Daily Education and Chances to Win One of Four Cruises Kickoff New Alumni-Exclusive Tools and Programming
FRAMINGHAM, MA, November 4, 2025 – The Travel Institute announces its first-ever Alumni Celebration Week November 10-14, kicking off the education leader’s new initiative to provide additional focus on its CTA©, CTC©, and CTIE© graduates throughout their careers with alumni-exclusive tools and programming while also marking Founders’ Day for the 60+-year-old industry cornerstone.
“It’s crystal clear, the pride and enthusiasm our certified graduates have is stronger than ever,” asserted Carla Smith, CTA, recently named director of alumni relations along with her existing role leading continuing education for The Travel Institute. “We’ve observed an incredible camaraderie whether in-person at industry events, online in industry forums, or through our direct communication channels. Our goal for this new alumni initiative is to harness graduates’ pride and career momentum through a centralized, one-stop resource and to further foster a sense of belonging, connection and community with their fellow alumni and The Travel Institute as we strengthen and support their careers,” Smith continued.
The new initiative takes alumni advocacy to a new level, establishing more frequent communication and supporting The Travel Institute’s most credentialed agents with complex, challenging content and additional tools via a private dashboard, monthly newsletter, email communication, and more—all to enable continued learning, networking, and, ultimately, greater success for travel professionals who have already advanced their careers through the non-profit’s gold standard industry certification. Long term, as the alumni community grows, enhanced opportunities to learn and lean on fellow alums is expected only to grow, Smith shared, encouraging alumni to anticipate both short- and long-term benefits.
To kick off the initiative, The Travel Institute’s Alumni Celebration Week will celebrate certified graduates through educational lectures and other exclusive content, education giveaways, games and prizes. A jam-packed week full of spotlights and success stories from industry leaders, a look back at alumni’s educational journeys, as well as information about how to get more involved. Highlights for the weeklong celebration include:
- Alumni-only, exclusive PEP Talks, including:
- November 11, Designing a Profitable Service Suite that Supports Growth by Jennifer Jacob, COO and co-founder, TIQUE
- November 13, The Hidden Fraud Threats that Could Destroy Your Travel Agency by Sheila Folk, CEO and founder, Travel Industry Solutions
- Alumni-only, exclusive white paper: Standard Operating Procedures: The Playbook to Travel Success for certified graduates at no cost for a limited time by Marie Mabardi, CTIE, VTA, president of Great Getaways
- Alumni-only exclusive online trivia, including fun giveaways, such as complimentary subscriptions to our recently launched Education Hub, swag from the education leader, AND the chance to win one of four cruises through the support of esteemed alumni at AmaWaterways, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, or Silversea.
“Silversea is so excited to participate in The Travel Institute’s first-ever Alumni Week,” shared Laurie Bohn-Isaure, CTIE, senior director, national accounts at Silversea. “Travel professionals certified by The Travel Institute consistently bring that value to us and to all industry partners every day. We appreciate the opportunity to recognize their commitment to excellence on behalf of our entire industry,” continued Bohn-Isaure, who is also a board member for The Travel Institute.
From recent graduates to long-standing industry leaders, The Travel Institute has graduated more than 31,000 certified professionals over its storied 60+-year history as the travel industry’s only dedicated educator. Throughout Canada and the United States, many successful agents and high-profile leaders credit their success to The Travel Institute’s affordable and accessible educational resources.
“Whether you’re newly certified or a proud, long-time graduate, this entire week is dedicated to you—your hard work, your success, and your journey,” enthused Guida Botelho, CTIE, senior director of education at The Travel Institute. “If you’re not yet certified through The Travel Institute, this community highlights just one more reason to pursue it—our certified professionals gain exclusive access to resources, support, and connections that give them a real edge in an ever-changing industry,” Botelho added.
Alumni are asked to take a moment and confirm their contact information in advance of Alumni Week to ensure they don’t miss out on the celebratory week or future opportunities and information. Alumni who are already in communication with The Travel Institute should watch their inbox and follow posts on Facebook and LinkedIn to ensure they don’t miss out. Alumni who attend PEP Talks gain two CEUs toward their annual requirement for continued active certification.
The Travel Institute relies on individuals and organizations to support its work to create relevant, meaningful, rigorous and affordable coursework for agents at all career stages. Donate funding, share your expertise with students, or learn more about sponsorships in support of agent, traveler, and industry success.
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’s 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, The Travel Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, independent organization operating exclusively for educational purposes to meet the ever-changing needs of travel agents. Working with leaders throughout the industry to create and deliver relevant and rigorous coursework and proctored, closed-book testing to ensure graduates demonstrate the highest standards of expertise and service, The Travel Institute has more than 31,000 Certified Travel Associate, CTA©; Certified Travel Counselor, CTC©; and Certified Travel Industry Executive, CTIE© graduates. 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 and CTA© as their learning tools of choice. A trusted partner to industry suppliers and educational institutions, The Travel Institute is also the approved provider of travel industry civilian occupation training for U.S. military and has trained hundreds of thousands through various courses, webinars, and other online content through its Education Hub. Throughout North America, many successful agents and high-profile leaders credit their success to The Travel Institute’s affordable and accessible educational resources. Learn more.