North Texas Tourism Ambassadors Program Certifies 1000th CTA
DALLAS/FORT WORTH, Texas (May 10, 2010) – The Dallas/Fort Worth Area Tourism Council (DFWATC) and Foundation are pleased with the first year success of their CTA (Certified Tourism AmbassadorTM) program. The program is a ground-breaking, nationwide certification program that serves to increase tourism by training and inspiring front-line hospitality employees and volunteers to work together. The curriculum is highly customized for each destination; the learning material covers the important elements of tourism, regional attributes, attractions and resources, and customer service. In April, Anne Coe, Athletics Program Coordinator for the City of Farmers Branch was certified as the program’s 1000th CTA.
Since the DFW-area program began in May 2009, there have been 1,067 CTAs certified to date through its North Texas Tourism Ambassador Program with an additional 300+ applying to become CTAs. These include people from all walks of the hospitality industry, from front-line staff to CEOs, from airport workers and volunteers to lodging, restaurant, and attractions employees, to transportation and government workers.
The Dallas/Fort Worth Area is the first region in the State of Texas to implement this program and is among 14 destinations nationwide that are committed to driving their destination brand and to Enhancing the Visitor Experience™ through the CTA program. Other destinations involved with the CTA program are Anaheim/Orange County; Baltimore; Tucson, AZ; Greater Phoenix (7 CVBs), Spokane (WA), and the Journey Through Hallowed Ground, which is a four-state tourism heritage area encompassing numerous CVBs from Gettysburg to Monticello.
The North Texas Tourism Ambassadors Program mission is to increase tourism and travel to the area by inspiring front-line employees and volunteers to work together to turn every visitor encounter from arrival to departure into a positive experience in the North Texas region. With the increased competition for tourism dollars on a state and national basis, now more than ever is it important for the region to differentiate its tourism product and service levels from other destinations. Tourism and the hospitality/travel industry is economically vital to North Texas and employs over 160,000 people (2008P).
To find out more about the Dallas/Fort Worth Area Tourism Council or the North Texas Tourism Ambassador Program, please visit DFWandBeyond.com or CTANetwork.com.
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The Dallas/Fort Worth Area Tourism Council was formed in 1978 as a cooperative marketing organization by the cities of Arlington, Dallas, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Grapevine and Irving. Banding together all segments of the tourism industry, the Council represents 32 North Texas counties, over 42 area communities, area hotels, major area attractions, museums, restaurants, shopping/retail establishments, transportation companies and support services to the industry.
The DFWATC Foundation was formed to help build the capabilities of the North Texas tourism workforce through education and training.
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