The Travel Institute, now celebrating its 50th year, unveiled a new interactive curriculum for its Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) and Certified Travel Industry Executive (CTIE) programs.
The new multi-media programs take effect Feb. 3.
Moving away from printed materials, the CTC and CTIE programs feature 10 online courses that are available 24/7.
"It gives a lot of flexibility to the students who are in the program," said Patty Noonan, CTC, director of sales at the Travel Institute. "Having that flexibility is very important."
Materials will be continually updated to ensure their relevancy.
Programs include audio podcasts, white papers and videos. Students have 12 months to complete their certifications.
Downloadable materials will also be available for those who want it.
For the first time ever, the CTC course will offer students the chance to major in one of five different areas, which is in addition to 10 core competencies. Majors include marketing, management, sales and customer relationships, communication and personal development.
The CTC white papers will include such topics as "Utilizing Travel Quality Standard Surveys to Improve Customer Service" and "The Importance of Successfully Hiring and Retaining Effective Employees."
Podcasts will cover such topics as "Show Them the Love: Customers are Willing to Pay For It" and "Five Ways to Make the Human Connection."
The CTIE coursework will place an emphasis on leadership skills. It will include materials from industry experts as well as those outside of the industry, such as interviews with members of the Harvard Business Review.
Videos will include an interview with Jim Collins, author of Great by Choice and the Essence of Leadership by former secretary of state Colin Powell.
The cost of the programs will remain unchanged at $495 each. The Travel Institute members receive a 10 percent savings. A 12-month interest-free payment plan is also available.
The revamping of the programs also includes new logos and taglines. The Travel Institute itself now features the tagline of 50 Years of Educational Excellence.
The new tagline for the CTC program is Credentials that Matter in the World of Travel, and Advance Your Leadership Skills for the CTIE program.
"We're not your mama's ICTA anymore," said Noonan, referring to the old name of the Travel Institute. "We're relevant and we're cool."
Jack Mannix, CTC, the Travel Institute's chairman, noted that although the organization has evolved greatly in 50 years its core mission remains unchanged. "The original mission was to provide training and certification programs to agents with an emphasis on continuing education. "That whole mission has served us well."
Today, nearly 50,000 people have partaken in Travel Institute educational programs, he said.
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