OTLA: EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OVERVIEW

The following themes and program content will be covered each year (regardless of program locations) to provide continuity and consistency across program years as each new academy class embraces their academy experience.

Oregon’s regional destination management executives will be 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. The following outlines Learning Objectives for OTLA.

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

Experiential Learning Objectives:

• An overview and discussion of Oregon’s workforce system
• Class discussions on assigned reading material; materials cover cultural self-awareness, empathy, and decision-making skills
• Tourism-related facility trends in Portland
• Networking with OTLA graduates in conjunction with the Governor’s Conference on Tourism

Central Theme #2
Optimizing Statewide Economic Impact

Experiential Learning Objectives:

• The 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
• Class discussions on assigned reading material
• Best practices for preparing oral and written testimony for elected leaders
• The State of Oregon agri-tourism
• Understand the importance of creativity and problem-solving skills

Central Theme #3
Running an Effective Tourism Oriented Organization and Business

Experiential Learning Objectives:

• Oregon Tourism Sustainability – conservation and stewardship
• Trail development and connectivity
• Monetizing destination development initiatives
• Tourism as an Export Economy – creating multipliers
• Leveraging limited tourism promotional dollars
• Accessing grant dollars – best practices and success stories
• Class discussions on assigned reading material
• Presentation and problem solving skills 
• Cultivate increased self-awareness, critical thinking, and goal development

Central Theme #4
Championing the Value of Tourism

Experiential Learning Objectives:

• Mock public hearing presentations 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
• Class discussions on assigned reading material
• Cultural competency, critical thinking, and goal development