Stride Institute

Transforming Communities Through Tourism
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Free Courses

Visitor Experience Design (VED 101)

This introductory course explores visitor touchpoints, experience mapping, and emotional journey design. Learners examine how destinations and operators create memorable experiences across rural, resort, and urban environments.
Learning Outcomes

  • Understand the components of a visitor journey.
  • Identify and map visitor touchpoints.
  • Apply basic experience design principles.
  • Recognize links between expectations and satisfaction.
  • Evaluate examples of successful experiences.

Format

Available on demand. Optional field workshops begin April 2026 at the Valemount and Surrey/White Rock campuses.

Duration: 3 hours.

Assessment: Experience mapping exercise.

Who This Is For: Entry-level learners, hospitality staff, community tourism volunteers.

Pathways: Prepares learners for the Service Design micro-credential.

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Introduction to Destination Marketing

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

Learning Outcomes

  • Understand the purpose of destination marketing.
  • Identify common market segments.
  • Recognize core branding elements.
  • Understand basic digital marketing practices.
  • Analyze real DMO campaigns.

Format

On demand. Field-based marketing sessions begin April 2026.

Duration: 3 hours.

Assessment: Mini destination marketing plan.

Who This Is For: Tourism beginners, small business owners, DMO staff.

Pathways: Connects to Tourism Policy and Destination Planning.

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Sustainable Tourism Practices

Learners study responsible tourism principles including environmental stewardship, cultural respect, regenerative tourism, and community benefit.
Learning Outcomes

  • Understand sustainability concepts.
  • Identify tourism impacts.
  • Evaluate sustainable approaches.
  • Recognize Indigenous knowledge perspectives.
  • Apply regenerative tourism concepts.

Format

On demand. Sustainability field labs begin April 2026.

Duration: 3 hours.

Assessment: Case study reflection.

Who This Is For: Students, operators, municipal staff, community groups.

Pathways: Supports pathways into rural tourism field projects.

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Tourism Research Methods (Beginner)

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

  • Understand the role of research in tourism.
  • Recognize common data collection methods.
  • Understand basic analysis.
  • Interpret simple visitor data.
  • Evaluate research examples.

Format

On demand. Field-based research projects start April 2026.

Duration: 3 hours.

Assessment: Short data analysis task.

Who This Is For: Beginners, small operators, community-based tourism groups.

Pathways: Leads into Tourism Policy and Urban/Rural field projects.

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Tourism Innovation and Digital Experience

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

  • Identify digital trends in tourism.
  • Understand digital visitor expectations.
  • Recognize technology’s role in experience creation.
  • Evaluate digital tools used by destinations
  • Apply introductory innovation concepts.

Format

On demand. Digital innovation labs launch April 2026 in Surrey/White Rock.

Duration: 3 hours.

Assessment: Short innovation analysis.

Who This Is For: Tourism students, operators, tourism marketers.

Pathways: Connects to the Service Design and Urban Tourism pathways.

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Resort Guest Experience Management (Micro-credential)

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

  • Map resort guest journeys.
  • Understand resort service systems
  • Apply quality and performance standards.
  • Recognize guest satisfaction drivers.
  • Evaluate real operations.

Format

On-demand theory. Field intensives begin April 2026 at Valemount.

Duration: 3 hours.

Assessment: Guest journey mapping project.

Who This Is For: Frontline staff, supervisors, career changers.

Pathways: Part of the Resort and Rural Tourism Pathway (2026).

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Front Office Operations and Service Excellence

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

  • Understand front office responsibilities.
  • Apply check-in/check-out procedures.
  • Communicate effectively with guests.
  • Manage service recovery.
  • Understand PMS basics.

Format

On demand. Practical labs available April 2026.

Duration: 3 hours.

Assessment: Service scenario simulation.

Who This Is For: Front desk staff, hotel trainees, supervisors.

Pathways: Aligns with resort operations training in Valemount.

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Housekeeping Leadership and Quality Systems

Focuses on housekeeping management, workflow, cleaning science, inspections, and safety.
Learning Outcomes

  • Understand housekeeping operations.
  • Lead housekeeping teams effectively.
  • Conduct room inspections.
  • Apply cleaning science.
  • Maintain safety and sanitation standards.

Format

On demand. Field training available April 2026.

Duration: 3 hours.

Assessment: Room inspection checklist.

Who This Is For: Housekeeping staff, supervisors, hospitality managers.

Pathways: Complements Front Office and Resort Guest Experience courses.

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Tourism Policy, Governance and Destination Planning

Introduces governance structures, DMOs, Indigenous tourism partnerships, and planning frameworks at local, regional, and national levels.
Learning Outcomes

  • Understand tourism governance.
  • Analyze DMO functions.
  • Recognize policy influences.
  • Understand Indigenous partnership frameworks.
  • Review basic tourism planning processes.

Format

On demand. Policy field projects begin April 2026.

Duration: 3 hours.

Assessment: Destination policy brief.

Who This Is For: Planning staff, tourism officers, destination managers.

Pathways: Leads into both Valemount and Surrey/White Rock research pathways.

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Service Design for Tourism and Hospitality

Learners explore how to design, blueprint, and test tourism services and experiences across both rural and urban settings.
Learning Outcomes

  • Create service blueprints.
  • Design customer journeys.
  • Identify service gaps.
  • Prototype service improvements.
  • Understand service recovery planning.

Format

On demand. Field service design workshops begin April 2026.

Duration: 3 hours.

Assessment: Service blueprint assignment.

Who This Is For: Hospitality staff, tourism innovators, entrepreneurs.

Pathways: Complements Visitor Experience Design and Digital Experience courses.

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