Travel Leaders reports it has scheduled over 215 training opportunities for members in 2014, and more will be added throughout the year. The seminars - often at no or minimal cost - include a variety of learning opportunities from virtual training to in-person curriculum, “Lunch & Learn” opportunities and intensive, multi-day training sessions exclusively for Travel Leaders members, frontline staff and independent contractors.
In addition, the group reports there are numerous educational options supporting Travel Leaders’ Centers of Excellence in Business Travel, Luxury Travel and Independent Contractors. A proprietary Certified Travel Specialist programs for both leisure and business travel is also available. “Our members and their travel agents have a great desire to continue educating themselves. We have long-since moved beyond offering only those educational opportunities geared toward destinations and suppliers to creating some of our industry’s top training curriculums,” stated Roger E. Block, president of Travel Leaders Franchise Group.
“Starting with Travel Leaders University – an intensive, multi-day ‘onboarding’ educational workshop to introduce our programs, products and tools – owners, managers, frontline agents and ICs can craft an individualized educational program encompassing our online lessons, net conferences, workshops and specialized training programs through our Learning Management System," Block said.
In 2014, educational opportunities will be available on topics such as: business travel, proprietary hotel programs, ICs, InteGREAT Enterprise, luxury travel, media training and public relations, and Travel Leaders Online (encompassing Agent Profiler, Associate Website program and the Agent Chat function), along with specific supplier training.
Business Travel – As part of Travel Leaders’ Business Center of Excellence(formerly known as Envision), members have access to specialized and proprietary business travel training opportunities such as: Accelerated Account Management, Dynamic Account Implementation, Sales Manager Training, Presentation Skills for Business Travel, and Using Travel Leaders’ Travel Policy Assessment Tool and Pricing Template.
Certified Leisure Travel and Business Travel Specialist Programs –
· Travel Leaders’ Certified Leisure Travel Specialist designation offers travel industry certification requiring each travel specialist to complete a minimum of 195 credits in five advanced modules. This includes materials from leading educational organizations, and Travel Leaders’ own highly specialized, proprietary training.
· Travel Leaders’ Certified Business Travel Specialist certification program has several components including Service Excellence for the Business Traveler. This includes a Business Account Research Project as well as Technology Skills, Preferred Supplier Knowledge, Consumer Services, Domestic and International Business Destination Case Studies.
Luxury Travel – Travel Leaders will offering very specific luxury travel educational opportunities to assist members focused on increasing their luxury and experiential travel bookings and to support them in making it a central part of their agency’s strategic sales. Members have access to training that includes:Luxury Sales Secrets Revealed (series), Luxury Travel Campaign Preview, New Marketing Campaign for Luxury Travel, and The Competitive Edge of In-Country Partners, as well as Travel Leaders’ ongoing, award-winning Luxury Working Lunch series.
Media Training – Travel Leaders’ Media Interview Training (MIT) program is an intensive day-long, advanced media training seminar taught by a former TV journalist and a C-level Public Relations executive. Members receive on-camera training as well as participate in classroom instruction to better understand the media and how to craft the right message no matter the topic. Many members who have completed media training have already served as key Travel Leaders spokespersons with local and national media outlets, Travel Leaders says.
Net Conferences – Net conference allow members and their agents to learn more about specific supplier products, marketing initiatives, and technology-based programs. A series of “Lunch and Learn” training opportunities specific to Travel Leaders’ Associate websites will be offered. This covers understanding and using website traffic reports and adding video content, to learning how to determine whether a member’s website is healthy and doing what it was designed to do.
Travel Leaders University – This three-day workshop introduces new and existing Associate owners or managers to Travel Leaders resources, strategies and products. The goal is to help members develop a plan to sell and support Travel Leaders’ suppliers and programs, identify ways to effectively advertise and market their agency, describe business tools and programs, and explain and use technology tools, the group says.
“The great part about nearly all of our exceptional training workshops, seminars and net conferences is that there is either no cost or minimal cost to participate, ” said senior manager of Education & Training Gloria Stock Mickelson. “Our agents are eager to add to their skills and knowledge, and we already have plans to add even more training opportunities throughout the year.”
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