The Travel Institute has overhauled its Travel Agency Business Planning course with a new curriculum that accounts for the prevalence of independent contractors (ICs) and their business model.
"This course is about ICs and agency owners being business owners first and travel experts second," said Guida Botelho, the Travel Institute's senior director of education.
The course isn't just for ICs, though coursework accounts for the seismic shift in the number of ICs working as travel advisors. Citing its own research, the Travel Institute said 29% of advisors worked as ICs in 2008 and 71% were ICs in 2023.
Curriculum delves into measurable goal setting, financial projections and budgeting, and forms and process to support business. The course uses interactive exercises and templates to help advisors set a solid business foundation. It also has insights and tips from experts.
Botelho said the course will take most students about three hours. After taking the course, it's intended to be a desktop reference for applying what they learn to their business.
The course is free to those who subscribe to the Travel Institute's Premium Access program and $49 for everyone else.