ProAdvance – the latest addition to Travellers Choice’s multi-level TC Pro training platform – is now off and running, with a dozen experienced travel agents embarking on a six-month program designed to “shape the leaders of tomorrow”.
General Manager – Sales Nicola Strudwick says the new training course will use a combination of self-paced learning modules and monthly Zoom “masterclasses” to give ambitious consultants “the skills and confidence they require to take the next step on their career progression.”
“Primarily that means helping senior consultants make the move into a management role or running their own agency – which in turn helps our members address the vital issue of succession planning.
“In that sense, ProAdvance is not just about developing capabilities for today, it’s about deliberately shaping the leaders of tomorrow.
“Having said that, we are delighted to have also had several travel agency owners enrol because they see an opportunity to drive growth by enhancing their own business acumen.”
When designing the program, Strudwick says Travellers Choice asked some of its most successful members to nominate key topics they believed would most benefit participants.
Consistent themes emerged, particularly around the need for consultants to understand the true cost of running a travel business.
“People often look at a business and think, ‘I could do that.’ In reality of course it is almost always more complex than they imagine. It is one thing, for instance, to recognise which products generate the best revenue for an agency, but another to understand all the additional cost pressures that impact a company’s bottom line.
“ProAdvance gives consultants a more nuanced commercial understanding by introducing them to practices such as cash flow forecasting, generating P&L reports, and setting sophisticated budgets, sales targets and marketing strategies.”
She said the course also helped participants develop their people management skills, with modules tackling issues such as conflict resolution and strategies for bringing teams together to ensure the best outcome for a business.
“Ultimately, we want to ensure that when people are ready to step into management roles – or expand their business – they are more than equipped to do it.”
The new program compliments ProStart, an innovative, free-of-charge, three-month training program Travellers Choice launched in 2025 for new entrants to the travel industry.
Strudwick says almost 30 travel agents have already graduated from ProStart.
“The program has significantly reduced the time required for new recruits to become genuine assets to a business. And it has helped ensure new starters stay in the industry by making them feel supported and providing them with a pathway to further qualifications.”
