To ensure that today’s travel agent is tomorrow’s savvy marketer, the ASTA Foundation has funded a new, multi-media course to assist agencies in better understanding their marketing options: the Sales and Marketing Course, ASTA reports.
The course will be presented by noted industry author and educator Nolan Burris and is available to members on www.ASTA.org. It offers participants the best practices they need for success, ASTA says.
Targeted at travel agency owners and employees, the course is the third product in the ASTA Business Executive Series. It is available to ASTA members at no charge. ASTA said that while travel agents and agency owners have expertise in providing valued travel services, increased competition within the industry means these individuals must also be effective marketers and skilled salespeople.
“Every travel agency employee—regardless of their position—is vital to their agency’s sales and marketing schema. When employees master these two disciplines and combine them with proper planning it can lead to increased sales and revenue,” said ASTA CEO Tony Gonchar. “Through courses such as this, ASTA continues to fulfill its promise to deliver relevant and critical education to the travel agency industry.”
Divided into multiple discrete modules, this multi-media, interactive course includes webcasts, a PDF course book and sample sales and marketing materials. Accompanying spreadsheets walk agents through developing a marketing plan and budget. Upon completion, agents can check their knowledge by taking an online quiz.
The Marketing modules include chapters on Marketing 101, Traditional Marketing, and Electronic Marketing including Social Media, Marketing Plans and CRMs. The Sales modules cover such topics as Marketing versus Sales, Sales Process, Consultative Sales and Selling Your Value.
Nolan Burris is the founder and president of Visionistics Enterprises (Vancouver, Canada). His Future Proof Travel Solutions, a division of Visionistics, provides skills training and strategic planning to the travel industry.
The ASTA Foundation's mission is to support the goals of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) through industry research, education development and the recruitment of students toward higher education in the travel industry.
Visit www.ASTA.org