The Swiss Travel System Excellence Program is the only e-learning program worldwide to cover the entire public transport system of a country. In the individual courses, participants learn everything about the characteristics of the Swiss Travel System.

Learners are accompanied on this journey by Heidi and Peter, two animated characters personifying two important Swiss qualities: reliability and enthusiasm. They guide participants through the various modules and share their knowledge in a playful way. At any time, the current learning progress can be accessed and personal high scores compared to those of other participants. At the end, the certificate as Swiss Travel System Excellence Expert waits to be collected.

Las Vegas hasn’t missed a beat to enhance its options for travelers in the past few months. Those who return for a fabulous vacation or business trip will find things quite spruced up and in some cases, simply brand new. Learn more by completing the Las Vegas 2020 Experience Series course.

Mexico’s Pacific Coast is ideal for those seeking quietude, peacefulness and plenty of space. Its dramatic natural ocean setting is ready to receive visitors in a mindful, careful way that acknowledges all of the issues the COVID-19 challenge brings. Here, we provide the latest information available as of press time. Learn more.

Cancun, Cozumel and the Riviera Maya are ready to welcome visitors back to their beautiful, natural settings with open arms, providing a warmth and service that will make everyone feel rejuvenated after months of being home.

The region has been awarded the “Safe Travels” seal by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), being the first in the Americas to receive this certification for destinations that adopt global standards to ensure that hygiene and protocols at establishments ensure traveler safety. Get started!

A Perfect New Beginning. Selling weddings and honeymoons show tremendous potential for 2021 and beyond. Consider the grand weddings that were downsized to backyard events this summer and all of the honeymoons not taken because travel was not possible. If travel opens up again in the near future, travel advisors should be ready to deal with newlyweds with a tremendous, pent-up demand to finally take their big trip. What will these trips look like? Some couples may want to still take a relaxing, sun and sand vacation to celebrate their nuptials, but they are certainly assuming you’ll be able to add unique activities in to the trip so they’ll be able to come home with great stories to tell their friends. Other couples  want nothing to do with the traditional honeymoon. They’re seeking to go where none of their friends have gone before. They’ll be pondering whether to go somewhere in to the depths of Africa or perhaps an undiscovered town in Eastern Europe. Learn more now.

If you’re looking for a little inspiration on your next vacation, might we suggest Saint Lucia. Heading into 2020, the island was looking to top its record-setting 2019 but the coronavirus (COVID-19) had other plans for travel this year. Get Started!

We tapped in to our newly named “30Under30” winners for 2020 to find out where they send their clients in Mexico for destination weddings and honeymoons. They’ve provided a broad selection of romantic resorts which should help you for your altar-bound clients. Learn more in the Mexico Destination Weddings & Honeymoons 2020 Experience Series.

The tourism-dependent Caribbean islands were among the first to close their borders and turn away cruise ships back in March as the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak turned into a global pandemic. But the good news is that, with careful planning and plenty of health and safety protocols in place, the islands are reopening and again welcoming visitors to enjoy their beaches, warm waters, off-road adventures, culture and beyond.

Learn about the island-by-island breakdown regarding the latest travel protocols and news in the Caribbean 2020 Experience Series.

Anticipating their “return to travel,” consumers are now booking 2021 voyages to iconic European destinations — such as London, Dublin, Monte Carlo, St. Petersburg (Russia) and Istanbul, Turkey, among others. Increasingly, they’re eyeballing cruise itineraries with “overnight” stays (or even double overnights) in one or more ports. Learn more.

The VIP Cayman module was designed to help you sell more luxury travel to our islands. In the next three lessons, we’ll introduce the many products, from five-star accommodations to bespoke tours to signature wellness escapes, that uniquely position our islands to appeal to the affluent market. 

We anticipate another year of record-breaking arrivals to our destination by showing travelers that the Cayman Islands is more than a sun and sand destination; rather it’s a premier luxury lifestyle destination catering to travelers of all ages. This is our ongoing goal and we invite you to join in our efforts.

Travel advisors offer their “inside intel” & top tips for selling destination weddings & honeymoons in this online course.

One quarter of all weddings are destination weddings, often with the wedding party’s travel arranged by a professional travel advisor. Creating dream honeymoons is another lucrative trade revenue opportunity. So, what are the emerging trends, changes necessitated by COVID-19, good tips for the sales process and pitfalls along the way? 

However your clients define “romantic,” the Cayman Islands can cater to their vision.

Regardless of which island your clients choose for reveling in or renewing their romance, they’ll find a resort, villa, condominium or guest house suited to their tastes. Before we review the accommodation choices (it will be hard to choose one), the Cayman Vows course will provide a refresher on the differences between each of our three enchanting islands and more.

Welcome to the Regent Seven Seas Cruises^® continuing education module, Selling Luxury. At the conclusion of this four-lesson module, you will have a better understanding about all the sales and marketing resources at your disposal. Our luxury cruise packages stand out above our competition in both quality and cost, providing a truly all-inclusive experience that delivers An Unrivaled Experience^®. 

Welcome to the Regent Seven Seas Cruises^® continuing education module, Worldwide Destinations. At the conclusion of this five-lesson module, you will have learned about the exciting global destinations that our ships visit and the many ways your clients may explore over 450 ports of call.

Welcome to the Regent Seven Seas Cruises^® continuing education module, Onboard Life. At the conclusion of this six-lesson module, you will have a deeper understanding about our unparalleled onboard lifestyle, which is centered on our continuous desire and effort to ensure each guest finds exactly what they’re searching for.

Join the Palladium Connect program to earn great rewards.  Palladium Hotel Group presents 10 educational courses and its Palladium Connect rewards program designed for its most loyal agent partners. The 10 courses have been broken down into key categories to help you boost your knowledge and sales of Palladium Hotel Group.

The e-learning Palladium Specialist course is part of the Palladium Connect Program, the hotel company’s rewards program for travel agents. You simply register for the program and earn money that can be redeemed for cash, gifts, gift cards or room nights at any of our 5-star all-inclusive resorts in Mexico (Costa Mujeres-Cancun, Riviera Maya and Riviera Nayarit), Dominican Republic (Punta Cana and Cap Cana), and Jamaica (Montego Bay).

There are four ways to earn money through Palladium Connect:

• Become a Palladium Specialist
• Book Palladium Hotel Group properties in Mexico, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic and register your bookings
• Invite other agents to register with Palladium Connect
• Provide hotel reviews based on a Palladium Hotel Group stay

Become a Palladium Specialist.

Your clients want to head to Asia and you want to send them there, but does your expertise match your enthusiasm? Start by specializing in one of Asia’s most exotic destinations – Macao – in under 30 minutes. A short 15-lesson course, the Macao Specialist program provides targeted insights, like “Top 20 Selling Points” and sample itineraries, for in-depth knowledge into the destination’s unique blend of Portuguese and Chinese cultures.

 

July 1, 2020 Travel Agent Magazine
Keeping up with all the newest hot spots, trends and travel specialties can be daunting when trying to make a recommendation to a client. Luckily Travel Agent will keep you Focused! The Focus Series is a collection of product immersion supplements which include sales tips, fresh ideas, client mining, and special hidden gems only you can share with them.  From global destinations to niche travel, the Focus Series is a surefire way to help you stay one step ahead in this fast moving business.

Year after year, Italy has consistently remained the European country generating the most interest among U.S. vacationers. If you have clients who are planning to visit Italy and are looking for insider insights, here are some tips and recommendations.

Langham Hospitality Group is a global hotel company with over 20 hotels operating on four continents and another 10 projects in development under both The Langham and Cordis flags. Our seasoned management team draws on the best of its 150-year heritage and a modern, innovative approach to hospitality, to provide the highest level of service to our guests. You’ll graduate the course with a thorough understanding of why The Langham Hotels and Resorts represents the epitome of luxury and how Cordis appeals to a broad range of travelers looking for a locally-infused hospitality experience. 

We believe luxury exists in the smallest details, the most attentive service, and the most inviting atmosphere. On our cruises, we create opportunities for your clients to embrace each moment, inviting them to create memories that will last a lifetime. Through The Regent Experience training module we’ll look at how Regent Seven Seas Cruises^® provides passengers with an unrivaled experience and elevates the concept of luxury cruising with all-suite, intimate ships offering every luxury included and our award-winning, personalized service.

Nestled in one of the most beautiful bays in the Caribbean and listed as one of Saint Lucia’s top five resorts by U.S. News and World Report, Marigot Bay Resort and Marina offers an escape to personalized paradise. We invite you to embark on a voyage to discover why Marigot Bay Resort and Marina is the perfect setting for a luxurious Caribbean getaway. Sign up or log in to learn how our all-suite, all-inclusive option and A-list sales proposition is your answer to more luxury bookings to one of the world’s most beautiful destinations.  

This short five-lesson module will help you sell more of expedition cruising and voyages from the World’s Most Awarded Luxury Cruise Line™. You’ll learn about the world’s premier luxury expedition yacht, Crystal Endeavor, as well as our three exclusive categories of voyages: Remove Expedition, Destination Exploration and Cultural Discovery. Read on and refer to our other courses to compliment your sales strategy.

When your clients ask, “Is there an NH hotel at my destination?” you can easily choose from more than 350 hotels in 28 Countries, under three distinct brands—each with its own operational promise and differentiated experience. Take the course today!

Deep dive into the modern-day destination wedding and honeymoon market, which now encompasses pre- and post-celebrations (i.e. earlymoons, babymoons and vow renewals). We’ll cover everything from growth segments (babymoons) to key client targets (vow renewals) all with a focus on helping you sell more USVI—a destination that should be top of mind the moment a client says, “I’m engaged/pregnant/celebrating an anniversary.”

Multigenerational travel has been a top trend for nearly a decade but planning a trip that meets the needs of three or more generations isn’t any easier. We’ll teach you that in addition to stunning beaches and natural landscapes, the U.S. Virgin Islands is one of the reasons why the Caribbean ranks so high among families and advisors alike.

Here is a sampling of what’s new on the expedition and adventure cruises horizon.

If you’re like us, you’re excited by the record-breaking growth that Las Vegas has achieved the last couple of years. Whether your clients are embarking on an epic girls getaway or spring break with the family and everything in between, you want to make sure their stay is as exciting as the Strip and we’re here to help make that happen. Take the Venetian Specialist Course today!

We know you have choices when it comes to small-ship, ultra-luxury cruises. This training course is designed to help you see why PONANT, a favorite among luxury travelers in Europe for over 30 years, is on course to become a leading choice among U.S. travelers. 

Focus on Mexico and you’ll see a destination weddings and honeymoons superstar. The reasons are plentiful. It’s a great value, especially with today’s strong dollar-to-peso exchange rate. It’s close to the U.S., with airlift continually on the upswing. Scenic settings provide romantic backdrops that include beaches, jungles, mountains and deserts. And the country’s rich culture maintains ties to ancient roots and puts a premium on hospitality. Read the Focus Series to find out more! 

Luxury destination weddings and honeymoons continue to evolve in their style as the bride and groom raise the bar on their expectations.

For destination weddings, couples are planning more customized experiences for their guests, and the planning is beginning earlier and earlier. Read more in the Luxury Destination Weddings and Honeymoons Focus Series!

For 40 years, valued partners like you have counted on us to deliver world-class accommodations, exceptional privileges, and unparalleled service to your clients. That is the Classic^®Difference—the difference between a good vacation and a great one.

Register here to learn more about the Classic^® Difference.

Reports from various sources indicate that Jamaica continues to be one of the most popular destinations for American couples planning to be wed outside the United States. The island nation hosted about 5,000 destination weddings last year alone. With most marriages in the U.S. falling within the Millennial demographic, we reached out to several 30-and-under travel advisors to get their take on Jamaica as a destination, as well their resort recommendations for weddings and honeymoons.

In the pages ahead you’ll find more of what makes Jamaica a popular wedding and honeymoon destination, including accommodations news, adventures for couples to share and more.

We asked Millennial travel advisors to tell us about any unique hotels they’ve visited that they feel fit in very well with their locale. Perhaps not surprisingly, most of their Europe accommodation choices fall into the luxury category. Here is a sampling.

The Caribbean has a wealth of attributes that can inspire or amplify romance. Whether your couples are planning a destination wedding, a honeymoon, anniversary celebration or simply a romantic getaway, there are plenty of hotels to meet their needs. Read on to help you find your clients a place to stay that they will fall in love with.

Hawaii is rich with resorts, activities and sites well suited for romance travelers. From honeymoons, weddings or even just a getaway for two, the naturally breathtaking views of the islands provide a picturesque backdrop for lovers. Here are some recent developments on that front.

Like you, our clients look to us for the unique and authentic.  Localized, immersive experiences aren’t just terms we added to our sales materials a couple of years ago. To us, unique and authentic aren’t a marketing strategy. For over 40 years, we’ve created distinctive hotels and resorts that capture the spirit of the destinations we are proud to call home. We strive to harmonize with each property’s local culture and environment–it’s the reason we got into the game. To pay homage to our communities. To connect through curiosity. To experience high touch, hand-crafted hospitality. Take the Noble House Hotels & Resorts course today!

With an increase in visitors, new air routes, and exhilarating hotel and lodge development, it’s a good time to recommend travel to East and Southern Africa to clients. Travel to the Middle East has held steady over the last four years, thanks in part to a stronger than average interest by Millennials, with Matures (born before 1946) not far behind. Discover what's new in these destinations in the Africa & The Middle East Focus Series.

As cruise selling agents sail into the second half of 2018, the horizon is clear for robust cruise sales. But the cruise seascape always brings swells and bigger waves too. Being proactive in your sales game and knowing what opportunities to tap are critical for retailers. Here are key trends and events to watch through the end of 2018 and beyond.

It’s no secret that the consumer has changed in terms of what they want from a trip. Today’s traveler no longer wants to feel like a tourist, like a stranger in a strange town. The desire these days is to fit in like a local and to take part in activities that convey the emotion of what it would be like to live in the place they’re visiting. Or, at the very least, to feel like a very privileged guest who has been granted access to see the sights in a most respectful way. Here are some take-aways from a recent Tour Operator Roundtable we conducted that should help you sell your services to Millennials and other experiential travelers.

The St. Vincent and The Grenadines E-Learning Program aims to give you all the information you need for a sublime island experience, and we hope to do so by immersing you in the character, culture and flavor of our places and people.

Year after year in survey after survey, London lands in the top three of favorite European cities to visit, jockeying for position with Paris and Rome. Among the advantages the British capital has over its French and Italian counterparts, especially with first time transatlantic travelers, is a shorter flight time and, beyond some delightful differences in some word meanings, no language barrier. And, of course, there is no shortage of iconic attractions, from Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London to the Coca-Cola London Eye, shopping at Harrods, and the West End theaters, where “Hamilton“ and “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” are the hottest tickets. Read more in the London 2018 Focus Series!

From the Panhandle to the Keys, Florida is dotted with a great number and variety of family-friendly hotels and resorts. In addition to amenities for all ages, they are convenient to fun activities, be it a great beach, a theme park, a wildlife reserve or other adventures. Here are some of the most recent developments on the Sunshine State’s accommodations front for you to share with your multi-generational clients.

For clients planning to take their first family vacation outside the continental United States, especially those living on or near the East Coast, the Caribbean offers many advantages. For starters, flight times are shorter; even the southernmost islands are only three hours from Miami. Read all about updates in the Caribbean in the Focus Series!

River cruising is a hot commodity for travel advisors desiring to increase earnings. Discover what's new in river cruising in the Focus Series!

Interest in visiting Mexico has remained steady over the last several years, with Millennials and Gen Xers — the generation most likely to be traveling with children — showing the strongest inclination. Read on for information on things for families to see and do, as well as updates on places to stay. 

For the third year in a row, Las Vegas topped the 42 million visitor mark in 2017, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). That trend is expected to continue with the LVCVA forecasting a just-shy-of-the-record count of 42.7 million visitors for 2018.

The destination also continues to enjoy industry-leading occupancy rates — averaging 88 percent over the last four years — with an exceptionally large base of nearly 149,000 available rooms. That inventory always includes rooms in new properties as well as expansions and renovations of existing accommodations. Upgrades to amenities such as restaurants and spas are also part of the equation, spurred by the always desert-hot competition among the city’s hotels. Here are some of the latest developments on that front. 

Become a Certified Switzerland Travel Expert

The North America version of the Switzerland Travel Academy consists of core and specialization modules.

Core modules

Core modules (4 + News from Switzerland) cover what you need to know about Switzerland and inform you on the latest events and experiences in Switzerland. 

1. Basic and practical knowledge: This module is about the country’s geography, languages and cultures, customs and traditions, and important practical information.

2. How to travel to and within Switzerland: In this module, you will learn about Switzerland's transportation system, also known as the Swiss Travel System, which, precise like a Swiss watch, connects even the most remote places by train, bus, and boat.
   You will become familiar with how to travel to and within Switzerland, learn about the numerous means of transportation, and understand the different ticket options.
   Last but not least, you will discover the best scenic routes to transform a journey through the country into a unique experience.

3. Switzerland in 3, 5 or 10 days: Discover Switzerland’s must-sees and learn how to combine them into packages and itineraries, creating the perfect Swiss experience that suits your clients’ needs and wants.

4. Must-know for North American travel professionals: This is a market-specific module that provides important information relevant for North American clients.
   Learn about Switzerland Tourism contact points in North America, flights from North America to Switzerland, passport & visa regulations, tour operators (both outbound and incoming), and much more.

5. News from Switzerland 2018: This module presents the most important Swiss events, openings, and projects occurring in 2018 and is updated every year. Discover on what your clients cannot absolutely miss out!

Completion time for core modules: about 3 hours.

Specialization modules

Specialization modules offer a deeper focus on different topics and provide insights in touristic experiences, knowledge on a specific topic of interest connected with Switzerland Tourism’s partners, segments or campaigns.

• Road Trip: Grand Tour of Switzerland
• Cultural attractions and city breaks
• Nature and outdoor activities
• Snow and winter activities
• Perfect accommodation
• Luxury, wellness, and lifestyle
• Family vacations
• Meetings, congresses, and incentive planners

Completion time of each module: about 40 minutes.

Certification

The process of certification is easy and free:

1. Pass the final exam on the core modules to graduate as a Switzerland Travel Expert.

2. You will receive the certificate that is valid until December of the following year.

3. Every year, stay informed and renew your certificate by taking the exam of the updated “News from Switzerland” module.

After passing the core modules exams, you can continue your training to receive specialization certificates: choose the specialization module you are interested in, pass the exam and receive the certificate.

Graduate benefits

• Certification upon graduation
• Option to specialize in certain segments
• Rights to use the Travel Expert logo for letters / brochures / website / email signature
• Possibility of ordering brochures
• Enter to win an amazing trip to Switzerland (including flights with Swiss International Airlines and Swiss Travel Passes for two people) by graduating by November 30.

Besides the broad appeal of Hawaii’s natural wonders, adventure activities and cultural attractions, there are places to go and things to do that zero in on special interest and niche markets. There is more information on things for families to see and do — as well as updates on places to stay — in the pages that follow.

As engagement season (unofficially Christmas Eve through Valentine’s Day) draws to a close, be prepared for newlyweds-to-be seeking out your services to plan their destination wedding or honeymoon (or both). Better still, try to set up a cross promotion with your agency and local bridal shops, advertising each other’s services. Read on for some other tips on getting and handling this business, gleaned and distilled from conversations we have had with travel agents and wedding professionals.

Crystal’s all-suite, butler-serviced river ships feature the same classic elegance and luxury Crystal Experience found on board the company’s award-winning ocean ships. Sell Crystal river cruises to upscale/luxury travelers, particularly those who have stayed in five-star hotels or who have sailed on luxury and upper-premium ocean cruise lines, and to repeat Crystal guests.Take the Crystal River Cruises course to find out more!