NTA to Partner with The Travel Institute

January 5, 2004

NTA to Partner with The Travel Institute
January 05, 2004 – NTA has announced a partnership with The Travel Institute focused on enhancing the association’s Certified Tour Professional program and supporting the Institute’s cooperative initiative to establish educational standards for the travel industry.

The Travel Institute, established in 1964 to provide education, professional development and certification to travel industry professionals, has called an industry summit on Jan. 8 in New York City for association leaders to discuss the need for collaboration in the establishment and promotion of clear and consistent educational standards. NTA will join other associations at this event to explore mutually beneficial methods to standardize professional knowledge, credentials and certifications.

"When the Institute presented their ideas to the NTA Board of Directors at our November 2003 meeting, they got a very enthusiastic ‘thumbs-up’ from everyone there," said NTA President Hank Phillips, CTP. "NTA’s no. 1 commitment is to create a thriving packaged travel industry. I can think of no better way to affect positive change on the educational front than by assisting in the development of a common body of basic knowledge for the entire travel industry that includes important content about packaged travel."

NTA also is in discussions with The Travel Institute to review and update the CTP curriculum, materials and testing process. This proposed project will be done in the context of the industry standardization initiative, and the CTP program would use the resulting core content as a foundation for specialized training in packaged travel.

Because the partnership is in its initial phases, NTA members currently working on their CTP designation will see no immediate effect in the certification process. NTA will keep members informed of any changes or updates to the program.

The partnership is a win-win for both entities, said David Preece, CTC, president and chief executive officer of The Travel Institute.

"This relationship with NTA serves as a great model for industry-wide cooperation in the effort to increase knowledge, skills and professionalism," Preece said. "Not only will NTA be very involved in this important standardization initiative, but they recognize the need to keep their certification program current and relevant."