Travel Planners International’s (TPI) newest initiative - the T.E.A.M. program - creates education and networking opportunities for TPI agents on a local level, is reporting overwhelming initial success based on agent and preferred partner feedback.
In three months’ time, the host agency reports it is already more than halfway to reaching its year-long goal by appointing 17 TPI Ambassadors to coordinate local training activities. In addition, 28 T.E.A.M. meetings have been conducted or scheduled through May.
Launched on January 30, 2014, “T.E.A.M.” stands for Training – Education – Ambassador – Meetings, and is the first program of its kind in the industry offered by a host agency for its members, TPI says.
RELATED: Travel Planners International Breaks Ground on New HQ Following Growth
Qualified TPI agents are selected as ambassadors to assist and coordinate local monthly education and training meetings that showcase either one or two preferred partners. T.E.A.M. meetings are limited in size to ensure quality one-on-one time for all attendees with Travel Planners International’s preferred partners.
“T.E.A.M. was designed to assist our agents – both the new and experienced – in growing their business by educating, marketing, and networking with our preferred partners who will strengthen their product knowledge by delivering this education and training on a local level,” said TPI president and co-founder Ken Gagliano.
Added Tony Gagliano Jr., TPI COO/executive vice president, “We understand being home-based can be challenging, and going to trades shows is not always the best way to connect with a supplier. Instead, we turned the tables and are now bringing our preferred partners to our agents through T.E.A.M.”
By the end of April, 11 T.E.A.M. meetings will have been conducted with 17 more scheduled across the U.S. in May. T.E.A.M. meetings are held as evening dinner sessions, which usually last approximately three hours with the preferred partner-sponsored education portion being the focal point.
The TPI preferred partners participating in the T.E.A.M. meetings include: Carnival Cruise Lines, MLT Vacations, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, TravelSafe Insurance, Celebrity Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, CCRA, Funjet Vacations, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, GOGO Worldwide Vacations, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and Collette Vacations.
“The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive for the T.E.A.M Program,” said Monique Peragine, TPI business development coordinator who oversees the T.E.A.M. Program. “Our preferred partners love the uninterrupted face-time with TPI agents and our agents can’t say enough about the personalized training they’re receiving, not to mention the networking opportunities in their own backyard.”
TPI Ambassadors are being appointed in areas across the U.S. where there are 20 or more TPI agents located within a 40-mile radius. Currently, agents selected as ambassadors must have two or more years’ industry experience, along with other requirements outlined on the www.TPICENTRAL.com website.
To apply as an ambassador for the T.E.A.M. Program or to check for an upcoming meeting TPI agents can visit www.tpicentral.com.