11th Annual ‘Promote Your Professionalism’ Scholarship Campaign Underway with The Travel Institute

More than $1M USD Awarded Since Program’s Inception

 

FRAMINGHAM, MA, June 24, 2024 – The Travel Institute’s 11th Annual Promote Your Professionalism (PYP) campaign starts today, running through July, to raise awareness about the value of travel professional education and provide all industry professionals—including travel agents, agency owners, suppliers and more—access to scholarship funds across its flagship, 3-tier certification program, including its CTA®, CTC®, and CTIE® designations.

 

“For 60 years, our graduates have demonstrated that certification from The Travel Institute truly matters for industry success,” asserted Diane Petras, CTIE, president of The Travel Institute. “Whether they go through the CTA, CTC or CTIE program—or all three at different career stages—our graduates gain both useful travel knowledge and practical business skills that contribute to their success every single day,” she continued.

 

The travel industry’s education leader since 1964, the independent, nonprofit organization emphasizes quality, affordable education for travel professionals regardless of agency affiliation, preferred suppliers and other dependencies. Long considered the industry’s gold standard, The Travel Institute has provided nearly 5,000 students with endowed scholarships, surpassing more than $1M USD in value over 10 years since the first PYP campaign. Many front-line agents, agency owners, suppliers and other industry leaders credit their success in part to certification from The Travel Institute.

 

To apply for a PYP scholarship, valued at $299 USD, individuals must complete The Travel Institute’s scholarship form, available now through the end of July, selecting either the Certified Travel Associate, CTA®, Certified Travel Counselor, CTC®, or Certified Travel Industry Executive, CTIE®, program, each designed for a particular career stage and level of experience.

 

“The Travel Institute’s educational programs are essential for travel advisors aiming to elevate their expertise and service quality. Their rigorous and up-to-date curriculum ensures advisors are well-versed in the latest industry trends, tools and best practices. This enhances the advisor’s ability to create exceptional travel experiences and significantly boosts professional credibility,” enthused Angela Hughes, CTC, owner and president at Trips and Ships Luxury Travel and recent Top Influencer award winner from Travel Leaders Network. “Committing to continuous education with The Travel Institute is a strategic move that fosters growth, innovation and sustained success. It’s an investment in one’s career and the future success of their travel business,” added Hughes, now working on her CTIE.

 

Certification curriculum is augmented with real-world applications and expert tips and insights from “been there, done that” industry executives, while online peer groups and trainer coaching provide critical context. The program is delivered via a best-practice, interactive, e-Learning platform to further increase comprehension and retention, and graduates consistently demonstrate the personal skills, professional knowledge and business aptitude that enable greater success.

 

This year, in celebration of its 60th anniversary, The Travel Institute is highlighting certification with personal messages from many of the industry’s best-known leaders. According to recent graduates:

 

“I started the CTA certification to show the travel industry and my clients that I am dedicated to the profession; what I discovered were courses designed to cover topics that helped me grow into a better advisor.”—Scott Wismont, CTA, owner, Rainbow Getaways

 

“After 35 years in the travel industry, I decided it was time I completed my CTA. I worked hard studying all the modules and took away a wealth of knowledge. I especially loved Business Writing! I proudly display my diploma from The Travel Institute.”—Arlene Peddle Gibbons, CTA, The Travel Agent Next Door

Supplementing certification scholarships during PYP are timely, free online presentations to further develop agent professionalism, including:

 

• July 10, 3 pm EDT: The Dos and Don’ts of Working with Suppliers and Travel Partners; Kim Specht, CTIE, manager, Travel Career Advancement, The Travel Institute
• July 11, 1 pm EDT: Specialization—Finding Your Travel Industry Niche; Patty Noonan, CTC, director of sales, The Travel Institute
• July 29, 1 pm EDT: Transforming Travel: How Advisors Can Create Meaningful and Sustainable Journeys; John Sutherland, senior director of community impact, Tourism Cares

 

“Simply put, our mission is travel professionals’ success,” emphasized Guida Botelho, CTIE, senior director of education for The Travel Institute. “Our certification program was created to elevate industry professionalism and we continue to be the industry’s education cornerstone today, making better business people who are better at serving travelers.”

 

Visit PYP or join an upcoming certification webinar to learn more.

 

The Travel Institute encourages organizations and individuals who have benefitted from scholarships and certification to make a tax-deductible 501(c)(3) Scholarship Fund donation to ensure future PYP scholarship funding and other educational programming from the nonprofit.

 

About Certification from The Travel Institute

 

The Travel Institute’s 3-tier certification program today boasts more than 30,000 graduates. Curriculum is regularly revised based on marketplace demands, agent trends, expert input from within and outside the industry, best-practice research, and user feedback. Certified graduates also benefit from supplier booking incentives, online marketing tools, and inclusion in The Travel Institute’s Certified Travel Agent DirectorySM, a free, consumer-facing directory for travelers seeking a professional, credentialed agent. Since launching in 2019, the directory has been viewed by nearly 200,000 visitors.

 

About The Travel Institute

 

A collaborative industry effort created in 1964, The Travel Institute has continuously evolved to maintain its role as the global leader and industry recognized gold standard in travel industry education and certification dedicated solely to advancing the professionalism of both agents and industry leaders in support of individual and industry success. A 501(c)(3) non-profit, independent organization operating exclusively for educational purposes, The Travel Institute works with leaders throughout the industry to create and deliver relevant, meaningful and rigorous coursework to meet the ever-changing educational needs of today’s travel agents. Using proctored, closed-book testing to ensure its graduates earn credentials that demonstrate the highest standards of expertise and service, The Travel Institute has more than 30,000 Certified Travel Associate (CTA®), Certified Travel Counselor (CTC®), and Certified Travel Industry Executive (CTIE®) graduates and is the approved provider of travel industry civilian occupation training for U.S. military. It also administers the Travel Agent Proficiency, or TAP®, exam to confirm students new to the industry demonstrate a mastery of travel industry basics. Countless individuals, agency owners and managers, and educational institutions utilize The Travel Institute’s award-winning TRIPKITSM introductory program as their training tool of choice. A trusted partner to industry suppliers and educational institutions, The Travel Institute has trained hundreds of thousands more through additional courses, webinars, and in its online Premium Access content. Throughout North America, many successful agents and high-profile leaders credit their success to coursework from The Travel Institute.