Receptive Operators Integral to Steps to Success Program
By Julie Heizer, IITA Ambassador
Destinations and their travel and tourism industry partners and stakeholders gain valuable insights and solid “how-to's” by participating in the IITA Inbound Insider Steps to Success™ (STS) Live program delivered by Alon Tourism Solutions.
Those insights and specific steps to take in the development of salable products and services are made even more valuable during Steps to Success programs by the participation of IITA member inbound operators who bring a depth and breadth of experience to the live programming.
Gisa Kusserow-Hanson, Vice President of Contracting and Partnerships at AlliedNewWorld may have said it best when she said, “No matter if a supplier has been working with the international travel trade for many years or if they are new to the market segment and want to expand their business base, the STS program is an excellent resource of information. The program evolves constantly, reflecting the changes our businesses experience, and that makes it and the information provided always valuable and new.
The Steps to Success program brings together groups of business peers to explore new opportunities in a vibrant and supportive environment where questions are welcome and real help is given. There is no better way to step into a new business adventure.”
Since IITA/Alon Tourism Solutions began offering the program in 2017, STS has been implemented in 26 states across the USA. It has evolved based on audience input gathered from each program following its implementation. Inbound operators and local hoteliers already working in the international arena were added to the sessions several years ago, and the response has been tremendous.
When asked why inbound operators have volunteered to serve as an expert panelist for the STS program, Marita Ross, Owner, America 4 You, said, “I strongly believe that education is key - always. Destinations/hotels, etc., work with so many different clients, and the way international inbound tour operators work is very unique – and often misunderstood. There is no better way to get the word out about what important function we have than to use the opportunity to talk about who we are and what our part of the industry does than an in-person conversation.”
Ms. Kusserow-Hanson also best summed up the reason Steps to Success is a “not to be missed” training program by saying, “The program is a clear, easy-to-understand, detailed introduction and instruction to a market segment very few businesses in the travel industry take full advantage of. The provided knowledge can easily be shared within the program attendees’ organization to help spread the word about the value of the international travel trade to their specific businesses.”
IITA inbound operator members are encouraged to volunteer to serve as expert panelists for upcoming Steps to Success programs. Reach out to Julie Heizer, IITA Ambassador, if you are interested in volunteering.
Destinations and their industry partners and stakeholders are encouraged to bring this robust program to their destinations. You may reach out to Connor Devos, Alon Tourism Solutions, to talk about the specifics of getting the IITA/Alon team, along with the inbound operator and local hotelier experts, to your destination.
