50% Scholarships Support Advisor Skills, Credibility and Business Growth
The Travel Institute, a non-profit organization and the industry’s education leader, has launched its 13th Annual Promote Your Professionalism, or PYP, Campaign, running now through July. The month-long initiative provides travel agents, agency owners, and suppliers with access to 50% scholarship funds across its flagship, three-tier certification program—including the Certified Travel Associate, CTA®; Certified Travel Counselor, CTC®; and Certified Travel Industry Executive, CTIE®, designation, while also promoting the value of educated travel professionals.
“Passion may get you into the travel industry, but comprehensive education sustains a thriving career,” asserted Guida Botelho, CTIE, vice president of The Travel Institute. “Whether you are a frontline advisor aiming for your CTA, a manager leveling up to a CTC, or an executive completing your CTIE, certification through The Travel Institute provides real-world business skills and knowledge that lead to greater credibility and success,” she continued.
The Travel Institute’s 3-tier certification program is part of the non-profit’s 60+-year-old mission to provide accessible, affordable education to travel professionals and advance industry professionalism. With nearly 31,500 graduates across its certification programs, The Travel Institute is the long-held gold standard in travel industry higher education and its ROI has been demonstrated consistently. Last year’s CTA Graduate Insights Survey, established that 81% of CTA alumni specifically experience measurable business growth post-graduation, and 85% consistently apply their advanced training to daily operations. In addition, graduates across all three certifications consistently report increased earnings and satisfaction over their uncertified counterparts.
“When agency owners, supplier partners, and executive leaders champion education, we elevate the value of travel advisors while also elevating the credibility, ethics, and professionalism of our industry at large,” explained Andrew Davis, CTIE, CMP, president and COO of MAST Travel Network, which has a long-standing commitment to education and training. “Certification through The Travel Institute is not only a strategic necessity for travel professionals; it’s also the proven baseline of excellence necessary to maintain industry stability and consumer trust,” Davis continued.
Industry veteran Ann Chamberlin, CTA, CTIE, senior director, AmaWaterways, agreed. “Earning my CTA and CTIE designations has been a source of tremendous professional pride, reflecting a true commitment to ongoing education, client service and the highest standards of professionalism in our industry,” Chamberlain remarked, adding that certification from The Travel Institute “signals to clients, suppliers, and industry colleagues that we are invested in our own growth as well as the growth of the industry.”
Active certified graduates also benefit from:
- enhanced digital credentials to showcase verified credentials on social media, email signatures, websites and more;
- an optional consumer-facing directory for front-line agents and searchable by location, specialized expertise, language, contact information and other advisor-dictated details;
- advanced SEO and other marketing tools to help consumers and colleagues locate certified graduates; and
- exclusive alumni benefits including supplier offers, continued educational opportunities such as invite-only online learning lectures, and other resources.
“Being certified through The Travel Institute means being the best travel professional you can be, and it also means being part of a special, like-minded advisor community to learn from, lean on, and grow with throughout your career,” Botelho concluded.
Since its inception, the annual PYP Campaign has awarded 5,500 scholarships, including more than 600 in 2025, and totaling nearly $1.5M USD in savings. Generous donors and partnerships for 2026 include AmaWaterways, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean Cruises. To apply for a PYP scholarship, valued at $299 USD, individuals must complete The Travel Institute’s scholarship application, available through the end of July. According to recent graduates:
- “In this day and age, it’s hard for travelers to know what they are getting online when trying to find a travel advisor…Being able to say I am a CTA helps my clients know they can trust me.” —Dara Thompson, CTA, Co-owner, Beyond The Magic Travel Co.
- “I invested in the CTC because I want clients to trust I’ve gained the knowledge and experience they need to feel comfortable with my advice, and I want my peers to know continual growth is a priority. This designation tells clients and my travel partners I’m committed to being the best travel counselor and leader I can be.”—Naomi Kinloch, CTC, Customer Service Director, Affordable Tours Inc.
Supplementing PYP scholarships are timely, free online presentations to further develop agent professionalism, such as the upcoming Delivering the Wow; Lessons from Industry Legend Richard Fain—a certified alumni-exclusive event; as well as Leading for Growth: How to Develop High-Performing Travel Advisors; Defining Your Non-Negotiable Boundaries in Business; and Japan: Endless Discovery – Japan & Tokyo 101, and more. Learn more at PYP or via an upcoming webinar about certification.
The Travel Institute relies on individuals and organizations, including its alumni and other industry stakeholders, to support its work to create relevant, meaningful, rigorous and affordable coursework for agents at all career stages. Make a tax-deductible 501(c)(3) donation, share your expertise with students, or learn more about sponsorships in support of agent, traveler, and industry success.
