9th Annual ‘Promote Your Professionalism’ campaign underway to support advanced agent education
FRAMINGHAM, MA, JUNE 27, 2022 – The Travel Institute’s 9th Annual Promote Your Professionalism, PYP, campaign kicks off today, June 27, running through July to give all travel professionals the opportunity to utilize scholarship funds while strengthening their business skills and travel industry knowledge.
“Being a great agent takes more than loving travel; it takes time, effort and expertise,” asserted Diane Petras, CTIE, president of The Travel Institute. “Certification takes agents with passion and ensures they have the capabilities they need to be successful for themselves, their travelers and their teams,” she explained.
The travel industry’s education gold standard since 1964, the nonprofit has supported thousands of students with endowed scholarships across its flagship, 3-tier certification series. To apply for a PYP scholarship, valued at $275 USD, individuals must complete The Travel Institute’s scholarship form, available 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.
Linda Ann Luizza, CTA, Treasures in Travel, says getting certified changed both her confidence level and her income level. “I wish I would have taken the course earlier,” she reflected. “Travel Institute certification is one of the best resources I’ve ever found; it increased my knowledge in all areas of the travel industry and has given me so much confidence selling that I’ve doubled my bookings,” she shared.
Students specifically interested in the CTA, the first level of certification, benefit further now from the CTA 10th edition, released in Q1 2022. Updated throughout all 15 modules, it also features two new sections: Marketing and Promoting Your Business and Accepting and Processing Payments.
“Your travel agent career is a long-term investment,” remarked Lea Diele, CTIE, VTA, senior director for Educational Services with Travel Leaders Network. “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 today,” she continued.
Certified graduates also benefit from supplier booking incentives, online marketing tools, and inclusion in The Travel Institute’s Certified Travel Agent DirectorySM, a consumer-facing directory available via the nonprofit’s website for travelers to identify and contact credentialed agents. Agent inclusion in the directory is based solely on successful completion of a CTA®, CTC®, or CTIE® and required annual continuing education. Since its inception, the directory has been viewed by nearly 100,000 visitors.
According to certification partner organizations and graduates:
- “Success doesn’t just happen. Agents who apply the knowledge and step-by-step advice from the new CTA program will absolutely have greater success.” Rhonda Stanley, CTA, CTC, vice president talent development for Toronto-based Travel Agent Next Door
- “Having my CTC often starts a conversation and enables me to show my dedication to the industry; it also gives travelers a better sense about how working with me means working with a dedicated travel industry professional.” Don Fuchs Jr, CTC, Cruise Planners
- “I really love the CTIE! The modules are fantastic, helping me lead and grow my team and better understand how a team comes together.” Marie Smith, CTIE, group manager, KHM Travel Group
- “I enjoyed the challenge of earning my CTA and my achievement gives me greater confidence and credibility. My CTA credentials also help me make a distinct first impression.” Amy Shapiro, CTA, travel advisor, Waive Goodbye Vacations, LLC
- “Would absolutely recommend it! The courses are current and relevant, adding real value, and certification helps professionals stand out!” Kalkidan Amare Dest, CTIE, travel officer, African Union Commission
The Travel Institute’s certification programs offer a flexible, online, blended learning experience including access to online peer groups and coaching from trainers for additional support, enabling agents to consistently demonstrate the personal skills, professional knowledge and business aptitude to navigate the travel industry successfully. Course content is further augmented with real-world application and expert tips and insights from industry executives.
Supplementing certification scholarships during PYP are powerful and free webinars focused on further developing agent professionalism:
- July 13, 2 pm EDT: How to Have a 6-Figure Travel Business with 5-10 Clients Per Year; Tami Santini, Founder, TamiSantini.com, Entrepreneur, Creator of 20K system and toolkit
- July 18, 2 pm EDT: Copywriting ‘Hacks’ for Travel Agents: How to Pull in Prospects & Increase Engagement; Emily Matras, Owner, Bon Vivant Copy
- July 21, 3 pm EDT: Turning Your Credentials into Cashflow; Anne M. Smith, CTIE, ECC, Owner, Travel and Events Extraordinaire
“It’s really quite simple. The better agents are, the better we all are as an industry,” explained Guida Botelho, CTIE, director of education for The Travel Institute. “Highly trained, certified travel agents clearly play a critical role in our collective success.”
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 more than 27,000 Certified Travel Associate (CTA®), Certified Travel Counselor (CTC®), and Certified Travel Industry Executive (CTIE®) graduates and also administers the Travel Agent Proficiency, or TAPSM, 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.