Acknowledging the growing importance of partnerships between tour operators and travel agents, the United States Tour Operators Association has entered into a cooperative partnership with the Institute of Certified Travel Agents.
According to USTOA President Bob Whitley, CTC, the initial step will involve ICTA's distribution of the USTOA Vacation Personality Quiz. The quiz, developed by USTOA in cooperation with consulting psychologists, helps travelers determine the type of tour or vacation package that is best for them based on individual personality preferences.
A new, revised version of the quiz, which is available on the USTOA Web site (www.ustoa.com), will be available to download from ICTA's Web site (www.icta.com), and also distributed as a flyer to ICTA member agents for distribution to their clients.
In return, the Vacation Personality Quiz advises travelers to work with a Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) or Certified Travel Associate (CTA) once the traveler has "discovered" his or her right vacation type. USTOA will also include ICTA information in a forthcoming public relations campaign to publicize the newly revised quiz.
Cooperating with ICTA is nothing new for USTOA. The association has sponsored an ICTA training module on "Selling Tours," and USTOA President Bob Whitley earned his CTC designation from ICTA in 1996 and has remained an active ICTA member since that time.
"The Vacation Personality Quiz is a first step in what we look forward to as a long range, productive relationship between USTOA and ICTA. We plan to encourage the traveling public to use an ICTA Certified Travel Counselor or Associate in all of our forthcoming marketing and public relations programs," says Whitley.
According to ICTA President Jack E. Mannix, CTC, "The USTOA Vacation Personality Quiz helps agents and tour operators better determine clients' needs and in turn fosters satisfied customers and repeat business. Providing the quiz to our CTC and CTA members is another way that ICTA can help its members build their businesses. We look forward to working with USTOA on this project and consider this the first step in a long-term partnership that we believe will be a win-win for ICTA and USTOA members alike."
For more information, contact USTOA, 245 Madison Ave., Ste.
2014, New York, NY 10016, (212) 599-6599, or e-mail information@ustoa.com.
Information about ICTA is available by contacting the Institute
at 148 Linden St., Ste. 306, Wellesley, MA 02482, (781) 237-0280,
email info@icta.com, or at www.icta.com.
Public Relations Contact:
Linda Kundell Communications
(212) 877-2798, (212) 877-3387 fax
(For all other inquiries about USTOA, please contact USTOA.)
