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Course Descriptions
Gain the product knowledge and skills (with the exception of automated reservations) needed to research, plan and book air travel. You will learn the terminology, the policies and the procedures of airline travel and airline reservations. While the sale of air travel is no longer the major revenue producer for travel professionals, it is a vital part of the travel industry as the most used mode of transportation to business destinations and highly used mode to vacation/leisure destinations. Therefore, becoming an expert on the product, airline policies and procedures as well as reservations policies and procedures is essential to your success. Air Fares Learn the air fare terms, codes, fare construction principles and fare application rules necessary to find, interpret and apply the lowest applicable fare to your clients' air itinerary. Practice the interpretation of the multiple air transportation taxes and fees applicable to air travel. Air fares are historically difficult to interpret and apply. This course presents the basics in a simple format with many applications to allow you to become proficient. Ground Transportation You will find car rental a relatively simple product to sell and book and commissions are reasonable. Some seventy percent of North Americans travel by car while vacationing. Learn the basics of the product, policies, procedures, codes, pricing and distribution. Rail travel recaptures the image of a different time and appeals to many leisure travelers. This study focuses on Amtrak, VIA Rail, BritRail and Eurail, the types of train accommodations, services and fare structure. Hotels and Lodging Earn great commissions by booking your client's hotel accommodations. Learn the basics of the hotel product, rate structure, property and room classifications, codes, published and automated resources and non-automated reservations procedures. Identify your guests' preferences, learn the variables that affect prices, select the right hotel for any given client. The Cruise Market Earn great commissions by booking cruises, one of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry. Learn the basics of the cruise product, cruise classifications, destinations, types of cruises, print resources and non-automated reservations procedures. Identify your clients' needs and preferences, learn the variables that are available in cruising and select and book the right cruise for any given client. Destination Geography This course presents the travel and tourism destinations that are regularly top sellers, according to the American Society of Travel Agents. These are the states of Florida, Nevada, New York, Hawaii, California, Washington D.C., Alaska and Illinois; the provinces of British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec in Canada; and the countries of England, France, Italy, Mexico, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Ireland and Australia. Maps are presented with an orientation to location of each destination. The course treats physical, locational and cultural geography as a travel sales product. A good world atlas can greatly aid you in your study of Destination Geography. Developing Specialty Vacation Packages This specialist course will help you, the travel professional, in putting together the components of a sellable niche market vacation package. Think about the possibilities when you can provide your clients with a specially developed product that will help them live out their dreams and restore their mind, body and spirit. Think about how much fun designing a vacation package can be, especially when you have a passion for the destination. This course will provide you with the information and tools you need to grow your business as you develop your own vacation packages. Small Group Tour Leadership Have you always dreamed of traveling the world and getting paid to do it? Or do you have specific knowledge or interests you can share with others? Put your dreams and interests to work for you! This timely course is designed to assist you, the travel professional, in becoming a small group tour leader. Determine if you have the skills, knowledge, abilities and traits you need to be an effective tour leader. Study tour leader roles and responsibilities. Learn conflict-resolution skills and prepare to manage a tour group. See how to polish your resume and market yourself to find a tour leader position within the industry and become a "Leader of the Pack." Selling Vacations and Tours Earn great commissions by booking vacation packages and tours, one of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry. Learn the basics of the tour product, components of tours, tour destinations, types of vacation packages and tours, print and electronic resources and non-automated tour booking procedures. Understand the function of tour operators and wholesalers. Identify your clients' needs and preferences, and book the right vacation package for any given client. ARC Documents Here is your ticketing course. Your air traveler will need a ticket and boarding pass to board the aircraft at departure time. The airline tickets used for air travel in the United States are issued, controlled and processed through an Area Settlement Plan administered by the Airline Reporting Corporation (ARC). Here you will cover the ticketing types, forms, policies and procedures per the ARC as well as forms of payment, refunds and exchanges. Automated Airfares and Tickets Become proficient in the automation systems used by airlines and their authorized agents as you continue to practice creating PNRs and add the skills of interpreting fare quote displays and rule displays, pricing and ticketing. Exercises and drills will improve your proficiency and speed. You will use RTS©, a hands-on simulation of Sabre® in conjunction with the online tutorial. The full RTS© Sabre® simulation program includes three courses. Automated Air Reservations Become proficient in the automation systems used by airlines and their authorized agents. Learn and practice the basic functions of Sabre® as used by travel professionals to plan and book air travel. Create multiple PNRs (Passenger Name Records) as you master the basics of booking and maintaining your clients' air travel. Exercises and drills will improve your proficiency and speed. You will use RTS©, a hands-on simulation of Sabre® in conjunction with the online tutorial. Automated Car Rental and Hotel Accommodations You will learn to research, select and book car rentals and hotel rooms using RTS©, a hands on Computer Reservation System (CRS) simulation of Sabre® in conjunction with the online tutorial. Each lesson combines selections from a proven Sabre® text with helpful hints and instruction to most effectively use the realistic simulator, RTS© Sabre®. You will learn and practice the basic functions of Sabre® as used by travel professionals booking car and hotel arrangements. Exercises and drills will improve your proficiency and speed. You will master the skills necessary to make, maintain, change, and cancel automated car and hotel reservations. Fares and Tickets - International International air travel has expanded exponentially in the past decade and promises to continue to grow. This course will provide you with the skills required to meet the needs of your international air travelers. These skills include an understanding of the two basic international faring system, mileage and routing as well as currency procedures, including the use of the fictitious currency, Neutral Units of Construction. You will learn to interpret all the data found in the faring and pricing information in the CRSs and as printed on international tickets. This includes international fare basis codes, base fares, taxes, surcharges, currency codes and mileage principle coding as applicable. Front Desk Agent Participants are guided through the historical context, terminology, telephone techniques, room reservations, check-in and check-out procedures, guest inquiries, complaints, accounting administrative tasks performed by hotel front desk agents. Participants will experience the physical stamina required as a front desk agent multi tasks and trouble shoots each client contact. Getting That Job! This workbook includes guides and practices to help write an effective resume and sharpen interview skills.
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