Over the years I’ve read how my travel training is sub-par simply because I’m involved with YTB. In all the years I’ve seen those comments I’ve wondered two things.
One…how in the world would anyone outside of YTB even know what kind of travel training is available to those involved in YTB?
And two…can CLIA, TAUniv.com, TheAcademy.com or supplier specific training be any different from what other host agencies are able to acquire?
In my weekly newsletter I write each week for TSO’s, a good portion of that newsletter is dedicated to the subject of travel training. When I see folks like CLIA, Travel Agent University, The Academy, and a number of suppliers and vendors who promote training courses and webniars, it makes me wonder if I’m missing something. Are the Traditionalist getting something through osmosis that I’m not? It’s especially interesting when these trainings are live (like CLIA’s this summer) how this happens.
I consider myself somewhat observant and a smart enough guy. How this specialized training and knowledge has slipped past me all these years is very odd. It could be a case of more mud that’s thrown up in the hopes that it will stick for anyone who is looking into becoming a Travel Agent. If you find it via Google, it’s got to be true right? The tag line here is: because it’s YTB, somehow, you just can’t get the same type of quality training because it’s MLM.
Truth be told, it’s not the lack of training that’s available in this industry that’s the problem. The problem for those that are caught up in all the “issues” with YTB is that the individuals involved in our company don’t appear to have any interest or care to participate in the training that’s available. What we have come to understand over the years however, is the “issues” are more or less “illusions”. Remember, the mud thrown up is to make it look like the majority care only about “recruiting”. Yet, the last two years of Income Disclosures document a very small number recruit. (Fact is, about 10% actually do.)
So what’s available to the other 90% who got involved with YTB?
When writing a newsletter like mine, a key to it’s success or failure is knowing what your readership likes. What pushes thier buttons. A big reason why I put so much travel training information in my newsletter is because my readership responds to it. I not only track, but I pay close attention to open rates and click rates to see how effective my information is. (It’s all part of proper marketing and building trust.) Every week, without fail, travel training consistently ranks very high in clicks.
For example, I mentioned CLIA’s TrainingFest which will tour 12 cities this summer. While I’ve promoted this in my newsletter for several weeks now, each week this live course for Cruise Counselor Credits ranked extremely high from my readership. (Out numbered 2 to 1 over any other piece I wrote the first week I promoted it.) They, like me, have a keen interest in learning and growing in the travel industry.
In addition, new 2009 CLIA applicants are required to be enrolled in, or to have achieved a designation (ACC, MCC, ECC, ECCS) in CLIA’s Cruise Counselor Certification Program. Attainment of an ACC designation requires a program of mandatory and elective training options as well personal cruise experience, shipboard inspections and 25 cabin sales within the two year enrollment period.
What about Travel Agent University? US Airways is offering a Vacations Specialist Course this week through this program that looks to be the same course offered to Traditionalists. These “home-study” programs by the Education and Training Division of Travel Agent Magazine offer a wide variety of programs and courses for anyone interested in learning about destinations and suppliers. There are dozens of programs and courses to choose from within this particular training program. Since these courses are designed by the staff of Travel Agent Magazine, again, I can’t imagine a special course just for YTB, and another for Traditionalists.
Another high click rate the past two weeks have been Apple Vacations and their Agent Academy now in year two of the program. These 10-unit educational course on selling Apple Vacations expands on what we learned in year one. Of course, those who are new to YTB and Apple Vacations have an opportunity to take year one, and then move on to year two in order to get you up to speed. I can’t imagine how or why Apple Vacations would have one course for Traditionalist and another course for YTB.
We can’t forget OneSource from Princess and Cunard either. This Travel Agent Training center is most likely the strongest from any supplier in the industry. (At least ones not offered through programs like Travel Agent University or TheAcademy.com) I’ve heard many times over how much others have learned through this course, and how the curriculum found there can lead to more cruise sales across the board.
And of course there’s YTB E-Campus. While E-campus appears to be an exclusive YTB training, it’s not designed by YTB at all. Instead, we left that up to the most respected and well known trainer in the industry, Dr. Marc Mancini
. Dr Mancini and his firm are the creative force behind some of the best-known and most successful training programs in the business including training programs for CLIA, AAA, and NTA. While there has been quite a bit of speculation that all 10 courses would never be rolled out, YTB is currently in need of one final program, (Course 110) to complete the entire library of training.
E-Campus is a considerable investment for our TSO’s who desire to become “Travel Agents”. Word is with the completion of this 10 course series, we’ll be able to drop the “R” from “Referring Travel Agent” and be considered “Travel Agents”.
There will always be a few stragglers who simply won’t accept anyone involved in YTB as “Travel Agents”. You need to keep in mind that these are the same people who won’t accept YTB as a seller of travel period. If they want to get caught up in the myths and spin surrounding a company like YTB, I’d simply allow them to do so. What I’d recommend instead is getting yourself plugged into something like my newsletter to keep you up to date on the abundance of travel industry training available.
You’ll quickly learn that the industry is an “equal opportunity trainer” and most suppliers, training centers, and specialized courses offered in this industry could care less about who you might be tied to as a Host Agency. It’s apparent to me that there’s an abuandance of training available if you simply know where to look.
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Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker
Phone: 678.458.5812
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