The Travel Institute offers TRIPKIT scholarship for new agents

The Travel Institute is once again offering its TRIPKITSM Scholarship Fund, providing tuition assistance on the education leader’s award-winning new agent training program.

First launched in January, the scholarship is available during October while funds last, the institute says. 

The Travel Institute’s 2023 Changing Face of Travel Agents survey signalled early a potential lack of educated agents, reporting 36 per cent of travel agencies lost experienced staff during the pandemic and that 66 per cent of advisors may soon “age out.”

“TRIPKIT fills the knowledge gap and delivers capable, confident and job-ready new agents throughout the industry,” stated Guida Botelho, CTIE, senior director of education for The Travel Institute. “Long recognized as the industry’s gold standard, there is no doubt TRIPKIT continues to help new agents hit the ground running with the industry knowledge AND business skills they need for a successful career in travel,” Botelho continued, citing continued growing enrollment in 2024 after more than doubling average new agent enrollment in 2023.

Online, self-guided course

TRIPKIT is an online, self-guided course supporting individuals studying independently, agency owners and managers training new staff, and post-secondary vocational institutions teaching travel-related curriculum.

With an emphasis on real-world experiences, TRIPKIT provides a comprehensive overview of air, ground transportation, accommodations, cruises, tours and packages, while also showcasing other nuances in travel planning such as technology, economics, geography, cultural events, and more for both U.S.- and Canadian-based agents.

In addition, along with customer service, sales, marketing, and business skills, the course also addresses travel career development, destination knowledge, and how to establish and run a home-based agency.

Packing the equivalent of one college semester into a 19-lesson, self-paced timeline, TRIPKIT is an affordable, 60- to 80-hour online program vetted by college professors while also including three online textbooks and workbooks and 13 hours of expert wisdom and practical advice from industry leaders.

It uses an interactive learning platform with best-practice learning modules to help create an agent career path.

TRIPKIT students finish the course with the Travel Agent Proficiency Exam, or TAP, which evaluates mastery of industry basics and is often the first step in travel professional recognition. Recent TAP graduates are recognized on The Travel Institute website, and those looking for employment or a host are identified with a “Hire Me” link.

Applications for the TRIPKITSM Scholarship Fund (click here) are now being accepted; interested agents can also attend a new-to-the-industry webinar to learn more.

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