A ground-breaking training program designed to tackle the “decimation” of the travel agent workforce has just been unveiled.
With travel businesses continuing to face a critical shortage of experienced staff, Travellers Choice is now supporting its members with the free-of-charge program that helps fast-track consultants who are new to the travel industry.
Called ProStart, the three-month course reduces the time required for recruits to become assets to a retail business, relieves time and cost pressures on agency managers and provides graduates with a pathway to further qualifications.
The online program – developed in collaboration with Cornerstone Learning & Development – focuses on nurturing on-the-job skills, with interactive modules covering topics such as industry fundamentals, products and destinations, sales techniques and time management.
ProStart participants will be supported by one-on-one sessions with a representative from Cornerstone Learning & Development, while a ‘buddy system’ will also ensure students have an additional source of support and motivation.
Unveiling the new program during the 2024 Travellers Choice Conference, Managing Director Christian Hunter told members that the workforce “decimation” experienced during the COVID pandemic was still impacting travel businesses across Australia.
“Our members today have 20 per cent fewer staff than in 2019 and the challenge for all businesses has been finding new people,” said Hunter.
“Everyone is looking for experienced staff that simply don’t exist in the numbers needed.”
Hunter told members that the travel industry was undergoing “a complete reset” as a new generation of people joined the sector, but at a time when agents were “flat-chat busy.”
“Every minute one of our members spends training a novice, is a minute that they aren’t working through their backlog of enquiries and meeting their customers’ expectations – which is a lose-lose situation.
“ProStart will provide vital support to our members by helping them bring new talent into their businesses, while ensuring new starters feel supported and want to remain in the travel industry.”
ProStart is fully funded by Travellers Choice with members paying no costs when students complete the program.
“This is an opportunity for us to not only help members address their biggest single pain point, but to also support the development of the next generation of Travellers Choice members.”
# Traveltalk is the official media sponsor of the 2024 Travellers Choice conference
