The Destination Champion online training program is a regional initiative designed to equip community members and local professionals with the tools to help care for and protect what makes Tahoe and Truckee special. Led by the Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Council in collaboration with the Tahoe Chamber, North Tahoe Chamber, and Truckee Chamber, this program provides practical, consistent training that empowers participants to engage with visitors in meaningful and impactful ways.
Our region’s strongest advocates are those who live and work here. By strengthening local knowledge and visitor engagement skills, we can collectively preserve the culture, environment, and lifestyle that define our mountain communities.
This self-paced, one-hour online training is designed for anyone who interacts with visitors, including hospitality professionals, retail staff, recreation providers, frontline employees, volunteers, and community members. Through interactive modules, participants gain a deeper understanding of North Lake Tahoe, South Lake Tahoe, and Truckee; learn about the Washoe people and the region’s cultural heritage; explore what sustainable tourism means for our communities; and develop practical strategies for positive visitor engagement, including handling challenging situations and promoting responsible outdoor recreation.
When visitors understand the culture and values of our mountain towns, they are more likely to embrace the Tahoe lifestyle, feel connected to our communities, and help care for the places they enjoy. As Nettie Pardue, Managing Director of the Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Council, shares, “Our region’s best advocates have always been those who live and work in our community. If we work together to teach visitors about the culture of our mountain towns, they’re more likely to embrace the pace of the Tahoe lifestyle when they’re here, feel more connected to our communities, and want to help take care of them.”
The Destination Champion platform was developed in partnership with Learn Tourism, a nonprofit academy that has worked with more than 60 destinations nationwide to deliver effective and engaging education programs. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment across South Lake Tahoe, North Lake Tahoe, and Truckee to create a unified approach to visitor engagement and destination stewardship.
The training is online, self-paced, and easy to complete.
