Travel Trade Academy

Participate in our Travel Trade Academy and earn the title of New York City Destination Specialist

There’s lots to do and see in a city as dynamic as New York and that’s where we come in. New York City Tourism + Conventions has created a bespoke training program to empower those in the tourism space to both understand the City and act on behalf of their clients to bring them insider knowledge of NYC’s iconic sights, cultural gems and hidden treasures.

Sure, visitors are going to the Empire State Building—but do they know about the Korean restaurants and shopping steps away from those Art Deco doors?

You can become a New York City Destination Specialist in a few hours with our comprehensive course, revealing the most-loved attractions and best-kept secrets of each of the five boroughs.

Take the Course in English

Take the Course in Italian

Take the Course in Spanish

Take the Course in Japanese

Take the Course in Chinese

Take the Course in French

Take the Course in German

Take the Course in Korean

Take the Course in Portuguese

Take the Course in Hindi

What is the Travel Trade Academy?

The Travel Trade Academy is a collection of modules that make up one self-guided online course to help tourism professionals become Destination Specialists of the great city of New York.

The content chosen was curated by a team of local tourism development experts from New York City Tourism + Conventions who want visitors to experience the breadth of the City’s possibilities in the most convenient and accessible manner.

How does it work?

The Travel Trade Academy course is divided into eight modules, each about 50 minutes long. The first five modules describe up to 50 must-see locations in each of the City's five boroughs and are divided by categories, covering geography and transportation options as well as attractions, parks, restaurants and hotels. The Sports and Luxury modules offer in-depth insights into world-class events, elite accommodations, and experiences tailored to the interests of specialized travelers.

Each module ends with a quick quiz hosted on a fully self-guided online platform, which, once successfully completed, will earn each trade member a certificate and the exclusive designation of Destination Specialist of New York City.

What will you learn?

The training course goes deeper than simply outlining a collection of locations in each borough. Within the selected experience, Travel Trade Academy also provides context to help you understand the attraction’s place in a particular neighborhood, accessibility options, transportation options and nearby places of interest.

The training will help you evaluate which experiences can be stacked together to create a convenient tour or itinerary.

Why is this important?

Completing the Travel Trade Academy will help you not only understand New York City but empower you to confidently offer your clients a real taste of the five boroughs, significantly expanding your product offerings and giving each borough a chance to be celebrated according to its charm and uniqueness.

Earn a Complimentary New York CityPASS®

Qualified travel professionals who successfully complete the NYC Travel Trade Academy will be eligible to receive a complimentary New York CityPASS ticket while supplies last.

New York CityPASS ticket grants admission to five must-see New York City attractions, offering savings of up to 41% off regular admission prices. This includes admission to the Empire State Building Observatory and American Museum of Natural History, plus three of the following attractions: Top of The Rock Observation Deck, 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Ferry Access to Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises, Intrepid Museum or Guggenheim Museum.

Upon completing the NYC Travel Trade Academy, travel professionals can earn the official designation of New York City Destination Specialist, be given a certificate of achievement and receive an email with instructions on how to claim a complimentary New York CityPASS ticket. This offer is available to the first 1,000 qualified travel professionals to complete all eight modules (English) or all six modules (non-English).

New York CityPASS tickets are nontransferable and will not be reissued if the recipient fails to use them within their validity. Tickets expire one year from the date of booking and are valid for nine days from the date of first use.