Travel Institute to Hold Alumni Celebration Week
The Travel Institute's second annual Alumni Celebration Week runs Nov. 9-13 and includes continuing education sessions and cruise prize drawings for certified graduates.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Cruises
The Travel Institute will hold its second annual Alumni Celebration Week Nov. 9-13, recognizing advisors who hold the CTA, CTC, or CTIE designations. Three certified alumni will be awarded cruise vacations during the week.
Why it matters
The event recognizes a community of more than 31,500 certified graduates and offers continuing education credit through alumni-only sessions. For U.S. travel advisors, it provides professional development and a chance to win travel prizes.
Each alumni PEP Talk carries two continuing education units, and two participants per session will receive a one-year Education Hub subscription valued at $199. Three cruise vacations will be awarded through the Alumni Cruise Drawing, though the extraction does not specify the event's location or format.
The players
The Travel Institute
An independent nonprofit organization founded in 1964 that certifies travel advisors and maintains a community of more than 31,500 graduates.
Dana Zificsak
A CTIE-certified travel professional presenting the Nov. 10 alumni PEP Talk on client retention.
Gunes Hopson
The presenter of the Nov. 12 PEP Talk on host agency agreements.
Sandi Ferreira
The author of the white paper 'How the Let Them Theory Can Lead a Travel Business to Success.'
The details
Alumni Celebration Week includes two alumni-only PEP Talks: Dana Zificsak, CTIE, presents 'Keeping Them in Your World: Building Clients For Life' on Nov. 10, and Gunes Hopson leads 'Host Agency Agreements: Your Guide to an Essential Legal Document' on Nov. 12. Alumni can also access the white paper 'How the Let Them Theory Can Lead a Travel Business to Success' and the report 'AI in Travel: Insights, Trends and Industry Perspectives.'
Timeline
Nov. 9-13: Alumni Celebration Week runs.
Nov. 10 at 1 p.m. EST: 'Keeping Them in Your World' PEP Talk.
Nov. 12 at 2:30 p.m. EST: 'Host Agency Agreements' PEP Talk.
December 2026 to December 2027: Royal Caribbean cruise prize departure window.
Travel Outlook
The Travel Institute's certification designations (CTA, CTC, and CTIE) form the credentialing framework for the advisors being honored during Alumni Celebration Week. The event extends that framework by pairing continuing education with rewards for certified graduates.
Certified alumni who want to win a cruise can enter by completing the Alumni Cruise Drawing Entry Form during the Nov. 9-13 event window. Advisors seeking continuing education credit can attend the two alumni-only PEP Talks on Nov. 10 and Nov. 12.
The takeaway
Certified travel advisors can earn continuing education credit and enter cruise prize drawings by participating in Alumni Celebration Week, which runs Nov. 9-13. Staying connected through The Travel Institute's communications channels is the way to track future announcements.
What happens next
Alumni can complete the Alumni Cruise Drawing Entry Form during Alumni Celebration Week to enter the cruise prize drawing.
Further reading
Explore more on cruises for industry context on how travel advisors and cruise lines work together.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Paxnews.
