Diane Petras, President of The Travel Institute, Announces Retirement
by Briana Bonfiglio
Diane Petras, CTIE, President, The Travel Institute
Diane Petras, president of The Travel Institute, has announced her retirement after a nearly 40-year career in the travel industry, saying her role was “never as much a job as it has been a passion and a calling.”
Petras, who served as president for seven years and supported the organization in various roles for several decades prior, will retire at the end of the year. She looks forward to spending more time with family, traveling, and supporting local non-profit organizations, now confident that The Travel Institute is on solid footing to continue its growth.
“I’m able to let go and leave because things are truly the best they’ve ever been for The Travel Institute,” she said. “My biggest, best accomplishment has been hiring the team in place today. They have made the difference in what we deliver to this industry and I feel really good about leaving it in their capable hands.”
Petras began her career as a travel advisor in 1986 and went on to own corporate agencies and produce training events. She first served on The Travel Institute’s national advisory board in the 1990s. She officially signed on as the chief operating officer in 2010 and was named president in 2018.
At the Travel Institute, Petras is credited for reinventing the educator’s operating model from printed textbooks to an interactive website, enhancing content with third party experts, giving more than $1 million in scholarships, and offering an award-winning curriculum for new and experienced agents.
“Diane’s contributions to The Travel Institute cannot be overstated. She’s taken both The Travel Institute—and our entire industry—to a higher level,” said Gary Pollard, CTC, chair of The Travel Institute Board of Directors; president and CEO, Ambassador Tours. “Her passion for quality education has inspired countless agents and organizations to prioritize education and become true travel professionals who embrace selling travel and offer greater value through a comprehensive business model.”
“She’ll be missed both professionally and personally by her team and the board, as well as by leaders and advisors throughout the industry,” he added.
The search for Petras’ successor is now underway, and Petras will be available to the organization in a consulting capacity into 2026.
