Learn Tourism Announces 2026 Virtual Symposium and 2027 Annual Conference Dates

Nonprofit tourism education leader expands opportunities for industry learning, collaboration, and innovation.

Learn Tourism, the nonprofit academy dedicated to advancing the tourism industry through innovative educational practices and professional development, recently announced two major upcoming events designed to engage, inspire, and empower tourism professionals worldwide. 

The organization will host the Learn Tourism Virtual Symposium on November 10, 2026, followed by the 2027 Learn Tourism Conference taking place in Richmond, Virginia, from November 7-9, 2027.

Together, these events represent Learn Tourism’s continued commitment to creating accessible, practical, and forward-thinking learning experiences for destination leaders, tourism professionals, educators, hospitality organizations, and community advocates.

The 2026 Virtual Symposium will bring together tourism professionals, educators, marketers, and changemakers for a one-day online experience focused on destination stewardship, community engagement, visitor experience, and responsible tourism in action. Attendees will explore practical tools and real-world strategies to strengthen local sentiment, improve storytelling, and create tourism experiences that better serve both visitors and residents.

The 2027 Learn Tourism Conference in Richmond will expand on the organization’s growing reputation for immersive, empathy-driven programming that challenges conventional thinking and equips attendees with actionable strategies to create stronger visitor economies and healthier communities.

“Tourism is evolving rapidly, and the need for meaningful professional development has never been greater,” said Stephen Ekstrom, CEO & Co-founder of Learn Tourism. “These events are designed to create space for honest conversations, bold ideas, practical learning, and authentic connections among the people shaping the future of tourism.”

Sarah Benoit, conference advisor and Lead Instructor at Learn Tourism, added, “The tourism industry is hungry for conversations that go beyond surface-level trends. What makes the Learn Tourism Conference special is its focus on humanity, innovation, and practical action. It’s a space where people can challenge assumptions, share ideas openly, and leave inspired to create meaningful impact in their communities.”

Learn Tourism’s conferences and symposiums are intentionally designed to blend education, storytelling, psychology, technology, sustainability, and human-centered leadership into experiences that feel both deeply practical and personally transformative.

Recent Learn Tourism events and initiatives have engaged destination marketing executives, tourism nonprofits, regional and state tourism organizations, experience providers, attraction operators, educators, and social impact leaders from across North America and beyond.

The organization’s growing educational network includes:

• 35,000+ active learners worldwide

• 28,000+ engaged email subscribers

• 12,000+ LinkedIn followers

• 15,000+ podcast listeners

• 41,500+ active website users

• 76,000+ annual social media impressions

Additional details regarding speakers, registration, sponsorship opportunities, award programming, and educational tracks for both events will be announced in the coming months. Organizations interested in sponsorship opportunities, speaking participation, or partnership discussions are encouraged to connect with Learn Tourism early as programming and promotional initiatives begin to roll out. Existing conference sponsorship opportunities include mission-driven visibility packages, educational storytelling opportunities, and scholarship-supporting initiatives designed to align brands with meaningful industry impact. 

For updates and event announcements, visit Learn Tourism Conference.

Courtesy of Groups Today.