The Travel Institute Expands "Promote Your Professionalism" to Annual Event

travel agentMore than 2,000 travel professionals participated in The Travel Institute’s “Promote Your Professionalism” program in July, a number that far exceeded expectations for this inaugural campaign in recognition of the organization’s 50th anniversary in 2014, the institute reports.

Due to the overwhelming response, the month-long event will become an annual campaign designed to better equip travel professionals with the skills needed to get the word out to their local media and clients about the many benefits of doing business with a true professional, The Travel Institute says.

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The program featured a series of eight webinars, weekly ebooks, a certification essay contest, and certification scholarships offering up to nearly $250 off standard curriculum pricing, depending on selected coursework. All activities were free of charge and open to everyone in the industry.

“We were definitely blown away by the huge turnout,” said Patricia Gagnon, director of program development for The Travel Institute. “In my 25 years with The Travel Institute, I’ve never seen anything like it. In fact, that 2,000 number is probably on the low side as it doesn’t fully take into consideration the thousands who benefited from our weekly communications that were specifically tied into the PR campaign."

“Not only do we want to thank everyone who participated, a special shout-out goes to members of our Professional Educators Program, press partners, and other supporters for sharing their expertise and making Promote Your Professionalism such a success.”

One of the program’s activities – the certification essay contest entitled “Earning My Certification – One of the Best Gifts I Ever Gave Myself" – awarded $100 Amazon gift cards to the top three entries. Winners are:

  • Staci Blunt, of Vacation Visions
  • Lisa Fitzgerald, of Custom Travel Design, a Fitzgerald Agency
  • Jennifer Walker, of Destinations Unlimited Travel

The three winning entries are posted on http://thetravelinstitute.com/50th-anniversary-essay-contest-winners/.Access to the eight webinars and other Promote Your Professionalism activities, including archived webinars, is also available on The Travel Institute’s website at www.thetravelinstitute.com.