance, and management, and has been brought to industry professionals in partnership with the Virginia Tourism Corporation.
The PDI will certify the credentials, which provide a Certified Virginia Tourism Professional, or CVTP, designation to program graduates. The program is noncredit and not associated with the University of Lynchburg’s curriculum.
“This initiative complements our Travel, Tourism, and Hospitality portfolio and we look forward to working with tourism professionals across the Commonwealth,” said John Zinn, the PDI’s executive director.
The one-year program includes four required, in-person sessions with a tourism impact project as part of the certification process. The sessions will be held in four different regions of the Commonwealth.
The coursework is designed to move participants toward earning an industry credential with a planned recertification process. The quarterly, in-person meetings will provide peer-to-peer networking opportunities in addition to the educational content and testing.
The first cohort for the program, which begins on Tuesday, Sept. 24, is full and includes travel and tourism professionals from across Virginia.
For more information, visit the PDI’s website.
