TORONTO — TRAVELSAVERS Canada has announced the first two Canadian graduates of its KORE travel education program.

KORE was launched in this market in April 2024 and was developed to optimize the recruitment and training of the next generation of travel advisors at a critical time, when agencies are struggling to find and onboard new talent.

“We are so proud of this program and our graduates,” said Jane Clementino, Senior Vice President and General Manager of TRAVELSAVERS Canada. “The combination of rigorous academic training and real-world exposure positions KORE-trained advisors as highly skilled professionals ready to make a significant impact in the travel industry in a period of great need.”

KORE’s first Canadian graduates are Alex Kriss and Michelle Morin. Clementino notes that Kriss is a consultant specializing in leisure travel, group adventures and destination weddings. Meanwhile Morin’s Whitby agency recommended KORE to her and upon graduation, she returned there with the knowledge to advance her career.

“KORE addresses all the misconceptions regarding the industry,” said Morin. “It opened my eyes to areas of the business that I wouldn’t know about as a consumer. KORE helped me develop my skills in world geography and fully understand the depth of knowledge that a travel consultant must have.” 

And Kriss added: “The program was really helpful right from the beginning, building from the ground up.” 

According to a recent TRAVELSAVERS Canada survey, 89% of agencies plan to hire advisors in the coming year, however 60% say applicants don’t have the right combination of skills and abilities. Clementino says KORE is bridging that gap for the industry.