Visit Central Florida Seeks Ambassadors

Visit Central Florida is looking for some CATS – not the feline kind, but volunteers to become Certified Ambassadors of Tourism and Sports (CATS).

CATS can be anyone – longtime or new resident or even snowbirds. Some are hospitality industry professionals: hotel concierges, restaurant servers, UBER drivers, local attraction employees – anyone who comes in contact with guests.

CATS go through training to become experts on Polk County attractions. They are pioneers in hosting the county to visitors. CATS are people who are proud of the experiences Polk County offers and want to share Central Florida with the world.

The CATS program is open to anyone who wants to learn more about Polk County and the influence we have on tourism and visitors. It seeks to make locals more proud to call Polk County home and to share their home with the world. The program educates hospitality industry workers and other locals and seeks to boost county revenue by enticing more visitors. The CATS program is first of its kind to unify visitor experience on a countywide level.

According to Visit Central Florida, become a CATS volunteer can be a resume builder and offer networking opportunities. Volunteers receive a CATS certificate and a CATS pin.

Becoming a Certified Ambassador of Tourism and Sports involves just six steps: register, attend a training session, attend a guided walking tour, accumulate 15 points, utilize social media and complete online modules.

CATS earn points by exploring local places, events and activities on their own; viewing the Central Florida Vacation Guide online; completing two 45-minute training videos with scenario quizzes; and completing brief online modules with easy multiple choice exams.

Visit Central Florida holds monthly fun, interactive hour-long CATS training sessions. Potential ambassadors pay a $10 registration fee by cash, check or credit card at least a week prior to the training session. Interested persons should call the Visitor Center at 863-420-2586 to arrange payment. For more information or to request a Vacation Guide or CATS Points Guide, contact Visit Central Florida Education Coordinator Savannah Rudolph by calling the Center or emailing [email protected] The Vacation Guide also can be requested online at https://visitcentralflorida.org/vacation-guide

CATS training sessions are limited to 25 people. The next training will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 10 and will include training, lunch and a pontoon boat tour. It will be hosted by Harborside Restaurant and Living Waters Pontoon Boat Cruises in Winter Haven.

Future training sessions are May 7 at Polk Museum of Art, July 17 at the Sharp Family Tourism and Education Center at Florida Southern College, and Aug. 14 at the Aerospace Center for Excellence at the Sun 'n Fun Expo Campus.