Lisbon, Portugal

Travel Professionals International (TPI) and Transat recently stepped up for travel advisors by jointly offering an exclusive Specialized Travel Education Program (STEP) trip to Portugal.

TPI offers two in-destination training programs annually, and the STEP program is designed to assist its advisors to improve their knowledge of product and drive additional sales and revenue.

According to Shelly Monroe, TPI Advisor from Kentville, NS, who attended the recent STEP trip, there’s an increasing demand for people interested in going to Portugal. “It is a host destination right now. I saw firsthand how much it has to offer. There are a lot of long-stay apartment-style rentals in the beautiful Algarve area. It is a great alternative and somewhere new for my snowbird clients that want a change from going to Florida every winter.”

Monroe was also impressed with the quality of hotels that agents visited during site inspections, both in the Algarve region and in Lisbon. “The rooftop lounge and deck at the Mundial hotel in the heart of Lisbon with its spectacular backdrop of the castle and city was a highlight for me.”

With Transat Holidays hosting the Portugal STEP trip, Senior Business Development Representative Susan Kooiman travelled alongside TPI Advisors on the fam as they travelled from the Algarve to Lisbon.

“We took in some beautiful sightseeing and visited some great hotels. Our week together was an overall success!” she said. “The group was amazing and everyone learned a lot about the Transat Long Stay program for the winter and our Portugal program in general.”

TPI host Lisa Geddes, Manager of Professional Development, Atlantic Canada, added: “Having these types of exclusive TPI fam trips allows the advisors from across the country to share great ideas and best practices for sales and marketing along with seeing a new destination and experience the culture of the destination. After travelling to Portugal, the TPI Advisors are well equipped to make recommendations on the areas of Portugal to visit and what to do while there.”

Geddes also added that TPI is planning other exciting STEP trips during its 25th anniversary year in 2019, including ones in Australia with Goway, and Cambodia with G Adventures.

In order to join a TPI STEP trip, TPI advisors must provide a full marketing plan to support their plans on how to promote each destination to their clients to ensure future sales.