The Western Association of Travel Agencies (WESTA) reported a 5 percent increase in attendance for its 2012 Trade Show and frontline agent training series. The events were held in Northern California, Southern California, Portland, Ore., and Seattle, Wash.
“Educating our frontline travel professionals is the biggest factor contributing to the success of our preferred partnerships,” said Mike Estill, chief operating officer of WESTA. “That is why we take our educational program on the road. We feel that it is important to offer our educational programs in a format that allows every agent from every member agency the opportunity to participate.”
The training sessions included agents from most of the 15 new agencies who joined the organization in 2011.
“As newer members [of WESTA], we appreciated the introduction to suppliers who are new to us and updates on the products we are more familiar with,” said Marti Anderson of Anderson Travel. www.joinwesta.com
