The Travel Institute Continues to Sponsor Ongoing Education Efforts

Robust Q1 calendar offers expert learning for professionals at all levels

 

FRAMINGHAM, MA, January 13, 2025 – The Travel Institute announces its Q1 2025 event calendar with a robust list of PEP Talks—complimentary live, online expert learning events, from its Professional Educators Program, or PEP. These professional educators are top trainers, thought leaders, and subject matter experts from both inside and outside the travel industry. 

 

With a growing roster of nearly 60 PEP members now volunteering in support of industry education and success, the knowledge-packed PEP Talks offer both new and experienced travel professionals the opportunity to gain valuable—and actionable—insight on timely topics. In addition, PEP Talks frequently end with a Q&A session to further enhance attendee learning. 

 

“There is no doubt attendees leave these sessions energized and more capable for themselves and for their clients,” said Carla Smith, CTA, director of membership, who oversees the complimentary event calendar for The Travel Institute. As a critical component of affordable, quality, continued education and with no out-of-pocket costs for attendees, PEP Talk attendance is an “easy decision for serious agents and organizations,” Smith emphasized.

 

Along with timely and actionable learning, certified graduates of The Travel Institute gain two continuing education units, or CEUs, for attendance toward the 10 required annually to keep certification current. PEP Talks are also recorded and available on-demand 24/7 for subscribers of The Travel Institute’s online content library, which also contains PEP member contributions through coursework, blogs, research, white papers, interviews and more.

 

“As a PEP member, I am grateful for the opportunity to give back to the industry by supporting The Travel Institute’s students and graduates,” shared Shannon Kittner, social media expert and CEO of The Wander Network. “I love seeing other agents put in the work to learn and understand how to market themselves online. There’s nothing more rewarding than their enthusiasm when they share a post they created and that is performing well—it’s inspiring to watch their confidence and success grow!”

 

As an independent, non-profit organization and with educated advisors “aging out” across all levels throughout the industry, The Travel Institute is focused on affordability, including both low tuition and no tuition/free education resources, to maximize its reach and accessibility for all travel professionals including front-line, entry level agents, mid-level managers and senior industry leaders. Over the past two years, nearly 15,000 travel professionals attended PEP Talks on timely topics including artificial intelligence, service fees, becoming an agent, home office productivity, specialization, and much more. 

 

Open to all travel professionals throughout the industry, the 2025 Q1 event schedule includes:

•         Wild Alberta: From Bustling Cities to Hidden Gems January 14, 1 pm EST  Join Matthew Demma, trade specialist, Travel Alberta, and dive into the untamed beauty of Alberta. Discover the vibrant life of Calgary and Edmonton, uncovering hidden gems like Drumheller, Southern Alberta, and Nordegg. Explore the unique attractions, rich history, and natural wonders that make Alberta extraordinary.

•         Selling Dude Ranches the Cowboy Way January 21, 1 pm EST  Dude Ranches have been welcoming guests for more than 100 years. Learn from industry consultant Sally Black, CTA, just how rewarding and lucrative selling ranch vacations can really be! From solo travelers to groups to weddings and more, horse riders and non-riders alike can step back in time and enjoy the Old West.

•         Fast-Track Your Business: How Destination Weddings & Luxury Honeymoons Can Skyrocket Success! January 28, 4 pm EST  Join Tami Santini, founder, The Destination Wedding & Honeymoon Travel Business Academy, to tap into the high-spend wedding market, attract dream clients, and create unforgettable experiences that keep referrals coming. Elevate your business and boost your income!

•         Connecticut: The Drive-To State February 3, Noon EST  Pizza Capital of the U.S.? Foodie Capital of New England? Basketball Capital of the World? The Nutmeg State is this and much more, making it the “drive-to” state of travelers’ dreams. Join Rachel Lenda, director of tourism for the state of Connecticut as she shares suggested itineraries to help you create the perfect New England getaway for clients.

•         When to Use a DMC or a Wholesaler February 6, 1 pm EST  Join Jesus Repetto, co-founder and CEO of Titanium Tours, and learn the differences between a Destination Management Company, or DMC, and a wholesaler in travel. The distinctions, along with the specific requirements of your client’s travel plan or event, are both crucial in evaluating and deciding which is ultimately best to engage.

•         You Hired a New Person: Now What? February 20, 1 pm EST  Onboarding is key with new employees and independent contractors yet it takes time away from selling and managing. Join Guida Botelho, CTIE, senior director of education at The Travel Institute, to design a training program that fits your agency and ensures a well-trained team, taking advantage of readily available resources and allowing you to focus training only on internal processes and policies.

•         The Power of Partnership: The Right Fit for YOU and YOUR Business February 27, 2 pm EST  Finding the right host agency partner can be challenging in today’s climate. With so many options, it can be difficult to navigate or even get started. Yet, the right decision can make you or break you! Join Andy Ogg, CTIE, owner and publisher of several trade publications, for an in-depth, look at finding, interviewing, choosing, and growing the right partnership for you and your travel business.

•         From Chaos to Control: Anticipating Air Travel Challenges in Real Time March 6, Noon EST  Tired of last-minute air travel issues? Learn four game-changing principles and shift from reactive to proactive with Lary Néron, air travel expert, founder of Airfare Consultant and AirLab. Also explore free, easy-to-use tools to anticipate and resolve issues real-time, ensuring stress-free journeys for all.

•         Why They Don’t Book with You March 11, 1 pm EST  Learn about mistakes travel agents make with new leads, how to avoid them and instead close more sales. Join Dana Zificsak, CTIE, travel agent educator at Guts Grit Goals LLC and learn: 1) Strategies to make sure potential clients understand what you book; 2) The secret for quotes that convert to sales, and 3) How to prevent getting “ghosted” after your quote.

•         Must-Haves in your Social Media Profile as a Travel Advisor March 20, 1:30 pm EST  Want to build a profile that attracts ideal clients and grows your business? Discover the essential elements every travel advisor needs in a professional and engaging social media profile. Join Shannon Kittner and Kellie Greaux of The Wander Network to choose the perfect username, craft a compelling description of your expertise, and optimize your “link in bio” to drive inquiries—and bookings!

 

Smith encouraged travel professionals to check the FULL event calendar for regular updates and to sign-up. The calendar also includes a variety of additional complimentary webinars year-round to provide guidance for both new and experienced agents looking to advance through certification, specialization and other educational programs.

 

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 PEP

 

The Travel Institute’s Professional Educators Program roster includes trainers, educators, and speakers from both inside and outside the travel industry. Established in 2011, PEP is a collection of thought leaders who share their expertise with travel professionals ongoing via PEP Talks—live online lectures that are also recorded, white papers, newsletters, blogs, and more. The Travel Institute’s certified graduates earn two continuing education units, or CEUs, toward annual ongoing education requirements for attending PEP Talks or other career-related programming. Space is limited and early sign-up is encouraged. Presented live, PEP Talks—along with nearly 200 already recorded lectures and other valuable content—are also available on-demand via The Travel Institute’s Premium Access online content library member/subscription program. 

 

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 today’s travel agents. Working with leaders throughout the industry to create and deliver relevant, meaningful and rigorous coursework and using proctored, closed-book testing to ensure its graduates 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. 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 Premium Access online library content. Throughout North America, many successful agents and high-profile leaders credit their success to coursework from The Travel Institute. Learn more.