ProStart cuts the time required for new-entrants to the travel industry to become genuine assets to a retail business.
The three-month program – developed in collaboration with Cornerstone Learning & Development and supported by preferred suppliers such as Cover-More and Intrepid – nurtures on-the-job skills through interactive online modules and one-on-one training sessions.
Around 20 agents have so far graduated from the program, with another 30 set to complete the course this year.
Sonaii Witchard, Branch Manager of Canberra agency, Weston Cruise & Travel, says the program has proved “instrumental” in onboarding new staff members.
“Not only did our new entrants quickly gain the knowledge and skills necessary to excel,” says Witchard, “but ProStart also provided them with a confidence boost and helped foster a sense of belonging and collaboration within the team, ensuring a smoother transition into our workplace culture.”
Tweed Heads agency All About Travel enrolled four new staff members in the program and owner David Bantoft says each participant’s skill levels were immediately elevated.
“As a result, they are now equipped to secure more complex bookings and use their own initiative to solve problems,” says Bantoft.
“We also received feedback throughout the course on how each staff member was progressing, and we were able to use this to pinpoint the areas in which each of them required more assistance.”
Siobhan West, Manager of Perth agency Capricorn Travel, describes ProStart as “transformative”.
“ProStart’s focus on practical learning and real-world applications has been particularly beneficial,” says West.
“Overall, the program has been instrumental in equipping our new staff members with the necessary tools and knowledge to excel in their positions, contributing significantly to the growth and success of our agency.”
Travellers Choice General Manager – Sales Nicola Strudwick says ProStart is a win-win for members and new entrants.
“Training a novice requires a significant investment of time and resources – two things agencies sorely lack,” says Strudwick. “By outsourcing that process at no cost to the agency, ProStart allows owners and managers to focuses on what they do best – selling travel and servicing customers.”