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| Margie Jordan has assumed the role of CCRA vice president of membership services |
CCRA Travel Commerce Network has announced plans to fully integrate the Outside Sales Support Network (OSSN) and the Travel Retailer Enumeration Code (TRUE) into the CCRA brand by January 2016.
In October, CCRA will unveil a new all encompassing company website that will feature CCRA’s travel agent and agency membership opportunities for both the U.S. and international markets. The existing benefits of OSSN membership will remain, but CCRA’s new membership program will also provide travel professionals with access to CCRA’s diverse array of travel agent products, services, and educational opportunities for discounted rates. CCRA will also for the first time provide accreditation and identification to travel agencies around the world, backed by the TRUE code, which will remain a separate yet integrated division of CCRA.
Margie Jordan will assume the new role of CCRA’s vice president of membership services to oversee all aspects of CCRA’s new and enhanced membership experience for travel agents, ranging from independent agents to host agencies, and to assist OSSN members with the transition to CCRA’s new consolidated membership structures in January 2016. Effective immediately, Margie Jordan will take over the duties of Gary and Melody Fee, the former president and vice president of OSSN, who have supported CCRA in the company integration initiative since OSSN became a wholly owned subsidiary of CCRA in 2014.
Margie Jordan brings over 15 years’ experience as a professional travel agent and successful travel agency owner to her new role at CCRA. She is the founder and CEO of Jordan Executive Travel and serves as an industry leader for educating travel professionals in the areas of entrepreneurship, technology and marketing. She earned her Certified Travel Associate (CTA) designation from The Travel Institute as well as several Destination Specialist (DS) designations. Jordan and her agency have been featured in USA Today, Wall Street Journal, numerous Reuter's news stories, Smart Money Magazine, the Chicago Tribune and The Miami Herald. Since early 2015, Jordan had led CCRA’s marketing tools training program for travel professionals and is both a presenter and educator at CCRA’s 2015 regional Power Solutions events and the upcoming Home-Based Travel Agent Forum.
CCRA’s integrated web presence is currently live and can be accessed at www.ccra.com, however, the new site will not be fully completed until the Home Based Travel Agent Forum that will be held in Tampa, FL, on October 27-30. Now through the end of 2015, the OSSN.com and checkatruecode.com websites will remain active to provide travel agents with an ample amount of time to become more acquainted with the new fully integrated CCRA site.
In addition to a more modernized and sophisticated look and interface, the new CCRA.com site will offer more streamlined navigation and an easier user experience for both travel professionals and suppliers. At this year’s Home-Based Travel Agent Forum, travel professionals will receive more information on CCRA’s new and improved website and enhanced membership opportunities for travel agents.
New CCRA Membership Options
CCRA’s new consolidated membership structures will range from a free membership option that grants travel agent access to CCRA’s hotel booking platform and more, to a fully inclusive accredited travel agency membership that includes TRUE accreditation and additional benefits from CCRA. In comparison to the OSSN membership structure, the new CCRA annual membership options will be simplified, offered at discounted rates, and provide a much greater array of travel agent benefits, including educational and online training platforms, discounts on industry trade shows, executive coaching from industry experts, local support at CCRA chapter meetings and more, CCRA said. The new annual membership opportunities will be featured on the CCRA website and will become available at the end of October during the Home-Based Travel Agent Forum. In January 2016, all membership renewals and new member registrations will be made through CCRA’s website: www.ccra.com.
Information for Current OSSN Members
Moving forward, OSSN Chapters and regional directors will now be referred to as CCRA Chapters and Regions. There will be no major changes in Chapter Director leadership. CCRA Chapter and Regional Directors will receive enhanced educational and training opportunities and increased marketing support over the next year, to build more awareness, increase meeting attendance and promote the continued growth of CCRA Chapters across the United States.
Now through the end of October, current OSSN members may renew their memberships online per the usual renewal procedures that can be accessed at OSSN.com. On January 1, 2016, all OSSN members will be transitioned to the new CCRA membership platform. The TRUE brand will remain as a flagship product for CCRA. In January 2016, CCRA will offer accreditation and identification to travel agencies in the U.S. and around the world, backed by the TRUE code. CCRA will continue to be the presenting sponsor of the Home Based Travel Agent Forum, which is owned by Travel Show Marketing Group, and is taking place in Tampa, Florida on October 27-30 at the Tampa Convention Center.
Visit www.ccra.com