OTLA: ​EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OVERVIEW

Four central themes will be covered each year to provide continuity and consistency across program years as each new academy class embraces their academy experience. The Experiential Learning Objectives for the current year are outlined below.

Oregon’s regional destination management executives are invited to provide a comprehensive overview on the state of the tourism industry in their region as academy program locations rotate across the state year to year. 

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LEARNING OVERVIEW

2025 APPLICATION

Central Theme #1
Supporting and Empowering Oregon’s Tourism Industry

Experiential Learning Objectives:

• Leadership Development: Creativity, storytelling, and humor
• Leadership in Action: Tourism & Hospitality leaders drive results for Southern Oregon’s tourism economy
• Tourism-Related Facility Trends: Trail development and connectivity updates around the state, and other case studies from Southern Oregon
• Overview and Discussion: Oregon’s workforce system
• Class Discussions on Assigned Reading Material: First half of the book, Factfulness
• Overview and Discussion: Oregon restaurant and lodging taxes

Central Theme #2
Optimizing Statewide Economic Impact

Experiential Learning Objectives:

• Leadership Development: Strategy, critical thinking, and problem-solving
• Overcoming the Fear of Conflict Preview: Self-assessment instructions in preparation for Autumn
• History of Oregon Tourism: Where we’ve been and where we’re going
• Oregon’s 9 Federally Recognized Tribes and Their Contributions to Oregon’s Tourism Economy
• Tourism Promotion Investments and Optimizing Return on Investment: Case studies from Central Oregon
• Class Discussions on Assigned Reading Material: Second half of the book, Factfulness
• Best Practices: Preparing oral + written testimony for elected leaders

Central Theme #3
Running Effective Tourism-Oriented Organizations and Businesses

Experiential Learning Objectives:

• Leadership Development: Presentation, problem-solving skills, and overcoming the fear of conflict 
• Oregon Tourism Sustainability: Conservation, stewardship, and resident sentiment
• Monetizing Destination Development Initiatives
• Tourism as an Export Economy: Creating multipliers
• Leveraging Limited Tourism Promotional Dollars
• Class Discussions on Assigned Reading Material: First half of the book, Crucial Conversations
• Follow-Up work to Prepare for Oral and Written Testimony in front of Elected Officials in December

Central Theme #4
Championing the Value of Tourism

Experiential Learning Objectives:

• Leadership Development: Cultivating increased self-awareness, goal development
• Mock Public Hearing Presentations: Testifying on tourism-related issues in front of elected leaders
• Regional and State Park Infrastructure
• Media Relations and Cultivating Effective Working Relationships
• The State of Oregon Wildfires
• The State of Oregon Agri-Tourism
• Class Discussions on Assigned Reading Material: Second half of the book, Crucial Conversations
• Class Certificates of Completion: Celebratory dinner to conclude the program year