Carla Smith, CTA

csmith@thetravelinstitute.com

FRAMINGHAM, MA, January 8, 2019 – The Travel Institute is kicking off 2019 with its New Year New Career  focus on new agent training and specialization in continued support of the influx of new agents entering the travel industry and for experienced advisors looking to continue their education.

“Our educational materials offer a lifetime of value to those wanting a successful travel career,” explained Diane Petras, CTIE, president, The Travel Institute. Citing a remarkable 48% year-over-year increase from 2017 to 2018 in registrations for new agent training, she continued, “The unprecedented enrollment in TRIPKit1 last year further demonstrated individual interest in, and industry demand for, well-educated travel counselors.”

Growing interest in agent education was also substantiated by The Travel Institute’s 2018 The Changing Face of Travel Agents study, indicating explosive growth in the number of independent contractors over the past decade—growth fueled by a number of factors including: 1) young students looking for a professional career option without a 4-year degree, 2) an increase in working professionals looking for a career change, and 3) stay-at-home parents looking for a home-based, flexible income.  

Petras also pointed to the study’s correlation between better educated agent “advisors” and their career success, along with respondents’ overall positive outlook for the profession. “Not only does The Travel Institute continue to see more students entering the industry, but we continue to see them striving to be true professionals who deftly navigate today’s complicated and unpredictable travel environment,” she explained. “The Travel Institute coursework, whether introductory, specialized or certification-related, offers travel advisors the opportunity to start their own ‘TRIP of a Lifetime’ career, elevating their knowledge and, therefore, the level of service they are able to provide, while setting themselves apart.”

Industry veterans agree. “I have been a big fan of the programs offered by The Travel Institute from the day I started in the industry,” reflected Margie Jordan, CTA, vice president of membership, CCRA Travel Commerce Network. “Their courses have provided the knowledge I needed to be successful and also gave me a certification recognized throughout the industry. It’s the one place I keep coming back to for travel education.”

The Travel Institute’s training programs are further boosted by support from its Professional Educators Program, PEP, with instructors who share their time and expertise on a variety of topics related to a travel professional’s success, along with countless suppliers, agencies, vocational institutions and others who use The Travel Institute’s curriculum and count on it for their own organization’s success.  

Wendy Burk, CTA, chief executive officer of Cadence®, A World of Travel, In Sync With You®, explained, “We believe travel careers stem from a passion for travel, but relevancy and education are an individual advisor’s passport to success. We promote TRIPKit with our new team members because we see the results firsthand: TRIPKit enables our new advisors to be immediately relevant in our business and then customize their individual business strategy. To put it simply: the more they know, the more they grow!”

During the New Year New Career campaign in Q1 2019, individuals can take advantage of significant savings on TRIPKit1, participate in complimentary training webinars, or sign up for free access to the “Hot Tip Tuesday” newsletter to receive a new business idea every week. There is also a members-only webinar series, including tax saving strategies as well as information on choosing the best business structure for a new travel business. Visit New Year New Career to learn more.

1 TRIPKit has long been recognized as the industry’s gold standard for new agent training. It is a self-guided course with online and print components used by individuals studying independently, agency owners and managers training new staff, and post-secondary vocational institutions teaching travel-related curriculum. A turn-key, affordable and flexible educational tool, TRIPKit helps create the career path for potential travel advisors by providing a comprehensive overview of booking air, ground, accommodations, cruises, tours and packages while also exposing potential new agents to numerous other nuances in booking travel today. Often, TRIPKit is the first step toward industry certification. 

 

About The Travel Institute

Since 1964, The Travel Institute has been the global leader in travel industry education and certification. A non-profit organization dedicated to educating and advancing travel agents, The Travel Institute has certified more than 25,000 Certified Travel Associate (CTA), Certified Travel Counselor (CTC), and Certified Travel Industry Executive (CTIE) graduates, while additionally training hundreds of thousands more through its new agent, destination, niche and lifestyle courses and webinars. A trusted partner to industry stakeholders and educational institutions alike, The Travel Institute holds its graduates to the highest standards of expertise and service as members progress through increasingly rigorous coursework and challenging exams to continue their education and verify their expertise. The Travel Institute also offers unlimited learning online in its Premium Member Lounge, which serves as a 24/7 classroom across all mobile platforms and delivers college-level courses in business, finance, sales, marketing, social media, and more. Learn more at www.thetravelinstitute.com.