PRESS RELEASE FROM THE TRAVEL INSTITUTE
FRAMINGHAM, MA, November 25, 2024 – The Travel Institute’s Season of Giving is back starting Black Friday, November 29, with tuition assistance for travel professionals at all levels of experience. From now until year’s end, The Travel Institute’s new agent education, advanced certification, and lifestyle and destination courses are available at 20% off. In addition, all agents are eligible for a free, courtesy copy of The Entrepreneur’s Checklist for travel agents.
“Whether they invest a little or a lot, agents can advance significantly when they give the gift of education to themselves or their team members,” shared Diane Petras, CTIE, president of The Travel Institute, emphasizing that both leaders and individuals alike can take advantage of the Season of Giving savings. Petras also cited the 2023 Changing Face of Agents survey, which finds travel professionals who achieve certification or specialist designations from The Travel Institute, the industry’s non-profit education leader with a 60-year record for quality and affordable agent education, earn more than their industry peers. This year’s Season of Giving options include:
- Free! The Entrepreneur’s Checklist for Launching a Travel Business: An online, step-by-step comprehensive checklist for agents to jump-start the launch of a travel business, advice and a printable, “roadmap to success” workbook are also included.
- 20% off: TRIPKITSM Introductory Training: This award-winning, in-depth course provides both the foundational industry knowledge and critical business skills new agents need. Accessible anytime/anywhere, TRIPKIT packs the equivalent of one year of college into a 19-lesson, self-paced timeline with an emphasis on real-world experiences for both Canadian and U.S.-based students. TRIPKIT also includes the 15-chapter Exploring the World destination geography resource. Students passing the online, proctored Travel Agent Proficiency, or TAP®, test are featured online for employers looking to hire new, pre-vetted agents.
- 20% off: Advanced Certification: Experienced North American agents who earn their Certified Travel Associate, CTA®, Certified Travel Counselor, CTC®, or Certified Travel Industry Executive, CTIE®, credentials, join more than 30,000 certified graduates benefiting from advanced industry learning and critical business skills. Graduates 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 is the most popular of the three.
- 20% off: Lifestyle, Niche, and Destination Courses: Specialist courses support agents in closely matching itineraries and attractions to traveler lifestyles and interests. Agents become “insiders” for niche markets such as luxury and wellness or for key destinations worldwide armed with critical business skills and specialized knowledge including: key attractions, culture, special events and public holidays, travel secrets, optimal travel times, shopping, dining entertainment and more. Specialist credentials are earned through an optional exam and experiential checklist.
The Travel Institute continually develops and updates course content 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.
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.