Over 5000 agents worldwide agree online training is the way forward

Trafalgar has released results of a survey of over 5000 travel agents worldwide regarding their attitudes towards supplier training, revealing both a universal appreciation for supplier training, and an enthusiasm for training in an online environment.

An encouraging point from the results was that the majority of agents (55 per cent of respondents) revealed that online training was their preferred method of training.

Paul Wiseman, managing director, Trafalgar Tours said, “Internet training technology provides a fantastic opportunity for agents and tour operators that we have never experienced before.  

“Trafalgar’s eLearning online training program provides agents with the information they need to sell our products, refine and develop their customer service skills and, ultimately, increase their revenue.”

“On demand training is the perfect complement to the traditional sales team. Agents are given the flexibility they need to undertake training in their own time, an opportunity they are clearly embracing, judging by the survey results.”

“Online training doesn’t replace the role of the traditional sales person; it simply allows Trafalgar to greatly expand our reach and frequency of training in a very efficient way.”  “In particular, it is perfect for regional agencies that experiences less face to face contact with our BDMs than their capital city counterparts.”

“The results of our eLearning feedback survey show just how valuable agents have found this flexible training format, with 99.5 per cent finding it a useful learning tool.”

“One of the fantastic benefits of online training program is that agents can access the courses easily from wherever they are located, they can learn at their own pace and the interactive nature of our eLearning program makes training interesting and enjoyable. With the busy pace of agencies today, this is a huge positive.”

“One of the huge positives to come out of the survey results is the even spread of agent age groups that completed our eLearning modules and found them useful.”  “The age spread included: agents aged 21 and under, four per cent; 22 to 30, 31 per cent; 31 to 40, 24 per cent; 41 to 50, 22 per cent; 51 and over, 19 per cent.”

“This confirms to us that the training is beneficial for agents of all levels of experience, which was one of our principle aims when investing in the program’s development.”

The results were gathered from a survey agents completed after participating Trafalgar’s online training program, eLearning, which launched in October 2005.

Other results of the survey included:

** 89 per cent of agents rate the importance of supplier product training as very important / essential

** When asked whether agents require an incentive to complete the training, 80 per cent responded that they did not need an incentive

** When asked whether agents would complete further online eLearning training modules if Trafalgar launched them, 99 per cent stated they would complete them

The initial eLearning modules include, Icons Board Game (a snakes and ladders type board game) and Myth Busters (where agents are challenged to overcome 10 myths of escorted touring).

Modules three and four include USA & Canada Game (a snakes and ladders type board game in which agents answer a series of multiple choice questions on Trafalgar’s Canada and Alaska products) and Dare to Compare (a game teaching agents the differences between putting self dive holiday and coach touring holiday together).

Modules five and six include The Great Travel Heist (which teaches agents all about Italy, as they chase a notorious art thief through the country) and Trafalgar… For Everyone, (where agents must identify which tour suits each of the five potential customers they meet during the game).

To complete the eLearning modules travel agents simply:

Go to www.trafalgar.com

Click ”Travel Agents Login”

Enter their username and password or create a new account if they have not used Trafalgar’s agent only website before

Click on the eLearning banner which will take them to the list of eLearning modules.

Agents wanting more information about Trafalgar’s eLearning program should visit www.trafalgar.com or email [email protected]

Report by The Mole