The Travel Institute Launches New Romance Travel Specialist Course

The Travel Institute has launched a new Romance Travel Specialist course, sponsored by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts. The course is designed to help advisors establish or grow their romance travel sales by taking a relationship-first approach to the niche.

The Romance Travel Specialist course can help advisors strengthen their sales skills, create more personalized client experiences, and generate repeat and referral business. It gives advisors practical skills they can apply immediately 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… 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).