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Endorsed Schools

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Travel and Tourism Education in Canada

Endorsed Full-Time Programs

ACTA endorses community colleges, private vocational schools, and correspondence programs that offer full-time and distance learning programs to train for the occupation of travel counsellor. The endorsement indicates that the program meets or exceeds the minimum requirements for entering the travel industry as a travel counsellor.

The criteria for endorsement includes:

  • Length of time the program has been offered
  • Graduate performance in the workplace
  • Course curriculum
  • Instructor qualifications
  • Student performance on the Knowledge Exam

ACTA Endorsement Levels

ACTA offers four levels of endorsement for travel and tourism programs:

Programs receive stars based on the number of inclusions they offer, such as travel services specific curriculum hours, field placement, and live GDS training.

Benefits for Graduates

Graduates of ACTA-endorsed programs receive numerous benefits, including:

  • Reduced Knowledge Examination fees
  • Reduced fees to enroll in the Certification Program
  • Immediate participation in Knowledge exams upon program completion
  • Recognized by employers for meeting industry standards
  • Complimentary Knowledge Exam Prep Materials
  • Potential reduction in occupational experience hours required for certification

Choosing a Travel School

Before selecting a travel school, consider the following factors:

About the School About the Faculty About the Program
  • Licensed by the provincial government
  • Length of time in existence
  • Better Business Bureau membership
  • Complaints registered against the school
  • Instructors' certifications and designations
  • Instructors' travel industry experience
  • Instructors' teaching experience
  • Length of time teaching the program
  • Based on ACTA Core Curriculum
  • Program duration and work practicum
  • Automation system taught
  • Number of computer terminals
  • Textbooks used
  • Graduate placement record

Recommended Subjects and Hours

ACTA recommends that travel training programs offer instruction in the following subject areas:

  • Promote Tourism
  • Administer Client Bookings
  • Exhibit Professionalism
  • Office Administration
  • Communication Skills
  • Sales & Service Skills
  • Identify Travel Destinations
  • Research Travel Destinations
  • Product Knowledge (Accommodation, Air, Cruise, Ground, Insurance, Tour)

Recommended hours distribution:

  • Professionalism subjects: 5%
  • Administer Travel Bookings: 35%
  • Sales-Customer Service: 25%
  • Travel Products: 35%

Endorsement Criteria

Each level of endorsement must meet certain criteria to be endorsed:

Criteria
Approximate hours for travel services specific topics 350 450 550 750+
Mandatory purchase of the core curriculum
Required % match to recommended core curriculum 70% 75% 80% 90%
Mandatory practicum Recommended
Live CRS/GDS training
Instructor(s) teaching 25% of core subjects CITC certified
Two graduating classes of 5 or more students
Program operating for a minimum of one year
Students writing the Knowledge Exam per year (minimum) - - 6 12
Mandatory provision of travel agency references (FT) / Recommended (DL)

Programs that do not meet all the criteria for Full Endorsement may be granted Provisional Endorsement for a maximum of two years while they work towards satisfying the additional criteria.

Endorsed Schools by Province/Territory

MacEwan University

Travel & Tourism Program

5-252L, 10700 - 104th Ave. Edmonton, AB T5J 4S2

780-497-5252

780-497-5209

www.macewan.ca

In just 13 months, students will develop the skills Canada 's travel industry demands most: communications, sales techniques, customer service and automation. They'll take an in-depth look at the world's tourist destinations and learn what motivates travellers to visit them. They'll also develop an understanding of the growing travel market, and the technology used to sell North American and International travel.

CDI College

Travel & Tourism Program

Ste 100-800 5th Ave. SW Calgary, AB T2P 3T6

403-232-6410

403-266-0830

www.cdicollege.ca

Turn your passion for travel into an exciting career in seven short months!! The travel and tourism industry are the largest employment sector in the world, and it offers many travel-related rewards. The Travel and Tourism program combines technical computer training with the necessary sales skills for a career-focused education. You will learn to operate the two main computer reservation systems used in Canadian travel agencies: Apollo and SABRE. In addition, you will learn about worldwide destinations, cruises, ticketing & tariffs, sales & marketing and travel agency operations. After graduation, you can successfully compete for jobs at tour operating companies, airlines, travel agencies, cruise companies, tourism bureaus, hotels and car rental companies.

Algonquin College

Tourism & Travel Program

1385 Woodroffe Ave. Ottawa, ON K2G 1V8

613-727-4723

Toll-Free: 1-800-565-4723

613-727-7670

www.algonquincollege.com

This two-year program is designed to develop the multifaceted skills required to work in the retail travel industry. Emphasis is placed on automation skills, ticketing procedures, fare assessment, product knowledge, selling techniques and customer relations.

Conestoga College, Waterloo Campus

Tourism - Destinations and Travel Management Program

108 University Avenue East Waterloo, Ontario N2J 2W2

519-885-0300

Toll Free: 1-866-463-4484

www.conestogac.on.ca

The Conestoga College program provides students with an overview of the hospitality, travel and tourism industry along with entry-level management skills for this very diverse and integrated industry. Students will receive a broad base of business and entrepreneur skills ensuring a strong understanding of financial, customer service, marketing, and the human resources aspects of the industry.

Fanshawe College

Tourism & Travel Program

Tourism-Travel Studies (online)

130 Dundas St London, ON N6A 1G2

519-452-4430

519-452-4454

www.fanshawec.ca

Fanshawe College offers a two-year Ontario College Diploma and Co-operative Education program offered in 4 academic semesters and 1 co-op term. Customer Sales and Service, Flights and Fares, Group Tour Management, Industry Insight, Global Distribution Systems and International Field Study are among the exciting career-related courses a student will explore. Graduates of this well-respected program go on to work in retail travel agencies, with airline or tour companies, resorts and hotels, tourist attractions, visitor and convention centers and the list goes on.

Mohawk College

Tourism & Travel Program

PO BOX 2034 Hamilton, ON L8N 3T2

905-575-1212

905-575-2319

[email protected]

If you’re interested in pursuing a future in the tourism industry, Mohawk College’s School of Business is your passport! You will gain a solid foundation in the principles of the tourism industry as well as general business skills. The Tourism and Travel program is an excellent path to a career in international work and travel. This program is highly interactive and features an exceptionally valuable two-week work placement.

Program Highlights:
• Build a strong foundation of Tourism knowledge.
• Develop communication, business, and computer skills.
• Explore the World through Tourism

Contact: Professor; Tourism & Travel Program Coordinator [email protected].

Oulton College

Travel&Hospitality Program

4 Flanders Court Moncton, NB E1C 0K6

506-858-9696

Toll Free: 1-888-757-2020

506-858-8490

www.oultoncollege.com

This program includes a study of the travel industry including travel agency operations, and a module on the hospitality industry. Students are also introduced to Microsoft Office. A two-week internship is offered to qualifying students.

Holland College, Tourism & Culinary Institute, Charlottetown

Tourism & Travel Management Program

4 Sydney St. Charlottetown, PE C1A 1E9

902-894-6821

Toll Free: 1-877-475-2844

902-894-6801

Maximum class of 25 students, permits a high ratio of instructors to students. Program has a separate computer lab with training on Apollo/Galileo and SABRE (25 PC's). The program offers a blend of lectures and practical learning, using a "Competency - based" curriculum.

Choosing a Career as a Travel Counsellor

Travel Counsellors are the front-line workers in the travel industry, providing guidance on how to get the best value on individual or group travel bookings. They provide direction on destinations, transportation, accommodation, and costs; make transportation and accommodation reservations using a computerized reservation and ticketing system; sell single fare tickets, packaged tours, and insurance; promote particular destinations, tour packages, and other travel services; and provide travel tips regarding tourist attractions, foreign currency, customs, language, and travel safety.

Main Categories of Travel Counsellors

  • Corporate: Specialize in the provision of services to business travellers
  • Leisure: Specialize in services related to vacation and holiday travel

Other areas of specialty include group travel, incentive travel, or adventure travel.

The majority of a counsellor's time (75%) is spent providing customer service and counselling to travellers and selling travel to consumers. Processing reservations and ticketing accounts for another quarter of their time. A college diploma or other training is often required to work in the industry, but the only definite prerequisite is a high school diploma.

Individuals interested in acquiring training to become a travel counsellor should look at the travel programs that are endorsed by ACTA.

Online Learning

Travel Agent Essentials is a step-by-step online training program that will provide you with all the information and job skills you need to ignite your career as a professional Travel Agent in a Canadian Travel Agency or as a Home-based Travel Agent.

Endorsed Distance Learning Programs

  • FANSHAWE COLLEGE - Tourism-Travel Studies (online)

    • Travel Studies program is a one-year Ontario College Certificate designed for students seeking a career in the travel industry.

    The curriculum will focus on the fundamentals of travel consulting including customer sales and service, travel business operations, travel systems software, and emerging technology trends. Graduates of this program will have the knowledge and skills necessary for entry-level customer service positions in the hospitality and tourism industry such as travel agent, reservations agent, front-desk agent, and other customer service representatives. Graduates will also be prepared to write the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) exam. This program will be offered online with continuous intake options.

  • CANADIAN CENTRE FOR SKILLS DEVELOPMENT - International Travel & Tourism
  • CANADIAN CENTRE FOR SKILLS DEVELOPMENT - International Tourism Management