FRAMINGHAM, MA, June 26, 2017 – The Travel Institute today announced details of its 4th annual “Promote Your Professionalism” program, a month-long campaign in July created to help travel professionals advance in their careers through greater access to certification training as well as the skills needed to promote this expertise to their clients and the media. Valuable certification scholarships and skill-building webinars led by industry and business experts are at the core of the offerings.
Throughout July, travel professionals can enroll in the Certified Travel Associate (CTA), Certified Travel Counselor (CTC), or Certified Travel Industry Executive (CTIE) programs and qualify to receive a 50-percent savings thanks to the generous scholarships from The Travel Institute Fund. Depending on selected coursework, the value may be as high as $275 off standard curriculum pricing. The Fund has endowed nearly $160,000 in scholarships since it was established in 2014 to celebrate the non-profit’s 50th anniversary.
All three certification curriculums have been completely revamped over the past two years to deliver the highest quality education that is most relevant for today’s successful travel professional, according to COO Diane Petras, CTIE. “The Travel Institute is in a constant state of change because in our world, there is nothing more important than content and our mission to keep it fresh and relevant. As soon as one course is updated, we are on to the next, said Petras.
“Promote Your Professionalism is one of our favorite programs during the year because it allows us to showcase our offerings and give back to the industry in so many ways. Through certification and scholarships, diverse educational trainings, expert insider advice, and targeted marketing communications, the campaign is a microcosm of what The Travel Institute is all about.”
Complementing the certification-scholarship offers in July are four interactive webinars and twice-weekly e-communications, with many focused on how to effectively market your expertise.
The webinar schedule is as follows:
-July 6, noon EDT – Improving Communication by Building Trust – Dr. Mimi Hull
-July 10 and 17, 1 pm EDT – PR Boot Camp: Storytelling Skills for the 21st Century – Richard D’Ambrosio (two-part series)
-July 12, 1 pm EDT – Emotional Intelligence – Setting Yourself Up To Succeed – Brian Robb, CTIE
(first of a four-part series, “You, Leading Your Agency to Success)
All sessions are free, but advanced registration is required. In addition, webinars on topics such as specialization, GDS training, onboarding, and certification are offered in July.
To qualify for a certification scholarship, individuals must complete the application and answer several questions before being accepted. The application form is on The Travel Institute’s website at www.thetravelinstitute.com.
Also throughout the month, insights from members of The Travel Institute’s Board of Trustees and Professional Educators Program will be shared on the organization’s website about the importance of certification and continuing education. For example, Trustee and Vice-Chairman Gary Pollard, CTC, president of Ambassador Tours, said, “Certification is important as it clearly demonstrates a commitment to your craft of being a true travel professional. Our industry lacks overall oversight, so continuing education and certification make a person stand above others!”