Advisor Specialist Programs You Don't Want to Miss

As a travel advisor, it’s up to you to know the ins and outs of the world’s most beloved vacation hotspots. From the best beaches in the Caribbean to the most exciting adventures in bucket list destinations like Africa, Europe and Antarctica. The same can be said of closer-to-home domestic escapes, like popular U.S. cities, quirky roadside attractions and the best theme parks and experiences throughout the country, travelers are counting on you to help them plan the trip of a lifetime.

While that may sound intimidating, fear not, destinations are here to help with advisor specialist programs and continuing education to keep you at the top of your game. Not to mention, each course comes with some pretty sweet perks for participants upon completion.

Here are just a few advisor specialist programs that you should know about.

Antigua & Barbuda

Ready to dive into all things Antigua and Barbuda? Advisors can flex their island smarts when they sign up to become an Antigua and Barbuda Specialist through the Antigua & Barbuda Specialist Training Program. 

From romance and destination weddings to family fun and exciting activities like sailing and eco-adventures, this course is designed to help advisors understand the unique selling points of this fabulous destination.

Aruba

Acing all things Aruba has never been easier than when advisors enroll in the Aruba Certified Expert, ACE Program. Designed to help participants understand Aruba’s unique selling points, this course focuses on popular accommodations, experiences and activities throughout the region. Plus, the ACE Program offers a special Romance module to help advisors plan the perfect proposal, bachelor/bachelorette parties, weddings, honeymoons and more.

As for advisor perks, those who complete the course will receive a downloadable graduate diploma, four credits to be used at The Travel Institute (or three credits to be used at ACTA for Canadian advisors), on-island discounts at participating attractions, restaurants and activities, independent site inspections and more.

Australia

Tourism Australia invites advisors to help their travelers “come and say g’day” when they participate in the Aussie Specialist Program, a certification course that can be completed in under 90 minutes. According to Tourism Australia’s website, advisors who become Aussie Specialists sell 35 percent higher value bookings to Australia and 62 percent of leisure travelers return to Aussie Specialists within five years.

The Aussie Specialist Program was voted the best travel advisor training program in the world thanks to its quality content, ease of use and the positive impact that it has on trainees’ businesses. Plus, the course was created by experts to ensure that the program was designed to best suit every participant, no matter how they learn. From self-paced learning to informal instructor-led modules, there’s something for everyone.

Bahamas

Travel pros who love the Islands of Song will be happy to learn that they can become a Bahamas guru with the completion of The Islands of the Bahamas’ Bahamas Specialist Program. Upon the completion of three “Foundation Chapters”, advisors will earn their diploma and will be eligible for insider tips and promotions, partner inclusions and showcases, use of shareable marketing materials, real-time product directory and more.

Plus, Bahamas Specialists are eligible for three CEUs from The Travel Insitute and are periodically enrolled for the chance to win e-gift cards, Bahamian gift boxes and shout-outs on The Islands of the Bahamas’ social media channels.

Costa Rica

A place beloved for its stunning tropical landscapes, adventurous excursions and unique culture, Costa Rica holds a special place atop many travelers’ bucket lists. In order to make their clients’ Country of Pura Vida vacation dreams come true, advisors can enroll in Essential Costa Rica’s Costa Rica Specialist Program.

Participants will learn how to experience “la Pura Vida” through local life in Costa Rica, the components of a wellness vacation, details of the region’s diverse landscape and incredible creatures, details for family, romance and accessible travel and more. Upon completing the course, graduates will receive a certificate of graduation as a Costa Rica Specialist and CEUs to use at The Travel Institute.

For more details, check out this article we wrote about how to become a Costa Rica Destination Specialist.

Florida’s Paradise Coast

Described as a “uniquely American experience”, advisors hoping to master their knowledge of Florida’s Paradise Coast won’t want to miss the chance to enroll in Florida’s Paradise Coast Specialist Program.

Jam-packed with useful information, participants will learn about the different attractions that define the three areas of the Paradise Coast — Naples, Macro Island and the Everglades —, properties and locations that align with travelers’ budgets and interests, a wide range of activities and tours, and more. Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate of graduation as a Florida’s Paradise Coast Specialist and two CEU credits from The Travel Institute.

Fort Lauderdale

In March of 2022, Visit Lauderdale launched its Lauderdale Loyalist experience, a way for advisors to complete destination learning requirements, discover local suppliers, download ready-to-go marketing materials and more. As a Lauderdale Loyalist, advisors receive two Travel Institute CEU credits (or two ACTA CTC credits), a diploma designating their completion of the course, insider tips and promotions, sales resources and more.

“The Lauderdale Loyalist platform provides state-of-the-art education and sales tools to help agents provide expert advice, start more conversations and book more travel,” said Tracy Vaughan, senior vice president of global trade for Visit Lauderdale. “Visit Lauderdale is committed to providing resources to help our valued travel advisors do their jobs and in our search for a new learning tool, we were impressed with TravPRO’s Promote and Sell sections that help advisors throughout the planning and booking process.”

To begin the program, advisors can visit the Lauderdale Loyalist website or download the app in the App or Play Store.

Hawaii

Looking to learn more about The Aloha State? Advisors can visit the Hawai’i Tourism USA (HTUSA) website to further their education on the bucket list vacation spot. After creating an account with the Hawaiian Islands (under the “Education” tab at the top of the site), advisors can explore courses and cultural resources specially designed for travel pros in addition to applying to the destination’s Master Island Specialist program.

Or, if advisors are looking for further information to share with their clients, they can explore the collection of shareable digital travel guides posted on the Hawai’i Tourism Authority’s website. Topics include culinary travel, local culture, Mālama and outdoor adventures.

Jamaica

Advisors are invited to “share the love” when they participate in Jamaica’s Jamaica Travel Specialist Program. Upon completing the course, advisors will receive a certificate of graduation as a Jamaica Travel Specialist, a certificate of graduation as a Jamaica Weddings and Honeymoons Specialist and three CEU Credits from The Travel Institute.

And the perks don’t stop there, graduates are also invited to participate in One Love Rewards, a place where they can log their bookings for the chance to win a plethora of prizes including merchandise, cash prizes and even free trips. Additionally, frequent visitors to the island will be happy to learn that their status as a Jamaica Travel Specialist grants them JTB arrival courtesies at Sangster International Airport, a 50 percent discount at Club Mobay & Club Kingston and independent site inspections.

Puerto Rico

Advisors can help travelers “Live Boricua” when they complete Discover Puerto Rico’s Puerto Rico Travel Expert Program. In this destination-focused course, advisors will learn why Puerto Rico is the vacation spot of travelers’ dreams, and why a getaway to Puerto Rico is the best way to appreciate the Island of Enchantment’s unique culture, history and variety of attractions.

Discover Puerto Rico’s Puerto Rico Travel Expert Program offers two tiers for advisors to choose from — a General Course and a Master’s Course. Graduates of the General Course will receive certification as a Puerto Rico Travel Expert (PRTE) and will be eligible to join the Discover Puerto Rico Reward program for access to the destination’s points-based loyalty program. Graduates of the Master’s Course achieve “Master” status in addition to the perks offered in the General tier and are also eligible for up to four CEUs from The Travel Institute (Members of the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA) are eligible for three credits).

St. Kitts

Can’t get enough of the West Indies? Advisors can become St. Kitts experts when they enroll in the island’s Destination Specialist Program. In this course, attendees learn about the region’s authentic Caribbean hospitality, various accommodations, exciting activities and St. Kitts’ sister island, Nevis.

After completing their training, advisors can take advantage of special perks associated with the program such as cash bonuses, client hotel upgrades, a preferred advisor listing on the St. Kitts tourism website, customer referrals, exclusive emails and more. Plus, graduates will receive a diploma from Travel Agent University in addition to the option to choose between two CEUs from The Travel Institute or one credit from the Canadian Institute of Travel Counsellors.

USVI

In January 2023, The U.S. Virgin Islands announced a new rewards and incentive program for advisors. In this program, advisors earn 100 points for every confirmed room night booked in the U.S. Virgin Islands. As points accrue, advisors can view their balance under the “MY REWARDS” section of the page, the same area of the site where they can redeem their points for FAM trips, hotel stays, cultural-inspired rewards and merchandise when available.

“(The) travel advisory community played a vital role in USVI’s success during the pandemic and this new program is meant to reward their efforts and cement those terrific relationships as well as build avenues for new advisors with incentives to book the USVI,” said Joseph Boschulte, commissioner of tourism for the USVI. “It’s a proactive way to stay connected to the travel advisory community and build lasting relationships.”

Note: Points are valid for 24 months after a travelers’ departure date. Advisors can forward any questions about this program to offshore@usvitourism.vi.