Travel Experts Names Valarie Johnson IC Ambassador

PHOTO: In her position as IC Ambassador for Travel Experts, Valarie Johnson will make sure agents can sell global experiences with ease. (photo courtesy of Thinkstock)

Travel Experts has named Valarie Johnson to a newly-created position as IC Ambassador.

Johnson will be responsible for strengthening existing training programs as well as developing new training curriculums.

She will head the host agency’s current training program for new agents, which includes an all-expenses-paid 2-3 three-day introduction at its headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina. The curriculum includes training on platforms such as Sabre, ClientBase and GRASP, while at the same time allowing new members to meet the support staff and understand the daily operations and company policies.

“Our IC Ambassador serves as Travel Experts’ lead education and training representative to our network of luxury travel advisors,” said Susan Ferrell, president of Travel Experts. 

“This new position allows us to further refine our current program, add new training initiatives and continue to be the industry benchmark for host agencies.”

Johnson will also be responsible for implementing Travel Experts’ newest program: unlimited access to one-on-one training for all of its independent travel advisors. Individual travel advisors are welcome to book thirty, forty-five or sixty-minute virtual sessions, where Johnson logs into their computers remotely and offers best practice advice and additional training as needed.

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“I noticed people tend to shy away from asking questions in a group setting,” said Johnson. “This customized form of training is making a huge difference because it is less intimidating and addresses only the topics with which the agent needs help.” 

Johnson has added training videos to the roster to ensure that every advisor has opportunity to take advantage of his/her preferred training platform. 

“What I appreciate most about this new position is having the ability to design a program that makes sense to the individual,” noted Johnson. “We all learn differently, whether it be in-person, virtually or visually; the end game is to ensure their success.”

Travel Experts is also beta testing extended help desk hours for its travel advisors in the Mountain and Pacific time zones in an ongoing effort to provide a concierge-level of service to its network of independent luxury advisors.