ASTA has launched its first mentorship program, a pilot that will see 10 mentees work with 10 mentors over the course of six months.
The program is for travel advisors and will work to enhance mentees' skills, professionalism and knowledge of the industry, the Society said. Mentors will provide their expertise as well as feedback for their mentees. Both will have the opportunity to network.
ASTA partnered with the Travel Allies Society for the program.
In addition to mentors and mentees, those interested in the program can volunteer their time on the committees dedicated to the program: recruitment and vetting; onboarding and training; communications and marketing; and logistics and evaluation.
"There's a dramatic need for mentorship in our industry," ASTA CEO Zane Kerby said in a release. "Customer expectations are not getting any lower. We survive because the knowledge that a travel advisor has is deemed valuable by the traveling customers. That is what we're doing with our mentorship program, we're increasing and expanding our knowledge base."