A new training programme for agents who are new to travel or for those who are returning to the travel industry is being introduced.
The Advantage Travel Partnership announced the programme, which will be delivered by AS Training, at its conference in Costa Mujeres on Friday (17 May).
The training will focus on cruise, touring and ski and will be available to every Advantage member in the UK.
It confirmed it would offer more training and development services to its members than ever before, with additional training initiatives continuing to be rolled out later in 2024.
Advantage will also be offering frontline travel consultants opportunities to learn about products and services within its portfolio.
The “Frontliners” programme will include sessions on how to sell more cruise and how to overcome key challenges in customer-facing roles.
Speed-dating sessions will also be offered – giving frontline staff the opportunity to connect with suppliers and members.
A mentoring and executive coaching programme will also be rolled-out, aimed at giving business owners and travel managers the opportunity to work with a mentor and to develop a peer-to-peer support network.
The programme will be delivered virtually providing agents with a platform to share experiences and find practical solutions to everyday challenges.
Chief commercial officer Kelly Cookes said: “We know running a business can be challenging and sometimes lonely.
“The executive coaching programme will allow business owners to work alongside an executive coach on a one-to-one basis, to help develop their business in the way that helps an owner achieve their goals and ensure that their business is working for them.
“The coach will work with business owners to identify their strengths, challenges, and opportunities, and provide feedback, guidance, and support to help them grow and excel.”
In November, Advantage will deliver its "Peak Perfomers" initiative to help members prepare for peaks.
Interactive sessions will focus on sales and customer service and will help agents hone their sales skills.
Members can also meet a number of Advantage’s suppliers to “ensure they are fully prepared to maximise the busy peaks booking period”, the consortium said.
“Through investing significantly in our business development team over the past 18 months we have been able to assess what training needs there are amongst our membership and develop a robust proposition that meets their needs,” Cookes added.
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