What:
The Travel Institute has debuted a revamped Luxury Course to help agents maximize their sales and marketing skills. The redesigned platform features a multilayered approach to education delivery, including video segments from Larry Pimentel, president and CEO of Azamara Club Cruises; webinars; insider insights; and mobile-accessible content.
Why It Matters:
The Travel Institute has recognized that the luxury travel sector is hot — and that it’s one in which travel advisors need current and specialized training. Agents can benefit greatly from access to and training from experts in the luxury market via the nonprofit’s new platform.
Fast Facts:
- The new Luxury Course is a five-lesson online course that begins with an overview of luxury travel, then dives into specifics of the benefits and challenges of specializing; luxury trends, products and client profile; marketing and sales skills; and creating a marketing plan for the luxury travel specialty.
- The course features a video teaching segment by Pimentel; “Luxury Travel Insider” columns and insights written by luxury travel consultants and suppliers, including AccorHotels, Abercrombie & Kent, Ritz-Carlton, SeaDream Yacht Club and Seabourn Cruise Line; a collection of recorded webinars focused on topics such as specialization, luxury trends and strategies for differentiation in the competitive marketplace; and extensive and timely online content accessible on all mobile devices.
- Each lesson is built around a multimedia format that includes interactive flashcard grids and stacks, informative recorded webinars and eye-catching images. Brainstorming questions, key words, quick checks of the student’s understanding and at-work exercises are also within each lesson.
- Students will also learn from application activities to create a simple marketing plan and agency promotion strategy; course summary and glossary of terms; resources tab, containing links to websites, magazines and books; and supplemental reading material.
- The online course and exam cost $54. Premium Members of The Travel Institute can take the course for free as part of their unlimited learning experience. Basic Members save 10 percent on enrollment.
What They Are Saying:
“The luxury market is on fire right now,” said Guida Botelho, director of training for The Travel Institute. “So it’s imperative that our revised course delivers exactly what today’s travel professional needs to succeed with this demanding yet highly profitable customer base. In addition to our staff expertise, we’ve tapped into some of the brightest minds in the luxury segment — both from a supplier and retail angle — to redesign our course. We’re thrilled with the end result, especially the high marks it has received from the agency community during the prelaunch evaluation period.”
The Details
The Travel Institute
www.thetravelinstitute.com
