In STEP With TPI

Travel Professionals International (TPI) has launched a specialized travel education program – TPI STEP.

As part of the TPI Academy suite of programming, TPI STEP trips are small-group educational excursions developed “to maximize the experiential learning of the travel advisor with the ultimate goal of bettering their customer’s in-destination experiences and the advisors travel sales and customer retention.”

TPI STEP trips differ from current generic supplier familiarization offerings in that they are exclusive to hand-selected TPI travel advisors, allowing a unique opportunity for advisors to network exclusively with other TPI independent travel advisors and TPI head office support staff.

The inaugural STEP trip, with Transat Holidays, took 18 TPI travel advisors and support staff to Punta Cana, where agents toured various resorts, networked with their fellow advisors and took part in a mock wedding.

“I’m pleased that our innovative segment leadership is once again proven by the fact that demand is currently outstripping supply for this new program,” said TPI president Morris Chia. “We’re currently working with our preferred partners to ensure TPI advisors have many more opportunities to take advantage of this exclusive opportunity.”

Based on its success thus far, TPI preferred partners have been keen to be invited to join the STEP program, with upcoming TPI STEP trips planned with AmaWaterways (June), Collette (August), Visit Orlando (November) and Transat Holidays (December).
Participants are able to offset the cost of participation in the trip through the use of reward dollars as part of their membership in TPI’s exclusive Velocity recognition program. In addition to attending all TPI STEP events, accepted advisors are required to share their experience digitally across social media and in-person at TPI events.