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The Los Angeles Travel Academy is an innovative training program for qualified travel professionals and is conducted by LA INC. The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau in cooperation with UCLA Extension and the Los Angeles World Airports.
The Travel Academy uniquely offers an integrated program of university level classroom instruction combined with an intensive schedule of site visits to LA's newest and most popular sites. To date we have completed over 54 sessions, graduating more than 1,100 LA Travel Experts from five markets: Japan, Australia, Germany, UK, Mexico and South Korea.
What are the objectives of the LA Travel Academy for the travel professional?
- Expand tour product knowledge of Los Angeles
- Develop strong planning skills to increase client satisfaction
- Learn to increase sales by selling additional length of stay
What is the program comprised of?
- Classroom instruction on UCLA campus
- Teaching by experienced industry professionals
- Instruction and course materials in language
- Interactive workbook activities
- Site visits to Los Angeles' diverse regions and attractions
- Certificate awarded by UCLA Extension upon successful completion
- Group divided into teams, conducting discussions, group planning exercises and activities
What are some of the attractions included in the site visit portion of the program?
- Downtown attractions
- Hollywood attractions
- The Getty Center
- The Grove/Farmers Market
- Old Town Pasadena
- LA's beaches
- Universal Studios Hollywood
We provide air and ground transportation, deluxe hotel accommodations, hosted meals and a wonderful learning experience to our participants.
Benefits
The LA Travel Academy is designed to help agents expand their knowledge of the LA tour product and develop planning skills for increased client satisfaction. Trained instructors teach the classroom segments and the coursework is accredited through UCLA Extension. Pre- and post-surveys of graduates confirm that the Academy curriculum allows them to sell the Los Angeles destination more effectively and efficiently...
Graduates who complete the Travel Academy with a satisfactory score become Los Angeles Travel Experts, and are eligible to receive referrals, product updates, and quarterly e-bulletins about Los Angeles
After passing a test at the end of the program, participating agents receive a certificate from UCLA and become part of an exclusive group of travel agents in their country who are experts and profiting from the art of selling Los Angeles.
To Qualify
Although each markets' criteria for qualification varies, at time of application, all agents must work as a full time travel agent for at least one year (12 months). Applicants selected are pre-qualified by a panel that includes airline partners and tour operators. Programs are offered six times a year and offer several chances for interested agents to apply and participate.
