Travellers Choice has marked a milestone with the first wave of graduates completing its new ProStart training initiative, designed to fast-track fresh talent into the retail travel sector.
The three-month program, created in partnership with Cornerstone Learning & Development and supported by suppliers including Cover-More and Intrepid, combines interactive online modules with one-on-one training. The aim is to reduce the time it takes for new entrants to become valuable contributors to agency teams.
So far, around 20 agents have completed the course, with a further 30 expected to graduate before the end of the year.
Agency managers across the Travellers Choice network have praised the program’s impact. Canberra-based Weston Cruise & Travel branch manager Sonaii Witchard said ProStart had proved “instrumental” in onboarding new staff.
“Not only did our new entrants quickly gain the knowledge and skills necessary to excel, but ProStart also provided them with a confidence boost and helped foster a sense of belonging and collaboration within the team,” Witchard said.
At Tweed Heads agency All About Travel, owner David Bantoft said four new staff members had already shown measurable improvement.
“As a result, they are now equipped to secure more complex bookings and use their own initiative to solve problems,” Bantoft said. “We also received feedback throughout the course on how each staff member was progressing, which allowed us to target areas where more support was needed.”
Perth agency Capricorn Travel also reported strong results, with manager Siobhan West describing the initiative as “transformative”.
“ProStart’s focus on practical learning and real-world applications has been particularly beneficial,” West said. “The program has been instrumental in equipping our new staff members with the tools and knowledge to excel, contributing significantly to the growth and success of our agency.”
Travellers Choice General Manager – Sales, Nicola Strudwick, said the scheme benefits both agencies and newcomers.
“Training a novice requires a significant investment of time and resources – two things agencies sorely lack,” Strudwick said. “By outsourcing that process at no cost to the agency, ProStart allows owners and managers to focus on what they do best – selling travel and servicing customers.”
Featured Image: Montana Freeman from Travel & Cruise Ceduna.
