Not only has the program delivered strong participation numbers, 24 travel professionals have joined TPI this year based on their attendance at a local education meeting, as the T.E.A.M. sessions are offered to both TPI members and prospects.
MAITLAND, FLA. – Travel Planners International (TPI) reported that its T.E.A.M. Program, the host agency’s newest initiative that creates education and networking opportunities for TPI agents on a local level, has trained nearly 600 agents at more than 50 meetings nationwide since the program was established in late March of this year. More than 30 of TPI’s preferred suppliers have participated in the local educational sessions.
“T.E.A.M.” stands for Training – Education – Ambassador – Meetings, and is the first program of its kind in the industry offered by a host agency for its members. Qualified TPI agents are selected as ambassadors to assist and coordinate local monthly education and training meetings that showcase either one or two preferred partners. T.E.A.M. meetings are limited in size to ensure quality one-on-one time for all attendees with Travel Planners International’s preferred partners.
Not only has the program delivered strong participation numbers, 24 travel professionals have joined TPI this year based on their attendance at a local education meeting, as the T.E.A.M. sessions are offered to both TPI members and prospects. Also running ahead of schedule: 20 TPI agents have been appointed ambassadors since T.E.A.M. was launched.
“T.E.A.M. has really taken off, far beyond our expectations,” said Ken Gagliano, TPI president. “Feedback from both agents and suppliers has been extremely positive with both commenting on the effectiveness and personal attention that the small group setting offers. Not only have the suppliers and ambassadors done a great job, the collaboration between the T.E.A.M. staff and our account sales department has been significant and resulted in helping us grow our membership base.”
Betty Varela of Dreamvkations is a T.E.A.M. ambassador and gives both the host agency and program high marks. Said Varela, “Kudos to TPI for responding to agent requests for more local training. The agents in my meetings agree that the learning experience provides the one-on-one opportunity needed to really connect with the suppliers. They love the personal attention and their professionalism. Plus, there’s so much camaraderie within the group – they’re not only learning from our suppliers, but from each other.”
TPI staff and ambassadors recently returned from the first-ever T.E.A.M. Summit hosted by Sandals in Jamaica. According to Monique Peragine, T.E.A.M. business development coordinator, the six-night retreat was “a meeting of the minds” to focus on what works with the program and how to improve on its initial success. In addition, ambassadors completed a four-hour Sandals certification training that included six resort inspections.
TPI member Shari Kavalin, MCC, CSS, of Elegant Escapes Travel, was among the ambassadors who participated in the T.E.A.M Summit. Said Kavalin, “The Summit was a great opportunity for the ambassadors from all over the country to get together and share best practices for our monthly training events. Through some very open dialogue, we’re hoping to take the T.E.A.M. Program to an even higher level of value and success for agents, suppliers, and ambassadors.”
Looking ahead, another 30 T.E.A.M. meetings will be conducted by year-end 2014, with five additional ambassadors onboard to kick off the T.E.A.M. program in early 2015.
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
