The Travel Institute has a rich history that spans six decades, and study groups have played a significant role in shaping the educational experience for aspiring travel professionals. These groups have evolved over time, adapting to changes in technology, education, and the travel industry itself.
Since its early days, The Travel Institute recognized the value of study groups as a more collaborative and interactive learning approach. The first study group was formed in 1969 by Nancy Stewart, CTC in Pittsburgh, PA for agents who were studying the Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) program, which was the Institute’s only certification at the time. The CTC program was always designed to be self-paced; however, Stewart believed getting several colleagues together would help them progress quicker and offer a chance to learn from one another’s professional experience. And it worked!
The concept of study groups was simple yet effective: students coming together to discuss course materials, share insights, and support each other’s learning. The news spread, and study groups became a grass-roots effort among CTC students across the country.
In 1982, what was then The Institute of Certified Travel Agents (ICTA), appointed long-time team-member, Gracie Hiett, CTC, to manage what had grown to over 300 study groups. Four years later, the Train-the-Trainer program was launched to help group leaders in effectively facilitating learning. This program remains active today, with numerous trainers representing The Travel Institute’s expanded curriculum, including KHM’s Toni Rath, CTA, Travel Agent Next Door’s Rhonda Stanley, CTA, Nexion’s Heather Kindred, CTIE, and various clubs within AAA.
“I think that learning together in our industry means we can make it better; not only for each other, for our clients, but the industry as a whole. Our job is to sell travel experiences around the world, (and) there are a lot of challenges in that. Working and learning together, we can elevate the experiences we offer our clients.” – Toni Rath, CTA, a study group leader at Adventures by Toni in Berthoud, CO, a KHM Affiliate.
In the 1990s to the 2000s, The Travel Institute led the industry in offering Executive Institutes: immersive, premier education for industry leaders for its CTC and CTIE certifications and Weekend Immersions for its CTA program as started by Bob Lepisto, CTC, former president of The Travel Institute and current president of SeaDream Yacht Club. Listen as he shares his insights here: Bob Lepisto, CTC – The Travel Institute
Today, with the continued evolution of online learning, The Travel Institute has embraced new learning methods and continues to adapt its educational offerings to provide students the opportunity to exchange ideas and learn from each other. Our CTA Candidates Facebook Study Group—currently with more than 2000 members—was created to help CTA candidates with their studies, to build confidence, to grow knowledge, and to succeed by completing their certification.
“This group is very encouraging and I appreciated the morale boost! Conquering the mindset and overcoming the fear and anxiety is half the battle. I also liked the structured breakdown of the program; it makes it more manageable. It can seem like such a daunting goal and having a timetable makes it less intimidating. It helped me stay focused and served as a reminder to just keep working at it. The group also provides a forum for direct communication, to get quick answers and access to resources when you have questions.” – Pamela Prindle Fierro, CTA Candidate, Travel Advisor, and Small Business Owner at Coastwise Travel, Virginia Beach, VA.
Senior Director of Education Guida Botelho, CTIE, adds: “The Facebook group provides a great opportunity to build a community of professionals who share the same goal: to earn their CTA Designation. Here, we learn from each other. This forum is a great place to share best practices and study tips, exchange ideas and keep each other accountable.”
From the first CTC study group to a growing demand for online study groups, the concept remains as Nancy Stewart, CTC envisioned it back in 1969: to collaborate and learn together for a better industry! Listen to David Chait, CTIE, one of our first CTIE Virtual Executive Institute Graduates, as he describes his experience.
As the travel industry continues to evolve, so, too, will the role of study groups with The Travel Institute, ensuring that future generations of travel professionals are well-equipped to navigate the ever-changing global travel landscape. These groups embody The Travel Institute’s mission, established 60 years ago, dedicated solely to advancing professionalism and industry success. If you are interested in forming a study group for your agency, contact us at info@thetravelinstitute.com
Take a look back at many of the milestones that have brought us, our students, our graduates and our industry great success.
