Building Careers Around Responsible Travel
We started in 2019 because the tourism industry needed something different. Not just another training program, but a real focus on sustainability and career paths that actually matter in today's travel landscape.
Explore Our Programs
Why Sustainable Tourism Matters Now
The travel industry is changing. Communities want tourism that respects their culture. Travelers seek authentic experiences. And businesses? They need people who understand both sides.
We've spent the past six years working with professionals who get it. People who want to build tourism that lasts—not just for one season, but for generations.
What Guides Our Work
These aren't buzzwords on our wall. They're principles that shape every program we design and every relationship we build.
Community First
Tourism should benefit the places we visit. We teach professionals how to design experiences that respect local culture and create real economic opportunity for communities.
Practical Knowledge
Theory has its place, but we focus on skills you'll use next week. Our programs come from real industry challenges and actual project experiences across different tourism contexts.
Long-Term Thinking
Quick fixes don't build sustainable tourism. We help professionals develop approaches that work over time—strategies that adapt as communities and industries evolve together.
How We Got Here
Started With Questions
Tourism professionals kept asking the same thing: where do you learn responsible travel practices? We realized there was a real gap between traditional hospitality training and what the industry actually needed.
First Full Program
After two years of development and pilot workshops, we launched our comprehensive sustainable tourism program. Twenty-eight participants from seven states joined that first cohort.
Expanded Focus
Added specialized tracks for destination management and community engagement. We learned that one-size programs don't work—different tourism contexts need different approaches.
Building Networks
Now working with over 300 alumni across the country. The most valuable part? Watching them connect with each other and share what they're learning in their own communities.
The People Behind the Programs
Our team combines years of tourism industry experience with genuine commitment to changing how the field operates. We've worked in destinations, managed projects, and faced the same challenges our participants encounter.
Iris Valtonen
Spent twelve years developing tourism strategies across the Pacific Northwest before building our curriculum. She knows what works in small mountain towns and larger coastal destinations alike.
Damir Kovačević
Bridges the gap between tourism businesses and local communities. His background in cultural anthropology helps participants understand impact from multiple perspectives.