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ASTA:
Becoming a Travel Advisor
Course Proposal

Travel Professional Academy proposes to build for the American Society of Travel Advisors a three part course:
  1. Geography for the Travel Professional
  2. Understanding Travel and Tourism
  3. Up and Running: A Plan for Growing your Travel Business

Geography for Travel Advisors: Curriculum
 
I. Geography: Introduction
  • Understanding Geography
  • Geography and Cultures
  • Geography and Tourism
  • Important Skills and Knowledge Points:
    • Latitude and Longitude
    • GPS
    • Reading a Map and Using a Compass
    • Calculating Time Zones and Travel Time
  • Sustainable Travel
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II. The Continents, Oceans and Seas of the World
Each continent will be broken out in an introductory fashion, with key demographic information, photography, video, and information relating to tourism infrastructure.
  • Asia
  • Africa
  • Antarctica
  • Australia
  • Europe
  • North America,
  • South America,
  • Europe
 
III. The Countries and their political divisions
Each country will be broken out with key demographic information, information on cities and key tourism areas, photography, video, and information relating to tourism infrastructure including links to Tourism Authorities and other resources.
 
The course would be online and would be intended as an ongoing reference source, continually updated.
 
The Geography for Travel Advisors course could be presented in any of the following formats:
  • Powerpoint Video Courses;
  • Text;
  • Lectures; or,
Any combination of the three

Understanding Travel and Tourism
  • Tourism as an economic force
  • Air Travel
  • The Hotel Industry
  • Local Points of Interest
  • Tour Operators
  • Consolidators
  • The Cruise Industry
  • Tour Operators
  • Tourist Authorities and Destination Management Organizations
The Understanding Travel and Tourism course could be presented in any of the following formats:
  • Powerpoint Video Courses;
  • Text;
  • Lectures; or,
Any combination of the three
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Up and Running: A Plan for Growing Your Career in Travel
​​Module 1: Basic Marketing and a Business Plan Overview 
  •         Introduction
  •         Crucial Psychogical Shifts 
  •         Preparing Your Mission Statement for Authentic Marketing
  •         Your Brand as a Travel Consultant
  •         Branding: Building a Rapport and a Relationship 
  •         SWOT Analysis
  •         Your Points of Contact
  •         Your Marketing Funnels
  •         Client Retention
  •         A Business Plan Overview
  •         A Tactical Overview
  •         Competition Understood
  •         Your Marketing Calendar
  •         Next Steps 
Module 2: Marketing Tactics 
  •         Advertising for Travel Professionals 
  •         Public Relations: Media 
  •         Public Relations: Networking
  •         Public Relations: Speaking Opportunities    
  •         Public Relations: Events 
  •         Public Relations: Writing for Travel Professionals 
  •         Public Relations: Writing for Travel Professionals: Blogging 
  •         Cross Marketing   
  •         Word of Mouth Marketing  
  •         Implementing a Group Leader Program 
  •         Introduction: Expanding Your Digital Footprint  
  •         Digital Marketing: Websites       
  •         Digital Marketing: Newsletters        
  •         Digital Marketing: Social Media
  •         Marketing Your Way 

        Module 3: The Marketing Mindset 
  •         Introduction 
  •         The Secret    
  •         Blue Ocean Strategies  
  •         Positioning Your Travel Practice 
  •         Niche Marketing 
  •         Guerilla Marketing 
  •         Learning from other businesses and professions 
  •         Prospecting for Travel Professionals 
  •         Eliminate What Stops You
  •         Keep Learning Your Craft 
  •         Think Backwards  
  •         The Language Ladder      
  •         Knowing and Doing       
  •         Consistently Persistent and Different       
  •         Campaign Marketing      
  •         Staying Top of Mind 

        Module 4: The Sales Process 
  •         Deconstructing the Sales Process 
  •         Selling Like It's 1985 
  •         Speak to the Explorer 
  •         Tapping Into Walter Mitty 
  •         Client Knowledge and Asking the Right Questions
  •         The Sales Environment
  •         Visualization 
  •         Make a good first impression 
  •         Speaking to Benefits 
  •         Making Presentations to Clients 
  •         "Closing" the Sale    
  •         Dealing with Objections     
  •         Why Consumers Book Elsewhere     
  •         Sales to Family and Friends 

        Module 5 - Customer Service 
  •         The "Why" of Customer Service         
  •         The Extra Mile         
  •         Sweating the Details         
  •         Setting the Stage for Great Customer Service         
  •         After the Sale         
  •         How Accessible Are You?         
  •         Training Your Clients         
  •         Demystifying Travel for Your Clients         
  •         Active Listening        
  •         Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty
  •         Problem Clients 

        Module 6 - Motivation and Essential Skills 
  •         Essential Skills: Persistence         
  •         Essential Skills: Enthusiasm and Confidence          
  •         Essential Skills: Empathy and Attitude         
  •         Essential Skills: Time Management         
  •         Essential Skills: Organization         
  •         Essential Skills: Supplier Relationships         
  •         Essential Skills: Pulling Out of a Slump         
  •         Essential Skills: Learning from Mistakes and Accepting Criticism         
  •         Essential Skills: Creative Thinking         
  •         The Role of the Travel Advisor 
Module 7 - Your Career Path
  • Working in a storefront travel agency
  • Working for Yourself: Setting up your business
  • Independent Travel Advisor or Hosted Travel Advisor?
  • State Laws and Regulations


The Up and Running course could be presented in any of the following formats:
  • Powerpoint Video Courses;
  • Text;
  • Lectures; or,
Any combination of the three

Richard B. Earls and Anita Pagliasso
Richard and Anita will complete the composition and editing of all three sections of the program by March 31, 2019 for between $125,000 and $150,000 depending on the final scope and format of the project.

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Travel Professional Academy
2910 Kerry Forest Parkway D4-217
Tallahassee, Florida 32309

(888) 420-4438