CLE Insider Program

Between staffing, maintaining service standards and keeping guests happy, your team already has enough going on. Building a Cleveland training program should definitely not be something else added to your plate.

The CLE Insider Program is designed for visitor-facing hospitality and tourism employees across hotels, attractions, transportation, tours, retail and restaurants. The goal is to give them the local knowledge they need to answer visitor questions, make recommendations and elevate the guest experience without adding to your workload.

There are two ways to participate, and you must do both to earn the Certified CLE Insider Certification:

• In-person training (90 minutes): The CLE Insider training is a fast-paced, practical session led by Destination Cleveland experts with a combined 48 years of experience in hospitality and tourism. Employees will gain insider knowledge on what to see, do and experience in Cleveland and practice a simple framework for delivering strong, memorable visitor interactions. These sessions are held once a quarter and you must attend at least one session per year.
• In-app experiential passport (self-paced): The CLE Insider Passport is a custom experience in the Destination Cleveland app that guides frontline staff through key places and experiences highlighted in the CLE Insider training.

Complete both the CLE Insider Training and the CLE Insider Passport and you’ll become a Certified CLE Insider. Certified CLE Insiders receive a completion certificate, a custom Certified CLE Insider pin and additional perks throughout the year.

To get started, fill out the form below and a representative from our team will be in touch in 3-5 business days to confirm your participation.

Q: Who is the CLE Insider Program for?
A: Visitor-facing hospitality and tourism employees. This includes hotel staff, restaurant teams, attraction and retail staff, tour providers, experience curators and transportation providers.

Q: What does the in-person training include?
A: The session covers insider knowledge of what to see, do and experience in Cleveland, education on Destination Cleveland tools and resources, opportunities to connect with industry peers and hands-on practice using a simple framework to deliver strong visitor interactions.

Q: What does certification require?
A: Individuals must complete the CLE Insider Training AND the CLE Insider Passport in the Destination Cleveland app to become a Certified CLE Insider.

Q: Am I allowed to just participate in one of the options?
A: Yes, individuals can participate in just the CLE Insider Training or just the CLE Insider Passport, however completing both options is what earns you the official designation as a Certified CLE Insider.

Q: How do I sign up?
A: Fill out the form on this page and the Destination Cleveland team will follow up with next steps in 3-5 business days.

Q: Who should I contact if I have questions about the CLE Insider Program?
A: Email us at partners@destinationcle.org.