ABTA, ITT, PATA and CTO come together to shape WTM?s Agents? Programme.
p>ABTA, ITT, PATA and CTO come together to shape WTM?s Agents? Programme.Agents will learn about the regions latest developments, before experiencing a traditional Caribbean lunch. Upon completion of their training session agents will receive a Certificate of Participation and goody bag.
PATA is to recreate a Voyage of Discovery, which it has hosted at previous WTMs. Agents can win a host of prizes by answering the online questions. The answers will only be available at certain WTM exhibitor stands.
UK travel agents start the voyage by signing up online at www.pataacademy.com. They find their way home by answering a series of questions from various sources, including national tourist offices. Answers are available to respective stand holders where agents can seek advice and insight from the on-stand consultants.
The ?intrepid traveller? agents then complete the answer log book online and submit giving them the change to win one of the many prizes.
Furthermore, UK agents can earn Accredited Travel Professional (ATP) points for attending WTM and its conference and seminar sessions. ATP is the industry?s continued professional development programme run by ABTA in association with ITT and sector skills council People 1st. Agents earn two points for attending WTM and a further one point for every conference and seminar session they attend. They can gain up to six additional ATP points by attending ITT?s Travel Agents? Day programme, which is made up of three sessions.
The three sessions are:
1. Maximising Earnings - Two ATP Points
2. Dealing with Customers - Two ATP Points
3. Selling During a Recession (organised in association with Training For Travel) Two ATP Points
The Institute of Travel & Tourism and WTM have embarked on a closer working relationship which started with WTM being a headline sponsor of the 2009 ITT Conference. The AAC is also hosting a session entitled ?Is this the end of consumer protection as know it??, which sees AAC Legal Advisor Alan Bowen and Chairman David Mortimer looking at the future of consumer protection in the travel industry.
World Travel Market Head of Marketing and Communications Micaela Juarez said: ?I am delighted to be able to call on such a wealth of experience and knowledge to help WTM create the 2009 Agents? Programme.
?Since World Travel Market opened its doors to the travel and tourism industry in 1980 it has been a must-attend event for travel agents looking for the most up-to-date destination information to help them find the perfect holiday for their clients.
?With the help of industry associations such as ABTA, ITT, PATA, CTO and AAC I am confident this year?s WTM Agents? Programme will be the best yet.?
