Carroll County just got a little more tourism-savvy.

Thirteen Carroll Countians recently became Certified Tourism Ambassadors (CTA) through the Journey Through Hallowed Ground (JTHG) Partnership.

The JTHG Partnership is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the natural, cultural and historic resources within a four-state, fifteen county region.  The organization oversees the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area, a 180-mile long, 75-mile wide area stretching from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Participants of the program work to strengthen their professional standards of customer service as well as become familiar with the many unique features of the JTHG National Heritage Area. The ultimate goal is for the Certified Tourism Ambassadors to provide quality service and top-flight hospitality to visitors, leading them to stay longer, visit more sites, tell their friends about their terrific experience, and return to the region. 

The following Carroll Countians completed the CTA program:

• Catherine Baty, Historical Society of Carroll County;
• Denise Beaver and Bonnie Staub, Carroll County Department of Economic Development;
• Joan Bradford, Yellow Turtle Inn Bed and Brunch;
• Linda Myerly, Betty Sensabaugh, Joyce Chomko and Debbie Donatell; Carroll County Government;
• Susan Dell, Carroll County Farm Museum;
• Kathleen Gambrill, The Town of Sykesville;
• Meghan Grogan, Westminster Catering Center;
• Jean Maher, Old Main Line Visitor Center and Post Office; and
• Kimberly Hamilton, Carroll County Tourism.

"Given the fact that visitors have untold choices in America where they can spend their precious time and money it is often the one-on-one exchange with a CTA that turns a routine visit into an experience the visitor will share with others," Cate Magennis Wyatt, founder and president of The Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership, said in a news release  "This in turn results in additional tourist coming to Carroll County and supporting our businesses.”

For more information about becoming a CTA or The Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership, visit www.HallowedGround.org.

Information in this article was taken from a news release.

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