Educational Opportunities For Travel Advisors to Boost Their Knowledge

The slowdown in travel has created hardship for many in the travel industry but one of the positives that can be gained is a chance to take time normally spent working with clients to learn new skills.

Here are 10 ways to boost your knowledge before travel demand returns.

The Travel Institute offers a number of certification programs and specialized training in destinations, niche marketing and more.

Right now is the seventh annual Promote Your Professionalism program, which is accepting applications for 50 percent scholarships.

Travel Agent Academy is another learning destination for travel advisors that also offers credits and certification as well as rewards. The course catalog includes destinations such as Miami, Visit Wales and Aruba and from companies like Classic Vacations, Palladium Hotel Group and JacTravel.

Coming soon are courses from Costa Rica, Chile and Atelier de Hoteles.

Now is the time to check in with your host agency to see what learning opportunities they are delivering.

Avoya Travel recently moved its four-day Land Forum to a virtual event and Cruise Planners is engaging its advisors through a series of Zoom panels.

This year's ASTA Global Convention is going virtual this year. Travel advisors can attend the new event-ASTA Global Live-which will feature more than 14 educational sessions focusing on a variety of topics, including sales, business operations and the ASTA Verified Travel Advisor certification program.

Many consortia are converting their face-to-face conferences to virtual events.

One upcoming example is Virtuoso Travel Week, which will take place online for the first time August 10-13, 2020. With the virtual event, Virtuoso is still aiming to provide the strong social component that travel advisors and suppliers crave at the moment as well as the chance to meet with suppliers one-on-one.

Attendees can also take advantage of learning opportunities from a comprehensive line-up of educational sessions hosted by award-winning outside speakers.

While travel may be put on hold, there are still opportunities to connect with destinations.

On July 30, 2020, Thailand will hold the 3rd Amazing Thailand Virtual Marketplace: North America Chapter from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. EST.

Attendees can learn from suppliers, including Minor Hotels, The Peninsula Bangkok, Waldorf Astoria Bangkok, Amanpuri, The Siam, Abercrombie & Kent Thailand, EXO Travel, Blue Elephants and EVA Airways.

Travel advisors looking to focus on a new niche can also hone their skills and make new connections through virtual events. TravelPulse and Agent@Home will present the Weddings & Honeymoons Expo and the Culinary Travel & Tours Expo.

The Weddings & Honeymoons Expo takes place on September 23-24, 2020, and will also be available on-demand.

The Culinary Travel & Tours Expo takes place on October 28-29, 2020, and will be available on-demand after the live event.

The Leisure, Destination & Cruise Expo is currently available on demand.

Not all learning has to be travel specific. Brush up on business analytics, marketing strategies, communication, computer science and more with online classes from top universities.

Coursera offers classes from Duke, University of Michigan, Yale, Stanford and more and provides the opportunity to earn certificates and degrees.

Travel podcasts are a casual and fun way to learn about a variety of topics.

The most recent TravelPulse Podcast touches on trending topics such as the updated CDC No Sail Order and how the hotel industry is coping with COVID-19 and new travel trends.

TED Talks provide inspiring content on a number of different topics.

Signature Travel Network's talent development consultant Nolan Burris discusses compassion in a recent TEDx Talk live on YouTube.