Stride Institute

Transforming Communities Through Tourism
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Welcome To Stride Institute!

Tourism Education for Rural, Resort and Urban Destinations

Stride Institute offers flexible, on-demand programs in tourism, hospitality, and destination experience.

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Free On-Demand Courses (Available Now)

  • Visitor Experience Design
  • Introduction to Destination Marketing
  • Sustainable Tourism Practices
  • Tourism Innovation & Digital Experience
  • Tourism Research Methods

CAMPUSES


Two Complementary Environments (Opening April 2026)

  • Valemount Teaching Resort Campus – Opening April 2026
Focus: Resort operations, rural tourism, mountain experience design, Indigenous partnerships.
  • Surrey / White Rock Urban Tourism & Research Centre (Proposed – Opening April 2026)

Focus: Urban tourism, festivals/events, multicultural visitor experiences, mobility and placemaking.

Students will participate in short residencies focused on:

  • Resort operations
  • Guest experience design
  • Indigenous tourism partnerships
  • Rural tourism
  • Outdoor recreation & adventure tourism

What We Do

STRIDE Institute – Tourism Education for Rural, Resort and Urban Destinations

STRIDE Institute offers flexible, on-demand programs in tourism, hospitality, and destination experience.

Participate in field intensives starting April 2026

Gain real-world exposure through guided field activities designed to build practical tourism knowledge.

Learn tourism through both rural and urban lenses

Understand how tourism operates in contrasting environments, from countryside communities to major cities.

Develop hands-on skills in real tourism settings

Build practical abilities by observing and participating directly in authentic industry operations.

Engage with communities, operators, and visitors

Connect with key stakeholders to learn how tourism impacts and benefits people on all sides.

ON-DEMAND PROGRAM GRID

Visitor Experience Design (VED 101

This introductory course explores visitor touchpoints, experience mapping, and emotional journey design.

VED 101

Learners examine how destinations and operators create memorable experiences across rural, resort, and urban environments.

Introduction to Destination Marketing

This course covers the fundamentals of destination branding, positioning, target markets used in destination marketing.

Destination Marketing

Understand the purpose of destination marketing.

Sustainable Tourism Practices

Learners study responsible tourism principles including environmental stewardship, cultural respect, regenerative tourism.

Tourism Innovation and Digital Experience

Understand sustainability concepts.

Tourism Innovation and Digital Experience

An introduction to digital transformation in tourism, exploring mobile experiences, online behaviour, touchless systems, AI, and smart-city tools.

Tourism Innovation

Identify digital trends in tourism.

Tourism Research Methods (Beginner

This course introduces foundational research concepts including data collection, surveys, observation, visitor behaviour, and basic data interpretation.

Tourism Research

Understand the role of research in tourism

Resort Guest Experience Management (Micro-credential)

Learners examine how resort destinations manage guest journeys, service flows, quality standards, and overall guest satisfaction.

Resort Guest Experience Management

Understand resort service systems

Front Office Operations and Service Excellence

Covers core front desk procedures, communication standards, service recovery, and PMS system fundamentals.

Front Office Operations

Understand front office responsibilities.

RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

STRIDE conducts tourism research across both rural and urban themes. 

Online research and project-based work is available now.
Field research opportunities will launch April 2026 at:

Surrey / White Rock (urban & multicultural tourism)

Explore tourism within dynamic city environments where diverse cultures, languages, and lifestyles intersect. This sector highlights heritage sites, creative districts, global cuisines, festivals, and modern attractions that shape how travelers experience urban life. Learn how multicultural populations, inclusive practices, and city infrastructure influence visitor engagement, destination branding, and sustainable tourism development in major metropolitan areas.

Valemount (rural & resort tourism)

Dive into tourism experiences rooted in peaceful countryside settings and purpose-built resort destinations. This sector focuses on nature-based activities, cultural traditions, agri-tourism, eco-experiences, and wellness-focused retreats. Understand how rural communities preserve authenticity, how resorts deliver high-quality leisure experiences, and how natural landscapes, local crafts, and community interaction enrich the visitor journey while supporting sustainable regional growth

Why Stride Institute!

STRIDE blends the accessibility of on-demand learning with the depth of real-world tourism environments:

  • Study anytime, from anywhere
  • Participate in field intensives starting April 2026
  • Learn tourism through both rural and urban lenses
  • Develop hands-on skills in real tourism settings
  • Engage with communities, operators, and visitors
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