The Travel Institute’s 10th Annual Season of Giving starts Black Friday

‘Tis the Season for Free Course and Other Education Deals for Yourself and Your Team

 

FRAMINGHAM, MA, November 24, 2025 – ‘Tis the Season for The Travel Institute’s Season of Giving, starting Black Friday, November 28, with tuition assistance for travel professionals at all levels of experience. From now until 2025 year’s end, The Travel Institute’s advanced certification and Education Hub are available at 20% off. In addition, as a gift to the industry, all agents are eligible for free enrollment in the Paris Destination Specialist Course.

 

“Continued education is a mindset for serious professionals,” asserted Guida Botelho, CTIE, senior director of education for The Travel Institute. “We’ve seen it over and over; the industry’s brightest stars at every level take their profession very seriously—and that includes ensuring they take the time to learn at every stage of their career,” Botelho continued, emphasizing that leaders and individuals alike can take advantage of the Season of Giving savings. 

 

Citing the 2023 Changing Face of Agents and 2025 CTA Graduate Insights surveys, Botelho emphasized that travel professionals who achieve certification or specialist designations from The Travel Institute specifically earn more than their industry peers and enjoy greater career satisfaction. This year’s Season of Giving options include: 

 

• 20% off Certification: Experienced travel professionals in Canada and the United States who earn their Certified Travel Associate, CTA®, Certified Travel Counselor, CTC®, or Certified Travel Industry Executive, CTIE®, credentials, join 31,000+ certified graduates who have already benefited from advanced industry learning and critical business skills. Graduates also earn inclusion in The Travel Institute’s Certified Travel Agent DirectorySM, an online, no-cost, agent directory for consumers looking to find an experienced, educated agent. The industry-award winning CTA for front-line agents is the most popular of the three while the CTC and CTIE target advanced learning for senior travel professionals. All certified alumni further benefit from The Travel Institute’s recently announced alumni initiative, providing certified graduates with exclusive, challenging content via a private dashboard, monthly newsletter and more while also fostering a sense of community amongst alumni to enable greater success.

 

• 20% off Education Hub Subscriptions: A technologically advanced, 24/7, on-demand continued learning resource for seasoned advisors and new agents, the Education Hub gives travel professionals unlimited access to timely content with an easy-to-use, intuitive user interface. Content is sourced from experts within and outside the travel industry and is regularly refreshed. Tap into expert peer-to-peer white papers, PEP Talks lectures on emerging and evolving industry topics while also benefiting from early access to new destination, niche and business courses from The Travel Institute and archives for the popular weekly micro-learning Friday Five blog. Lastly, the Hub Perks section offers exclusive tools, discounts, and career-boosting extras provided by The Travel Institute’s education partners and suppliers.

 

• Complimentary Paris Destination Specialist Course: Destination knowledge is a top training need for agents and destination specialists average 17.8% more in annual income. Become an industry insider for the “City of Lights.” Tap into the must-see attractions, culture, special events and public holidays, travel secrets, optimal travel times, shopping, dining and entertainment. Also gain practical knowledge about passport and visa requirements; transportation options within the city and surrounding areas; important distinctions in France’s hotel rating system; geography and climate; contacts and resources for travelers in need; and more. Specialist credentials are earned through an optional exam and experiential checklist, and, as applicable, continuing education units, or CEUs, toward maintaining certification from The Travel Institute. Destination specialist courses are also included in Education Hub subscriptions.

 

“Season of Giving is an opportunity for travel professionals to reflect on the importance of continued education—truly the gift of ongoing growth and success,” Botelho concluded. 

 

The Travel Institute continually develops and updates course content to keep topics relevant and practical, utilizing an interactive, online learning platform with demonstrated success in higher engagement and increased retention. Successful completion of a specialization course qualifies for 10 Continuing Education Units (CEUs), an annual requirement for CTA®, CTC®, and CTIE® professionals. Learn more at Season of Giving.

 

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.