Newly Created Role Responds to Continued Growing Demand for Quality Education
The Travel Institute announces the appointment of Stacey Cabell, CTIE, founder and former owner of Starstuff Travel, to lead the development of its curricula and to ensure the education leader’s programming remains aligned with the evolving needs of today’s travel professionals.
“Stacey brings a powerful combination of real-world agency leadership and a deep commitment to advisor education,” said Guida Botelho, CTIE, vice president for The Travel Institute. “Her experience in utilizing education to build and lead a high-performing agency gives her unique insight into what today’s advisors need. As we continue strengthening our programs and elevating professional standards across the industry, Stacey’s passion and leadership will be instrumental in shaping The Travel Institute’s next generation of content.”
A seasoned entrepreneur and education leader, Cabell founded Starstuff Travel in 2013, growing the full-service travel agency to more than 100 independent contractors and achieving multi-million-dollar annual sales over the last 10+ years before selling in 2025. Managing all backend operations, compliance, and supplier partnerships, Cabell credits her agency’s success, in part, to the comprehensive, multi-stage educational programs she created, focusing on industry knowledge, professional growth, soft skills, and modern sales practices for advisors. The appointment of Cabell, who is experienced in education from new-to-the-industry to advanced leadership to niche specialization and more, underscores The Travel Institute’s focus on delivering high-impact, scalable learning experiences for travel professionals at all stages of their careers.
“It’s a perfect match,” Cabell shared. “The Travel Institute excels at delivering high-impact, scalable learning, and I’m eager to contribute my expertise in instructional design and business acumen to its already powerful programming. Together, we’ll enable travel professionals everywhere to achieve greater success.”
In the newly created role of senior learning & development manager reporting to Botelho, Cabell now oversees the team, including both internal staff and external contributors responsible for the end-to-end learning experience including content development, quality assurance, learning design, and student engagement. For Botelho, Cabell’s real-world expertise in retail travel will “undoubtedly further cement our position as the education ‘gold standard’ for travel professionals at all stages of their careers.”
Cabell has long been a champion of The Travel Institute’s mission to advance industry professionalism and is a graduate of both its CTA and CTIE programs; she is also a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program and New York University’s Tisch Hospitality & Industry Essentials. A recognized industry speaker and writer for major platforms such as Travel Pulse, Cabell has also served as a mentor for The Travel Institute’s Professional Educators Program, PEP.
Industry surveys indicate quality education is a key driver of success for individual advisors and the travel industry at large. In The Travel Institute’s Changing Face of Travel Agents survey, data consistently indicates a high correlation between high-quality certification and financial performance, most recently with 81% of its certified graduates reporting measurable business growth after earning their credentials.
“At The Travel Institute, we are committed to advancing professional growth across the travel industry,” said Taylor Ruecking, president of The Travel Institute. “As the marketplace evolves, we listen closely to advisors and partners and translate that insight into education that is current, practical, and forward-looking. By continually strengthening our teams and modernizing our programs, we ensure travel professionals are equipped to succeed today and lead with confidence into what’s next.”
