Godfrey, Ill. – Corporate and Community Learning is offering seven online courses this Spring for those interested in travel and tourism, whether professionally or just for fun.
For those seeking a career in the field, Lewis and Clark Community College has been partnering with Heartland Community College since Spring 2010 to offer online courses toward a professional certificate.
The program was awarded the 2011 Innovative Initiative Award by the Illinois Council on Continuing Higher Education and Lewis and Clark is Heartland’s first partner school.
“The courses are 100 percent online so people can explore a new career from the comfort of their own home,” said CCL Assistant Director Katie Sledge. “Our partnership with Heartland Community College has been a rewarding experience, both in the relationships it has created statewide and the invaluable education it has provided to members of our local community about the travel industry."
Students who successfully complete the three courses that make up the Professional Certificate Sequence and pass the Travel Agent Proficiency Exam will earn professional certification. Other courses are also being offered for those interested in travel or planning a vacation.
A new European Culture & Heritage Destination Specialist course will cover historic sites and monuments, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) World Heritage sites, special traditions and celebrations, customs, art, architecture, music and composers, literature, history, museums and the local gastronomy of 25 featured countries. Deadline for registration is Feb. 18.
Instructor Nancy Roop has worked in the industry for 30 years as a Certified Travel Consultant and Destination Specialist, travel and tourism educator, curriculum consultant, group tour escort, and for an international airline.
“The outlook for ‘travel agents’ is always good - especially now since the industry has evolved tremendously in the last decade. Home-Based Travel Agents is the fastest growing segment of this industry,” Roop said. “Air travel numbers are up significantly from last year. People will always travel for business, and with the Baby Boomers retiring, that segment of the population will add to leisure travel numbers. One can work from home selling travel once you have found a host agency you would like to work with. It can be brick and mortar agency, or a virtual host agency. Working as a travel agent in this industry has always allowed tremendous flexibility in working part-time, full-time, or as an outside sales rep for an agency. This is a great second career in retirement or a first career for anyone wanting to work from home.”
For more information, call Sledge at (618) 468-5750 or e-mail
ksledge@lc.edu.