AI is rapidly changing how travelers discover destinations, compare options and make decisions. It’s also revolutionizing how tourism professionals do research, build strategy and analyze performance.

The Ohio Travel Association is partnering with AI expert John Fimiani of LaMark Media to offer practical and applied learning experiences designed to help you confidently use AI in ways that are useful and immediately applicable.

These sessions are ideal for travel and tourism professionals in leadership, marketing, strategy, research, visitor services and operations - whether you’re brand-new to AI or already experimenting and want a clearer framework, better workflows and stronger outputs.

Why Train with OTA?

Other professional AI certifications cost between $200 and $500 for a single session, high-level overview. We’ve designed our sessions to be different:

• Tourism Focused: This isn't generic tech training. Every example is built for travel and tourism professionals.

• More Depth: Our Deep-Dive includes three targeted 90-minute sessions, not just one.

• Low Cost: Save significantly, with sessions starting at just $125/pp for OTA members.

• Exclusive Credential: Participants who complete the three-day deep-dive will receive an AI Foundations digital badge, perfect for your LinkedIn, professional portfolio, or resume. Digital badge sponsored by EEI.

Click Here to Register

Single Session Jumpstart AI: Foundations Exploration (90-minute immersion session)

• Date and Time: June 3 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Investment:  $125/pp for OTA members and $175/pp for non-members
• Format: Live, expert-led video session with reference resources

Overview:

Build a shared, practical baseline of AI knowledge—what it is, what it isn’t, and how to use it effectively in day-to-day work. You’ll leave with clear guidance on choosing the right tools, writing better inputs (prompts), interpreting outputs, and applying key skills safely and productively.

You’ll Explore

• Principles of AI: How modern AI works at a high level; what you can trust and how to think about using AI in your job
• Tools & landscape: What’s available, what different tools are good at, and when to use which
• What to use / how to use: Realistic use cases and decision framework
• Inputs → outputs: How to get clearer, more consistent results (and how to iterate fast)
• Core skills: Prompting basics, evaluation habits, and “better-than-average” workflows
• Resources included: Access to an AI resource library to support continued learning and adoption

Three-Day Deep-Dive Strategic AI Series: Research, Strategy & Operations (three 90-minute interactive mini-courses)

• Dates and Times:
  1. June 9 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  2. June 10 from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
  3. June 11 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Format: Hands-on sessions + demonstrations + practical exercises
• Investment: $300/pp for OTA members and $450/pp for non-members
• Participation: Attend three 90-minute sessions 
• Recognition: Participants receive an AI Foundations digital badge (sponsored by EEI) for completing the mini-course.

Overview:

This series is built for applying AI to real work: faster research, sharper insights, stronger strategic thinking, data analysis and improved operational performance. Expect guided practice, examples you can reuse and take-home methods you can apply to your job and organization.

Session 1: AI For Research, Analysis & Insights

Learn how to use AI to conduct market research and gain audience understanding – maximizing quality and maximizing accuracy. You’ll learn how to use AI for deep research and data analysis. Use prompting to explore markets, competitors, trends and dashboards, and learn how to structure outputs into useful insight summaries and action-ready outputs.

Session 2: AI For Strategy

Use AI as a structured thinking partner to generate and strengthen strategy (not just brainstorm ideas). You’ll learn workflows that use strategy frameworks, build directly from research, and apply multiple “modes” of AI support (constructive, evaluative, challenger, collaborative). Expect practical exercises for shaping options, pressure-testing assumptions and improving clarity.

Session 3: Operational AI: Planning, People & Performance

This hands-on session focuses on using AI to streamline operational planning and improve performance management. Participants will leave with practical ways to apply AI to planning, performance analysis/reporting, staff management and more.

Click Here to Register

Earn Your AI Foundations Digital Badge

Exclusively available to those who complete the Strategic Three-Day Deep-Dive, this digital badge provides verified, secure evidence of your AI competency. Unlike a simple resume claim, this metadata-rich credential allows you to showcase verified expertise in AI tools directly on LinkedIn. It offers a distinct competitive edge by providing a standardized marker of credibility, helping you stand out to employers and industry leaders. More than just a record of attendance, this badge recognizes your ability to apply advanced AI frameworks to real-world tourism strategy in a fast-evolving field. Digital badge sponsored by EEI. 

Sharpen Your AI Skills

Whether you’re looking to build AI confidence across your team or you want hands-on workflows for research, strategy and reporting, these sessions are designed to be practical, approachable, and immediately useful. Save the dates for the single session or deep-dives and consider inviting your team members so your organization can apply the learning faster and more consistently.

Sessions will Include:

• Live, expert-led video sessions
• Copies of the training materials
• Useful resources for you to use in diving deeper and applying skills