PHOTO: There are courses that focus on selling family travel to Hawaii.

Considering that Hawaii is one of the top tourist destinations in the world, it’s a pretty good idea for travel agents to get up to speed on the tropical hotspot. There are a variety of agent training programs that can help agents become experts on Hawaii. These include offerings from a wide range of groups, from the Hawaii Visitors and Conventions Bureau (HVCB) to Outrigger Enterprises Group and beyond.

While getting to know popular Oahu is obviously a must, it’s also important for agents to understand the distinct experiences offered on other major Hawaiian islands such as Maui, Kauai and the Big Island. Some training programs also include comprehensive lessons on neighbor islands such as Lanai and Molokai.

Most important of all, the following training programs offer certification as a Hawaii Specialist, which can boost an agent’s credibility tremendously. You’d be surprised how much one certificate from an authority such as the HVCB can increase business. When researching certification programs, it’s also important to note the hospitality companies that have a strong presence throughout the Hawaiian Islands.

For agents looking to boost their sales and credibility, here’s a look at some top training programs for selling Hawaii.

Hawaii Visitors and Conventions Bureau

This month, the Hawaii Visitors and Conventions Bureau (HVCB) introduces a new travel agent website and training program, which the Bureau has been working on for more than a year.

The six-course series begins with an overview of Hawaii and a course on selling the Hawaiian Islands. It continues with separate specialized courses on Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island, identifying what makes each island unique. A Master Specialist certification for each island will be included in the training.

On top of that, for the first time, agents will be able to download the program and access it through their smartphone or tablet. There’s also a new audio component to aid agents in pronouncing important Hawaiian words. Agents will also be able to attend live training sessions at several events held in major Hawaii markets throughout the year. Participation will go toward acquiring program certification. For more information, visit www.hvcb.org.

Outrigger Resorts: Outrigger Expert Agent

The Outrigger Expert Agent program, which replaced the Outrigger Specialist Program in late 2013, offers five additional optional courses within its education and loyalty program for agents.

The five courses include Oahu Island, Maui Island and Neighbor Island (the surrounding less-populated islands), as well as Australia-to-Asia Pacific and Outrigger on the Lagoon, Fiji for those who want to further expand their knowledge of Outrigger Resorts properties.

The Outrigger Expert Agent program boasts a technology platform for a visually rich training experience. The new platform also makes it easy for agents to scan through their learning course history.

Outrigger Enterprises Group is a family-owned business that has been around for more than 67 years. The hospitality company began in Waikiki and owns and/or operates 25 properties in the Hawaiian Islands, beyond its properties in Australia, Thailand, Fiji, Guam and Mauritius.

Outrigger introduced its new beachfront brand, Outrigger Resorts, in September 2014. Longtime partners such as Pleasant Holidays have been enlisting their agents in the Outrigger Expert Agent program to develop a strong understanding of the new brand. For more information, visit www.outriggeragent.com.

Starwood: SPG Pro/ProLearning

Starwood Hotels & Resorts announced its new SPG Pro loyalty program for meeting and travel professionals in October, offering greater rewards for agents who go through its ProLearning training program.

Travel professionals who complete the first module, Loyalty and Brands, of the ProLearning curriculum are not only granted access to more learning modules, but also qualify for SPG Elite status, upgrades and Starpoints for B2B business booked at any of Starwood’s 1,200 properties across the globe. That includes nearly a dozen Starwood properties in the Hawaiian Islands, from Honolulu to Kailua-Kona to Kauai to Maui.

Starwood Hawaii properties currently include Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa, Waikiki Beach; Sheraton Princess Kaiulani; Sheraton Waikiki; The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort, Waikiki; Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay; Sheraton Kauai Resort; The St. Regis Princeville Resort; The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas; Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa; The Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas; and The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Ka’anapali. For more information, visit www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest.

PHOTO: Agents can learn to sell Kauai through many available training courses.

Marriott: Hotel Excellence!

Marriott’s Hotel Excellence! training program covers a variety of topics essential to the today’s agents, including an overview of the hotel industry and Marriott brands, programs and services.

The award-winning, free online program delves into how the hotel industry as a whole has changed, as well as offering sales strategies, hotel research and recommendation tips, ways to match the right client with the right hotel and more. And, given that Marriott features more than a dozen properties on Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island, it’s probably a good idea to get up to speed on the company’s collection.

The program is available in 10 languages and boasts thousands of certified graduates around the world. For more information, visit hotelexcellence.marriott.com.

The Travel Institute: Destination Specialist Hawaii

The Travel Institute, established in 1964, features its “Destination Specialist Hawaii” training program for an all-encompassing look at the Hawaiian Islands.

The Destination Specialist Hawaii program covers Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai and the Big Island. A variety of facts about each island are included in the program, including information on geography, history, tourist attractions, accommodations, dining, shopping and sports activities.

Agents will also learn about the distinct advantages Hawaii offers over other destinations around the world, as well as insider tips about niche markets from couples and weddings to family travel.

Agents can either take the DS Hawaii test online or order it as a book or a PDF. For more information, visit thetravelinstitute.com/ds/Hawaii.

Travel Agent Academy

Courtesy of travAlliancemedia, Travel Agent Academy offers a variety of specialist training programs under its umbrella. When it comes to the Hawaii destination, the Hyatt Travel Specialist and the new USTOA Specialist programs are a couple of offerings worth looking into.

The Hyatt Travel Specialist program teaches agents how to best sell Hyatt’s collection of more than 550 hotels and resorts worldwide. It includes Hyatt’s five properties in Oahu, Kauai and Maui: Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort; Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa; Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa; Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa; and Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach.

To become a Hyatt Travel Specialist, travel professionals must complete a four-chapter General Course, as well as ace a quiz for each chapter. Hyatt Travel Specialists have the option of completing an additional Master’s Course to receive elevated certification.

In October 2014, the U.S. Tour Operators Association (USTOA), in association with travAlliancemedia, rolled out the first travel agent training program in its 42-year history and now includes training that agents will find useful when selling Hawaii.

To be certified as a USTOA Specialist, agents must complete a three-chapter, three-test course. The curriculum is designed to help agents sell tour and vacation packages more effectively, something mighty useful in a leisure destination such as Hawaii. Agents will receive an introduction to the USTOA and its membership; updates on tour and vacation packages available through the association’s tour operators (and the benefits they provide); selling tips based on the client’s needs; and more. For more information, visit www.travelagent
academy.com.

ASTA

ASTA offers a variety of education and specialist courses relevant to selling Hawaii. The courses include the Leisure Sales course (a simple way to increase your agency’s leisure sales, whether for Hawaii or other popular vacation spots), the Family Specialist course (master the segment and learn about vacation packages catering to all ages) and the USA Travel Expert course (an all-encompassing course on how to sell U.S. travel).

A growing number of agency groups are making ASTA membership mandatory for their members, which means that it’s all the more important to invest in the ASTA curriculum. Agency groups that have recently required ASTA membership include Travel Leaders and Signature Travel Network. For more information, visit www.asta.org.