Dutchess Tourism Ambassador Program

Dutchess Tourism, Inc. is proud to be an Accredited Provider of the Tourism Ambassador Institute® and is authorized to offer its official Certified Tourism Ambassador™ (CTA) program to Dutchess County's residents and businesses. We currently have had over 560 individuals complete this program, representing over 220 local businesses.

About the Program

This professional certification program is designed to benefit workers by increasing their skills and also benefit businesses that will have more satisfied and happy customers. Collectively, when front-line staff members are inspired to turn every visitor encounter into a positive experience, customers are more likely to return in the future and also share their experience with others, boosting tourism and visitor spending overall.

This tourism and hospitality training program is ideal for students and adults who interact directly with visitors to our area who would like to get a job or volunteer in that capacity.

Program Curriculum:

Module 1: The Power of Tourism
Module 2: Discovering Dutchess
Module 3: Knowing, Finding & Using Key Resources
Module 4: Exceed Customer Expectations

The curriculum is delivered through pre-class reading and a half-day in-person class.

How to Sign Up

Dutchess Tourism offers the Certified Tourism Ambassador™ Program for $25 per participant. Interested in hosting a class? We offer a discounted rate of $15 per participant for hosting venues and offer private classes for groups of 12 or more. If you have questions, please email training@dutchesstourism.com or call 845-204-9515.

To enroll, click the registration button below. In the menu, under 'Become a CTA,' select 'Sign Up/Enroll.'

2025 Classes:

Tuesday, May 6th - 9:00 am - 1:30 pm - Hilton Garden Inn in Fishkill - register by April 22nd

Wednesday, June 18th - 9:00 am - 1:30 pm - Franklin D. Roosevelt Visitor Center in Hyde Park - register by June 4th

Monday, July 21st – 9:00 am - 1:30 pm – Beekman Arms in Rhinebeck – register by July 7th

Thursday, August 14th - 9:00 am - 1:30 pm - Hampton Inn & Suites in Poughkeepsie - register by July 31st

Wednesday, September 17th - 9:00 am - 1:30 pm - Franklin D. Roosevelt Visitor Center in Hyde Park - register by September 3rd

Wednesday, December 17th - 9:00 am - 1:30 pm - Franklin D. Roosevelt Visitor Center in Hyde Park - register by December 4th

Dates don't match your schedule? Reach out to training@dutchesstourism.com to schedule a class.

Testimonials

“The class was informative and engaging, and I think it has value for all front-line hospitality workers.”
- Rebecca Morgan Imperati, Senior Director of Food & Beverage Operations at the Culinary Institute of America

“It was a great class, and it certainly exceeded my expectations! It was very interesting and educational, and I learned things I never knew before. I enjoyed how engaging and interactive it was, and I'm happy to have had the chance to connect with new people from all over the area who are as passionate about the Hudson Valley and Dutchess County as I am! I enjoyed hearing everyone share their thoughts and experiences, and I wrote down several places they shared! I would recommend this class to anyone who is passionate about the Hudson Valley and is public-facing.”
- Robyn Scarchilli, Associate of Public & Community Affairs at Nuvance Health

“Becoming a Certified Tourism Ambassador for Dutchess County not only gives me the resources and knowledge to promote our amazing county but also inspires me to discover even more of what Dutchess County has to offer. I often talk about how great our county is, so I'm thrilled to have an official certification to stand behind when I excite people to come and visit. Many thanks to Melaine and her team for facilitating such a fantastic program for what I believe to be one of the most dynamic and inviting counties of New York State.”
- Scott Ramsey, Executive Director at the New York Cider Association

“This is a fabulous certification for those looking to stand out in the hospitality industry. I recommend it to all of my hospitality clients!'
- Andrew Mendez-Spera, CEO at Tipsy Social

“The CTA program is a very dense and informative program that really provides you and your team with information about Dutchess County that empowers individuals to share the rich history with visitors to the region. I highly recommend every hospitality professional to make this program part of their onboarding process.”
- Chef Brandon Walker, Owner at Essie’s Restaurant

Dutchess County Businesses and Organizations with Certified Tourism Ambassadors™ (CTAs)