Diane Petras, CTIE, an industry veteran of almost 40 years, will retire from her position as president of The Travel Institute at the end this year.
¡°I¡¯m able to let go and leave because things are truly the best they¡¯ve ever been for The Travel Institute,¡± Petras said, adding that she viewed her role beyond that of a job but rather as ¡°passion and a calling.¡±
Petras joined The Travel Institute in the 1990s as a volunteer, with responsibilities that included managing its annual training conferences and serving on the organization¡¯s national advisory board. In 2010, she was appointed chief operating officer and rose to the position of president in 2018.
¡°Diane¡¯s contributions to The Travel Institute cannot be overstated. She¡¯s taken both The Travel Institute and our entire industry ¨C to a higher level,¡± said Gary Pollard, CTC, chair of The Travel Institute board of directors and president and CEO of Ambassador Tours.
¡°Her passion for quality education has inspired countless agents and organizations to prioritize education and become true travel professionals who embrace selling travel and offer greater value through a comprehensive business model,¡± he added.
¡°She¡¯ll be missed both professionally and personally by her team and the board, as well as by leaders and advisors throughout the industry.¡±
Petras achieved a formidable number accomplishments during her tenure at The Travel Institute, including ¡°reinventing its operating model by moving from printed textbooks to a responsive e-commerce website; augmenting content with 3rd-party subject matter experts; providing $1 million plus in scholarships; producing award-winning curriculum for new and experienced agents; launching a best-in-class, interactive learning platform as well as a digital credentials marketing tool targeting consumers; and more,¡¯ The Travel Institute said.
¡°My biggest, best accomplishment has been hiring the team in place today,¡± Petras said. ¡°They have made the difference in what we deliver to this industry, and I feel really good about leaving it in their capable hands.¡±
Added CEO and Founder Travefy David Chait, CTIE, and an executive committee board member of The Travel Institute: ¡°The board has every confidence The Travel Institute¡¯s 60-plus-year foundation of success and ongoing momentum will continue.
¡°We¡¯ve got an experienced, accomplished group with our collective sleeves rolled up on multiple initiatives already well underway.
¡°Together, we¡¯ll continue to drive educational excellence at every level in support of individual professionalism and broader industry success,¡± Chait concluded.
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