George Washington University Partnership

George Washington University and Destinations International Partner to Provide Destination Organizations with Educational Opportunities

Destinations International members are eligible for up to a 25% tuition discount when they apply to George Washington University's Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management graduate program.

Start your application today and use this code: DI2025SPRING

Apply Now

About the Program

Since 1987, the GW School of Business has offered graduate students hands-on experiential education in the tourism, entertainment and hospitality industries. Today, these fields need professionals with the management skills to unlock new opportunities and new revenue models; they also need informed individuals who can give insight on emerging issues such as environmental impact and health and wellness. Perhaps the most unique feature of our educational approach is our commitment to understanding how tourism can drive development, conserve heritage, and promote peace and understanding.

Program Highlights

Learn the concepts and skills you need to pursue a career in event and meeting management, hospitality management, and sustainable tourism management.
Interact with peers, instructors, industry professionals and alumni from all over the world in a rich learning environment that combines individual experiences and interests with innovative and sustainable local and global initiatives.
Gain exceptional access to the jobs, internships, and networking and career development opportunities found only in Washington, D.C.

Certificate Programs

Professional Certificate in Sustainable Tourism Destination Management

The George Washington University’s Professional Certificate in Sustainable Tourism Destination Management program is taught online and designed for tourism professionals and career changers who want to advance their careers and take advantage of the increasing opportunities in the field. The program provides a strategic overview of responsible destination management along with practical applications. Participants will learn strategies and tools for recognizing and developing tourism products, creating visitor markets, minimizing the potentially negative impacts of tourism and enhancing the sustainability of destinations so that they both remain viable and attractive to visitors and support host communities.

The online program offers participants the opportunity to improve their professional standing and deepen their comprehension of tourism’s potential to achieve environmental, socio-cultural and economic goals through six required courses:

Sustainable Tourism & Regenerative Travel
Destination Management
Destination Marketing
Tourism Product Development
Destination Investment & Finance
Destination Stewardship Planning

Each required course costs $495, but courses may be purchased in a three-course bundle for a discounted rate of $1,350. DI members receive an additional $50 off each course bundle purchased.

When checking out, please enter the promo code DI-50 to receive the discount.

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Professional Certificate in Community-Centered Cultural Tourism

The Professional Certificate in Community-Centered Cultural Tourism is taught online and equips participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate an evolving tourism landscape in which sustainability, inclusion, resilience, economic equity, and cultural preservation have grown paramount. Participants will learn how to work with local communities to build trust and collaborate to build tourism products that authentically represent the unique cultural and natural assets of the local communities while fostering sustainable growth and empowering stakeholders.

Through this program, students will also develop the ability to design flexible and resilient tourism models that respond to global economic shifts, geopolitical dynamics, climate change, evolving travel behaviors, and practices that support regenerative tourism. They will explore best practices in crisis management and how to implement adaptive strategies that ensure the long-term sustainability of cultural heritage tourism initiatives through six required courses:

Introduction to Cultural Heritage Tourism
Defining Cultural Agency in Tourism and Your Role in Shaping It
The Evolving World of Destination Marketing – Bridging Authenticity, Cultural Representation and Technology
Crafting Impactful Messaging—Deep Dive into Tourism Campaigns
Experiential Product Development
Linking Tourism with the Creative Economy

Each required course costs $495, but courses may be purchased in a three-course bundle for a discounted rate of $1,350. DI members receive an additional $50 off each course bundle purchased.

When checking out, please enter the promo code DI-50 to receive the discount.

Spring 2026 Registration

Summer 2026 Registration