Travel Institute Certification Programs Go Online

The Travel Institute is marking its 50th anniversary this year with a redesign aimed at bringing two of its most popular certification programs into the 21st century.

The rebuilt Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) and Certified Industry Executive (CTIE) programs will feature interactive online courses, accessible 24/7; downloadable white papers, and audio podcasts. The new features will launch on Feb. 3.

“We’re not your mama’s ICTA,” said Patty Noonan, CTC, director of sales for The Travel Institute. ICTA stands for the Institute of Certified Travel Agents, the organization’s original name. Founded in 1964, the organization was re-branded The Travel Institute in 2003.

“We’re new, we’re fresh and we’re cool,” Noonan added. “We are the educational destination that provides professional development at all career stages.”
 
A ‘blended approach’
The institute’s CTC program is aimed at agency owners and managers and frontline travel agents who want to advance their careers.

The CTIE training focuses on leadership skills, innovation and decision-making for agency owners and host agencies, as well as other industry professionals including suppliers and convention and tourist board executives.

In both programs, “a static, one-size-fits-all approach” based on PDFs is being replaced with a “blended approach” to education modeled on college curriculums, said Patricia Gagnon, CTC, director of program development.

Gagnon said both programs, which each take one year to complete, include 10 online core courses that are akin to required college courses. These will provide overviews of key areas, including management, marketing and finance.

In addition to the core courses, participants in the CTC program can customize their education by choosing a major. Majors include marketing, management, sales and customer relationships, communication and personal development; each will feature additional courses specific to that major.

The CTIE program also includes online interviews and presentations from business experts outside the industry.

No cost increase
Despite a pickup in the economy, the institute decided to hold the line on costs, which will remain at $495 for each program, said Noonan.

There’s a 10% discount available to institute members as well as a 12-month interest-free payment plan for all participants.

The Travel Institute also is introducing other tools that will be available to participants after graduation, including a quarterly newsletter, articles and research, blogs, white papers, podcasts and webinars.

21st century organization
“Our original mission was to provide training and certification programs to agents with an emphasis on continuing education,” said Jack Mannix, CTC, chairman of the institute’s board of trustees and head of Jack E. Mannix Associates.

“That’s pretty close to what we’re all about today but how we’ve executed that has changed dramatically,” Mannix said.

“We’re clearly a 21st century organization even though we have a 50-year history.”

48,000 graduates
In addition to its CTC and CTIE programs, the Institute offers Certified Travel Associate (CTA), Destination Specialist (DS), Lifestyle Specialist (LS) and Niche Market Specialist certification programs.

Noonan said the CTA program remains in a PDF format but she expects to take it online in 2015.

So far a total of 48,000 professionals have completed the institute’s various certification programs.