Those in the travel industry are displaying a combination of ingenuity and innovation as they work to recruit travel agents and bond with them. A survey of several prominent names in travel shows the clever manner in which people are reaching out to agents or working to bring agents under their umbrellas. 

Transat, for instance, recently announced the launch of an exclusive training program for new travel professionals that it labels “unprecedented” in this country. The initiative is part of the company’s commitment to nurture talent and foster growth within the travel industry. For that reason, the Transat Rookie Camp is aimed at travel professionals with less than three years’ experience.

“At Transat, we recognize the value of a well-trained travel professional and choose to invest in the development of these rookies, who we believe are essential to the collective success of the industry,” said Nicole Bursey, commercial director, Transat. “This training reflects our commitment to the agencies and our continuing desire to be a supportive partner.”

Recognizing the importance of providing comprehensive training to new travel professionals, Transat’s commercial team has developed a multi-faceted curriculum to be delivered at destination, the company stated.

Sessions are led by seasoned Transat and Air Transat professionals with extensive experience in their respective fields, providing valuable insight and practical guidance through a combination of interactive workshops, hands-on exercises and one-on-one mentoring.

As “there is no substitute for first-hand experience,” Transat has partnered with Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts, Barcelo Hotel Group, Iberostar Hotels & Resorts, Melia Hotels & Resorts,Palladium Hotel Group, Trafic Tours and World of Hyatt Inclusive Collection to “ensure that Rookie Camp participants are fully immersed in the destination and product.”

The first Rookie Camp has already been held at Paradisus Playa del Carmen & Paradisus La Perla and brought together 102 agents, seven partner representatives, and eight Transat / Air Transat staff. 

TRAVELSAVERS Canada points to its KORE education program that advances how the industry enlists and trains the next wave of travel advisors as an example of its reaching out to the agent community, adding that the travel and tourism industry in Canada is projected to grow to $16.92 billion by 2028. 

To meet heightened demand, KORE will help new talent learn and grow in their travel advisor careers. KORE is tailored for the needs of the Canadian travel industry, addressing airline regulations, cruise sales and compliance and fraud protection, co-created with in-country experts.

“KORE is launching at a critical time for the travel advisor profession,” adds Jane Clementino, SVP and general manager of TRAVELSAVERS Canada. “Its mission is threefold: we attract new entrants at a time when they’re truly needed. We provide comprehensive training for those advisors. And we help agencies recruit and train new consultants.”

Launched in the United States in 2021, KORE is described as a comprehensive, fully digital curriculum that’s self-paced and flexible to meet the needs of today’s learners. Agents receive real-world insights from industry experts. Beyond providing in-depth content most relevant to the modern travel industry, KORE connects unaffiliated students with personal mentors who are agency owners and managers. It even offers a post-graduation job placement.

“KORE is exactly what our industry needs and has made a huge impact on our success,” says Steve Ineson, owner of Four Seasons Travel. “This game-changing curriculum allowed us to hire and train an advisor, all in just a few months. Within a year,  this advisor has surpassed every sales goal and is on track to help increase our business by over 20%. KORE has helped us achieve our sales and profitability goals and will be an automatic part of our recruiting and training process.”

Notably, there are 16 training modules and approximately 135 hours of study time involved in KORE as the curriculum covers every aspect of the industry and is rooted in skills unique to travel today. Graduates will learn how to research, design and book travel; serve clients; and build a profitable business in this rapidly shifting industry. The curriculum also includes topics not always covered in travel agent career programs, such as technology tools, social media marketing and industry compliance and fraud protection co-created with attorneys.

Students complete the course on their own timeline from any location, offering the flexibility for busy lives. KORE graduates will walk away with a certificate as a sign of their achievement.

“We are very hopeful that it will be a success in Canada, all indicators are suggesting that there is significant interest in the program,” Clementino reports. “KORE is tailored to someone who wants to make a living in travel vs more of a hobbyist who is booking for friends and family. So our target market is defined and the program is very comprehensive and requires a high level of commitment to complete it. We have just started to advertise outside of the industry to gain new recruits. Stay tuned for our results.”  

Clementino is confident travel agents will play an important role in the coming years.

“The experience and insights that an advisor has are invaluable and they cannot be replaced by technology,” she says. “Instead, technology can be leveraged as a valuable tool that manages workflow and saves advisors’ time, freeing up their schedule and allowing them to do what they do best, which is to sell and generate revenue. We need to continue to be focused on attracting new travel recruits. Collectively, the industry needs to think about what we can do to ensure we have a steady stream of new advisors learning from the tenured ones, as well as evolving with the changes and new opportunities being introduced.”

Meanwhile, ONVIGO, which bills itself as the newest host agency to emerge in travel, says it is strategically positioned to capitalize on the “burgeoning growth and demand in the home-based travel sector.”

“At ONVIGO, we believe that there has never been a better time to join the travel industry,” said Shean Carmichael, the director of operations at ONVIGO. “We are passionate about supporting travel advisors every step of the way, whether they are just starting out or looking to take their business to the next level. Our personalized approach ensures that each agent receives the assistance they need to achieve their goals.”

ONVIGO has a unique approach that is tailored to cater to the surge of new-to-industry individuals expressing interest in becoming travel agents. It aims to empower aspiring travel advisors by providing them with the support, training, and cutting-edge technology necessary to thrive in the industry. Members are backed by the technology and content connected with Voyzant (one of Canada’s top travel consolidators), providing integrated access to fulfill travel requests. While most host agencies have start-up fees, putting the ITA in a position of having to sell to recoup their investment before it’s money in their pocket, ONVIGO aims to put the ITA first.

“Building a foundation of diversified advisors is our priority and speaks to one of ONVIGO’s core values: community,” said Carmichael. “We’re excited about the journey ahead and the positive impact we believe ONVIGO will have on the Canadian travel advisory landscape.”

ONVIGO says its primary focus is to establish itself as a leading host agency that not only meets but exceeds the expectations of travel advisors.

“We aim to foster a vibrant community, actively contribute to the industry’s growth, and create a platform where diversity, inclusivity, and personalized support are at the forefront of our operations,” ONVIGO reports.