A new online training site has been launched for the Association of Independent Tour Operators Specialist Travel Agents (AITO STA).
The e-learning platform aims to help the association’s 140 agents learn about AITO operators’ programmes. It will also be used to provide training on in-house projects including induction programmes, sustainable tourism management and financial protection.
The site has been developed in conjunction with Online Travel Training (OTT), which found in a recent survey that 71% of agents who had taken one of its e-learning courses went on to sell or recommend the corresponding product.
Launching the site at the AITO STA domestic conference in Warwick over the weekend, AITO council member responsible for training Amrit Singh said: “Apart from actually selling holidays, travel agents have huge requirements on their time as far as maintaining and increasing their knowledge and awareness of destinations and holidays.
“E-learning is a cost and time-effective way to channel information through to travel agents. They can complete the courses in their own time and don’t even have to leave their agencies.”
OTT chairman Simon Beeching said: “Tour operators can update and change their content whenever they want, which makes for a powerful channel to continue to distribute new training information to agents such as new products and brochures.”