Brand USA has released two new badges – Chicago and Illinois – on the U.S. Discovery Program, the official travel agent training platform for the USA’s premier destination marketing organization.
Introduced in seven international markets, the U.S. Discovery Program allows travel agents around the world to learn about themes or destinations that mirror the diverse range of travel experiences available to international travelers when they choose to visit the United States. Agents access these travel topics through a series of online learning modules.
The Chicago badge focuses on the myriad of experiences travelers can enjoy in the Windy City – everything ranging from the Skydeck and the exhilarating TILT experience, an enclosed moving platform that literally tilts over the edge of the iconic John Hancock Center, to Taste of Chicago and Chicago Restaurant Week to the city’s famed theater and music nightlife.
The Illinois badge, meanwhile, provides users with statewide content across the four areas of Illinois: the Great Rivers Country; Chicago and Beyond; the Land of Lincoln, focusing on Abraham Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield and Trails to Adventure, which covers the rural area of the Shawnee National Forest.
Agents who earn these badges learn about options for accommodations, food and drink, Great Outdoors activities and the must- see/must-do experiences, such as traveling along the iconic Route 66. As a result, the agents are more knowledgeable to provide their travel clients with comprehensive and varied travel packages.
The launch of these two badge modules coincides with the current MegaFam incentive. The Brand USA MegaFam, scheduled for May 10-18, will take 107 agents from the United Kingdom and Ireland to the USA. Breaking into groups, the agents will travel on seven different itineraries before joining together for a finale in Chicago.
Agents compete for seats on Brand USA MegaFams in accordance with their completion of USA Discovery modules and their levels of U.S.-travel sales. All entrants are encouraged to complete both the "Chicago" and "Illinois" badges prior to entry closing on April 3. Entry to the MegaFam is via the USADiscoveryProgram.co.uk.
The new badges join a host of other extra learning materials available on the site, as well as 10 experiential specialist badges, including Big City Buzz, Coastal Escapes and Luxury.
‘The USA Discovery Program, optimized for tablets and smart phones and integrated with Facebook and Twitter, continues to develop new content to ensure travel agents can expand their knowledge of the United States. Members of the USA Discovery Program also can take advantage of the insightful Knowledge Forum and an array of itinerary ideas based on previous MegaFam itineraries.
To become a qualified USA Specialist, agents should visit USADiscoveryProgram.co.uk.