The Travel Institute Marks 10th Annual ‘Promote Your Professionalism’ 50% Certification Scholarships Certification Sets Travel Professionals Apart for Consumers and Colleagues Alike

 

FRAMINGHAM, MA, JUNE 26, 2023 – The Travel Institute’s 10th Annual Promote Your Professionalism (PYP) campaign kicks off today and runs through July, giving all travel industry professionals, including travel agents and suppliers, the opportunity to access scholarship funds across its flagship, 3-tier certification program including its CTA®, CTC®, and CTIE® designations.

 

“Travel demand is up, agent demand is up, and our industry is attracting more agents than ever. The challenge for motivated, committed agents is to earn a traveler’s business and then to keep it. Agents do that by ensuring they have the knowledge and skills that showcase their value, expertise, and image of difference—certification is key to their ability to do exactly that,” explained Guida Botelho, CTIE, senior director of education for The Travel Institute.

 

Setting the travel industry’s education gold standard since 1964, the nonprofit emphasizes quality, affordable education for travel professionals and has provided thousands of students with endowed scholarships, including more than $750K USD in awards over the past nine years for certification specifically. To apply for a PYP scholarship, valued at $275 USD, individuals must complete The Travel Institute’s scholarship form, available via the PYP website 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. 

 

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 agent success.

 

“Your travel agent career is a long-term investment,” remarked Lea Diele, CTIE, VTA, senior director for Educational Services with Travel Leaders Network, last year. “Investing in a CTA, CTC, or CTIE certification only enhances your career and gives you lifelong professional growth. This kind of growth and expertise should be center stage as you chart your career in the travel industry,” Diele continued. According to recent graduates:

 

·         “The CTA course is the best training I’ve ever had. I found myself more qualified and more professional afterwards; I highly recommend it.” Abdo Ashwall, CTA

·         “My CTC shows clients—and potential clients—that I am willing to invest in myself so that I am the best travel advisor for the people I work for, aka, my clients.” Linda Wheeler, CTC

·         “My CTIE has added further legitimacy to my career by showing a mastery of education to support my experience. And, it was an additional consideration when my employer made my position offer.” Jeremy Hundt, CTIE

 

Supplementing certification scholarships during PYP are timely, free webinars focused on further developing agent professionalism:

• July 11, 1 pm EDT:  Tips to Grow Smarter and Faster with a CRM; Stephanie Gries, Education Manager & Marketing Coordinator, Travefy
• July 24, 3 pm EDT:  The Clients You Want…They Don’t Hire Amateurs; Kim Specht, CTIE, Manager, Travel Career Advancement, The Travel Institute
• July 26, 1 pm EDT:  Fine Tuning Your Brand; special guest Paula Hayes, retired VP of Sales, Globus Family of Brands with Kim Specht, CTIE
• August 9, 3 pm EDT:  Your Home Office—Making the Most Productive and Enjoyable Space; Andy Ogg, CTIE, co-owner of findahostagency.com

 

“Consumers are again appreciating travel professionals but they also have high expectations. Certification sets the industry standard AND it sets true travel professionals apart from the pack, ensuring agents meet consumer expectations and maximize their career potential,” Botelho stressed.

 

The Travel Institute’s 3-tier certification program boasts nearly 27,500 graduates to date. 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 Directory^SM, a free, consumer-facing directory for travelers to identify and contact credentialed agents. Since its inception in 2019, the directory has been viewed by roughly 150,000 visitors seeking the services of a professional advisor. Visit The Travel Institute to learn more.

 

 

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 in travel industry education and certification while staying true to its mission: dedicated solely to advancing the professionalism of both agents and industry leaders in support of individual and industry success. A non-profit, independent organization, The Travel Institute also works with leaders throughout the industry to create and deliver relevant, meaningful and rigorous coursework. Using exclusive proctored, closed-book testing to ensure its graduates earn credentials that demonstrate the highest standards of expertise and service, The Travel Institute has certified nearly 27,500 Certified Travel Associate (CTA®), Certified Travel Counselor (CTC®), and Certified Travel Industry Executive (CTIE®) graduates and also administers the Travel Agent Proficiency, or TAP^SM, exam to confirm students new to the industry demonstrate a mastery of travel industry basics. 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. Learn more at The Travel Institute.