The Travel Institute has launched its Certified Travel Associate (CTA) Immersion Program, a new experiential education concept that pairs certification preparation with firsthand travel experience. AmaWaterways served as the inaugural host, bringing 15 industry professionals aboard the AmaStella for a Rhine River cruise Aug. 15-22.
“The immersion concept brings a powerful new dimension to our professional training and certification programs,” said Guida Botelho, CTIE, VP at The Travel Institute, in a press statement. “When advisors come together around professional education, the conversations become richer, ideas are exchanged, practical insights are shared, and advisors challenge and learn from one another. They also build relationships that extend beyond the classroom. That combination of structured education, peer learning and shared experience is difficult to replicate in a traditional training environment.”
The Travel Institute Hearts Travel Advisors
Participants completed CTA certification preparation before boarding, then took part in facilitated live learning, peer discussion, firsthand product and destination experiences and proctored certification testing while at sea. Sessions covered professional ethics, communication, sales and customer-focused selling, marketing, itinerary planning, travel insurance, cruise, all-inclusive travel and escorted trips.
“Travel advisors are essential to connecting suppliers with travelers, and they need both professional expertise and firsthand product knowledge to confidently recommend the right experiences for their clients,” said Taylor Ruecking, President of The Travel Institute, in a press statement. “The Travel Institute is committed to providing the highest-quality education, certification and tools, and this immersion demonstrates the power of bringing professional development, experiential learning, and product knowledge together.”
“Travel advisors are essential to AmaWaterways and investing in their education is an investment in our shared success,” said Ann Chamberlin, CTA, CTIE, Senior Director of Key Accounts at AmaWaterways, in a press statement. “Partnering with The Travel Institute gave us an opportunity to advance advisor education in selling our journeys, and we are proud to support these professionals.”
The Travel Institute said it plans to expand the CTA Immersion Program with additional industry partners. The program follows the institute’s recent launch of its Air Travel Immersion Program, a series of expert-led, interactive live sessions running Sept. 28 through Oct. 1, 2026. The CTA program itself is a self-paced certification designed for working professionals seeking to build credibility, strengthen client relationships, boost sales skills and grow their businesses.
For more information, visit thetravelinstitute.com.
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