The Romance Travel Specialist Course is sponsored by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts. (Photo Credit: The Travel Institute)
WHY IT RATES: The Travel Institute’s new Romance Travel Specialist Course, which is sponsored by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts, will help travel advisors capitalize on the growing appeal of the market. Among other things, it provides participants with insights into the finer nuances of romance travel and how to navigate the sales process. — Claudette Covey, Executive Retail Editor
The Travel Institute has launched a new Romance Travel Specialist course designed to help travel advisors establish or grow a romance travel specialty.
Romance travel appeals to all ages and relationship stages, creating opportunities for advisors to support a client's lifecycle of milestones, such as engagements, weddings, honeymoons, anniversaries, vow renewals, babymoons and other meaningful milestones — as well as couples looking to create special memories together.
Sponsored by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts, the Romance Travel Specialist course takes a relationship-first approach to romance travel, helping advisors understand what clients are celebrating and why the moment matters before recommending destinations, accommodations and travel products. The course also helps advisors strengthen their sales skills, create more personalized client experiences and generate repeat and referral business.
The Romance Travel Specialist course gives advisors practical skills they can immediately apply to build and grow a romance travel business, including how to:
- Understand client motivations by uncovering the expectations, priorities, travel styles and personal significance of the trip.
- Differentiate among romance travel experiences and identify the specific planning considerations for each.
- Personalize the journey by matching clients with destinations, accommodations and experiences that align with their vision and budget.
- Navigate the sales process with confidence, from the initial consultation through booking and post-travel follow-up.
- Build a recognizable romance travel niche through branding, marketing, networking and professional partnerships.
- Create repeat and referral business by delivering exceptional experiences and cultivating relationships that extend beyond a single trip or milestone.
“The emotional significance of romance travel makes the advisor a trusted consultant in creating an experience that perfectly captures the meaning of the moment. That’s why specialized training is so important in this niche,” said Taylor Ruecking, president of The Travel Institute. “Advisors need the knowledge and expertise to understand the unique needs of romance travelers, deliver meaningful experiences and differentiate themselves. The Romance Travel Specialist course provides the skills needed to succeed in this rewarding specialty. We’re grateful to Iberostar Hotels & Resorts for sponsoring the course and investing in the professional development of travel advisors.”
For advisors, the opportunity extends well beyond a single romantic getaway — romance travel clients often return for anniversaries, milestones, family vacations and other travel needs. By delivering thoughtful experiences for milestone moments, advisors can turn a single romance booking into a loyal client.
“Romance travel is about far more than booking a trip — it’s about helping people celebrate the moments that matter most,” said Loreto Lazo, Director of Romance AME, Iberostar Hotels & Resorts. “For many, a milestone trip represents a substantial financial and emotional investment, and they want an advisor who can translate the importance of the moment into an experience they’ll remember for years to come. That requires thoughtful discovery, attention to detail and a deep understanding of what clients want from their journey. We’re proud to partner with The Travel Institute to help advisors become true experience curators.”
Completing the Romance Travel Specialist course also provides 10 Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) — the annual requirement — for those holding the designation of Certified Travel Associate (CTA), Certified Travel Counselor (CTC®), and Certified Travel Industry Executive (CTIE.)
SOURCE: The Travel Institute
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