Industry Launches Third Year of Leadership Program for Tourism Professionals

​[Wilsonville, OR] – The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association proudly announces the third-year launch of the Oregon Tourism Leadership Academy (OTLA), developed in partnership with the Oregon Destination Association and Travel Oregon, and led by the industry’s top experts. The annual experiential learning program is targeted to public and private sector tourism professionals who are seeking to polish their leadership and professional skills, continue to grow their career accomplishments, and make positive and lasting contributions to the state’s tourism economy and its success. 

“Our industry partners and participants have been instrumental in providing the leadership necessary to strengthen the interconnectivity within the industry,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “Three years of programming for three classes of tourism professionals is creating positive industry momentum for the value of tourism to local economies throughout our great state.”

Tourism professionals currently participating in the second-year class continue to follow health and safety guidelines as they approach program conclusion in March. The third-year class will launch March 16 in Central Oregon and conclude in December of 2022 in the Willamette Valley. View a roster for the third-year class online.

Curriculum, field visits, and hands-on experiences are strategically designed to support and align with the state’s tourism goals and objectives which include 4 Strategic Imperatives:

1. Optimizing the Statewide Economic Impact of Tourism in Oregon
2. Supporting and Empowering Oregon’s Tourism Industry
3. Championing the Value of Tourism
4. Running Effective Tourism Oriented Organizations and Businesses

The OTLA experience is designed for professionals currently serving Oregon’s tourism and hospitality industries. Interested program participants should have supervisory, managerial, or executive responsibilities in either the private or public sector. Applications from industry professionals who will soon be responsible for similar levels of responsibility are also encouraged to apply for the academy program.
 
The strategic imperatives outlined above will serve as the program’s core themes each year. Each theme will receive focus as a part of 4 multi-day experiential learning programs designed to provide academy participants with comprehensive educational experiences. Each year, approximately 20 academy participants are accepted into the program alongside industry experts and facilitators.
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For more information on the Oregon Tourism Leadership Academy, visit www.oregonrla.org/otla

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The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association is the leading business association for the foodservice and lodging industry in Oregon, which provides over 150,000 paychecks to working Oregonians. Currently ORLA has over 2,800 members across the state.

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