What Is CTC (Certified Travel Counselor) Designation?

The CTC designation is the pinnacle of travel industry professionalism. The CTC curriculum covers three core still areas: business development, contemporary and professional development. CTC candidates are required to complete 12 courses in which they learn how to negotiate effectively, make dynamic presentations, analyze business opportunities, implement technological solutions, plan for the future and more.

There is a lot of instruction regarding listening in order to "qualify" the client; in other words, learning to ask the correct questions to find out what it is that the client is looking for, rather than selling a "one size fits all" product. CTCs must possess at least 5 years of cumulative travel industry experience and are required to earn ten continuing education credits each year to maintain their designation. The diploma reads:

"The board of trustees of The Travel Institute hereby confer upon Julianne W. Ray the designation of Certified Travel Counselor for completing an advanced certification program, demonstrating extensive industry knowledge and experience and exemplifying the highest standards of professionalism."

Julie's diploma was issued June 1, 1992 in Wellesley, Massachusetts, home of the Travel Institute.

The International Tour Management Institute is a separate discipline within the overall umbrella of the travel industry.

The diploma, issued September 6, 1987 reads:

"This certifies that Julianne Ray has completed all the requirements necessary for graduation from the International Tour Management Institute, Inc., 125-hour course of study in local sightseeing, international and domestic motorcoach, air, ship and rail touring under the approval of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Department of Education, Sacramento, California and the Director of Education, Department of Education, Bureau of Post Secondary Occupational Schools, Commonwealth of Massachusetts."

If you go to "International Tour Management Institute" you can find a little more wording about what it is exactly that the course teaches.

Further Credentials

Julie has also attended Vista Community College over a 2 1/2 year period (all of this and the above were after completing travel school), in the specialty field of Group.

Travel, as follows:

• Introduction to Group Travel
  
  
• Group Tour Costing and Pricing
  
  
• Group Tour Marketing
  
  
• In-House Tour Operations
  
  
• International Tour Directing
  
  
• Outside Sales

Subsequently she became manager of a travel company in the San Francisco Bay Area and then owned her own company.

She has continued to serve Vista College as a member of the Travel Industry Advisory Board and has been a guest speaker for about ten years on the annual travel industry career day.