A Final Message from Diane Petras, CTIE, as President, The Travel Institute
Sitting down to pen this end-of-year message has been tough—likely because it’s my last. 30+ years—a long time to work with, around, for, and—eventually—lead an organization, but that is how long I’ve been supporting The Travel Institute’s mission.
Initially volunteering in the 1990s for the Institute of Certified Travel Agents, we delivered high-quality content despite cumbersome delivery options. In 2010, after many years as an agency owner, event producer, software developer and marketer, I became chief operating officer at The Travel Institute focused on integrating technology and implementing e-commerce. Today, with 6+ decades as the industry’s education leader, we’ve been able to stay a step ahead, evolving and delivering the quality education our industry needs. Our content today is augmented by subject matter experts everywhere, we’ve awarded $1M+ USD in scholarships, we have more than 31,000 certified graduates and hundreds of thousands additional students who have benefitted through our programming, and we’ve produced award-winning content for all career stages, to name just a few accomplishments.
For me, The Travel Institute has been much more than a job; it’s been my purpose. Indeed, The Travel Institute is the only organization dedicated to ensuring travel career professionalism start-to-finish and, importantly, we do it extremely well. Why does this matter? In an industry without education mandates, how could it not? Quality education is the foundation for individual and industry success and so, as we look to 2026 and beyond, keep in mind:
- There are no shortcuts to quality education; it takes time, knowledge, and effort to be a successful travel professional and for organizations to develop their teams.
- Travel education options are not all equal and a discerning eye is critical.
- Education is never finished; continued education is critical for ongoing success.
But what does quality education look like? It’s current, it’s comprehensive, and it’s continually evolving to meet student needs. It yields tangible results. Our certified graduates have higher career satisfaction and higher customer satisfaction. Our educated professionals make more money than their peers and they make less mistakes—mistakes that are often costly for their travelers, their organizations, and their suppliers.
And so, as I call it a wrap, The Travel Institute is in the best shape it’s ever been with record growth, strong enrollment, impressive industry support, and clear momentum with the launch of a new Alumni outreach initiative and an innovative Education Hub. We have a powerful, enthusiastic board and an incredibly talented team with unparalleled passion. I encourage you to look forward to our first of the year announcement naming our new leadership, a pivotal step that ensures continued growth for The Travel Institute and reinforces our ongoing commitment to serving our thriving and respected industry.
One parting request: Get involved with Your Travel Institute! Donate time, expertise, and funding. Be a PEP member. Contribute content. Offer feedback. Voice the value of education in your circles of influence. Get involved in a way meaningful to you. My goal is that through the involvement of many, those The Travel Institute serves will also help shape its future and the legacy of learning started in 1964 will continue to benefit countless individuals, organizations and our industry for countless years to come. Without a doubt, I’ll be cheering you all on.
Happy Holidays & Safe Travels,
