HONEYMOONS AND DESTINATION WEDDINGS
Honeymoon and Destination Wedding Specialist
Experiential Checklist
HONEYMOONS AND DESTINATION WEDDINGS
 Interview three tour operators, resorts, or cruise lines that you have identified as current or
potential preferred suppliers for your honeymoon clientele.
Name
E-Mail
Daytime Telephone Number
Directions: To earn your Certified Honeymoons and Destination Weddings Specialist designation, you
must have completed a minimum of five (5) items on this checklist within the past five (5) years, unless
otherwise indicated. Check the relevant items (no minimum or maximum required per category), and
provide information or supporting documentation as requested for each item. Submit your completed
checklist along with the Certified Specialist Certification Form to The Travel Institute.
Community and Industry Involvement
 Attend a convention, trade show, or other workshop related to honeymoons or destination weddings.
Write and attach a one-page report describing the event, the date it was held, and three positive
outcomes of your attendance at the event.
 Research businesses in your local community that target the bridal and honeymoon market.
Write and attach a one-page report listing the names and types of businesses and describing potential
cross-marketing opportunities.
 Promote honeymoons or destination weddings within your community (e.g., have an open house at a
local bridal shop, provide honeymoon promotions, write a column for a local publication).
Write and attach a one-page report describing the types of activities, dates, and three positive
outcomes of your efforts.
 Create a calendar of upcoming bridal shows.
Attach the calendar.
 Contact three government tourist boards representing international destinations that actively
market to honeymooners.
Write and attach a one-page report listing the name of the destination course, date of completion, and
10 reasons why honeymooners choose to travel to this destination.
 Participate in a honeymoon-related fam or independent trip (e.g., cruise, destination visit, hotel
inspection.
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Write and attach a one-page report on how they market, what materials they offer, and who their
local contacts are (e.g., resorts, inbound tour operators).
 Create an evaluation form for site inspections of hotels or resorts that cater to the honeymoon and
destination wedding market.
Attach the form.
 Research 10 top destination wedding locations and create a reference list of legal requirements for
weddings in each destination.
Attach the reference list.
Travel Planning
 Plan a two-week trip for a couple who wants to go to Europe on their honeymoon.
Attach a written itinerary including appropriate destinations and accommodations, activities and
sites of interest to honeymooners, and any special honeymoon “extras.”
 Plan a destination wedding for a couple and 20 guests traveling to an island destination.
Write and attach a one-page report describing your research process and results, including how
you selected the destination and accommodations, arranged details of the wedding and
honeymoon, and made travel arrangements for the entire party.
 Create a honeymoon planning checklist for a prospective bride and groom.
Attach the checklist.
 Get a letter of recommendation from a couple for whom you planned a successful honeymoon or
Destination and Supplier Research
 Earn a Destination Specialist designation for a popular honeymoon destination.
Write and attach a one-page report describing each supplier’s products, services, and
marketingmaterials geared toward honeymooners.
destination wedding.
Attach the letter.
Reading and References
 Be a current subscriber of a bridal publication (e.g., Brides Magazine, Bridal Guide).
Publication: ____________________________Subscriber Since: _________________________
Write and attach a one-page report describing the trip, sponsor (if any), date, and 10 things you learned
about honeymoons and destination weddings.
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Certified Niche Specialist Certification Form
HONEYMOONS AND DESTINATION WEDDINGS
Marketing
 Write a marketing and sales plan for your honeymoon specialty.
Attach the one-page plan.
 Develop a honeymoon section of your Web site.
Indicate URL: _______________________________________________________________________
 Exhibit at a major bridal show.
Attach a one-page report describing why you chose the show, how you planned and managed your
display, and what actions you took to follow up on leads generated at the show.
 Host an event promoting honeymoons and destination weddings (presentation, cocktail party, honeymoon
Your Name
E-mail Address
CompanyTitle
Business Address
State/CountryZip
Write and attach a one-page report describing the event, the date it was held, and three positive
outcomes.
Business Telephone Number
Business Fax Number
Attach the packet.
 Place an ad in a bridal publication or other media outlet targeted to honeymooners.
Attach a copy of the ad; note the date and name of the publication or media outlet.
Home Address
City
State/CountryZip
Home Telephone Number
Home Fax Number
Preferred mailing address:Home
Business
If you and/or your agency are affiliated with a franchise, consortium, and/or trade organization
please list affiliations here:
 Conduct a direct-mail campaign using a database or e-mail list targeted to honeymooners.
2. Statement of Travel Industry Experience
To earn the Certified Niche Specialist designation, candidates must possess at least 12 months of
cumulative travel industry work experience, with a minimum standard of 1,000 hours annually. The Travel
Institute may contact the following past or present employers for verification. Should you require
additional space, please attach a separate sheet.
Dates: Month/Year Company, City, State
Supervisor
Title/Responsibilities
From:
Write and attach a one-page report describing the date, purpose, audience, distribution, and results of the
campaign; include a copy of the piece that was mailed.
 Send a press release to a local publication promoting your agency’s honeymoon specialty.
Attach the press release.
Other
_____________________________________________________________________
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Name of Course
City
may include travel documents, a hotel or cruise brochure, destination information, wedding information,
and so on.
1. Background Information
night, etc.).
 Create a comprehensive packet of useful information for a honeymoon couple (and any guests), which
When you have successfully completed the Niche Specialist test and met the activities and experience
requirements, complete all five sections of this form and mail to The Travel Institute within 30 days of
meeting those requirements. This is the final step in attaining your Certified Niche Specialist designation.
Write and attach a one-page report describing this experience and how it positively affects your
honeymoon business.
To:
From:
Submit your completed Experiential Checklist and supporting documentation to:
To:
The Travel Institute
945 Concord St.
Framingham, Ma 02170
E-mail: pgagnon@thetravelinstitute.com
 Please check here if your 12-month experience requirement can be reduced by 6 months because of
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successful completion of Travel Agent Proficiency (TAP) test (Copy of TAP certificate required).
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3. Your Certified Niche Specialist Certificate
Please type or print your name as you would like it to appear on your certificate.
First Name
Middle Name
Last Name
4. Notarization
Please read the statement below carefully. Sign, date, and have this form notarized by a Notary Public before
submitting to The Travel Institute.
I recognize that The Travel Institute is a tax-exempt institution organized and operated for educational purposes. I
further recognize that The Travel Institute seal is registered with the Commissioner of Patents of the U.S. Patent
Office and is a service mark of The Travel Institute. In recognition of the above and in consideration of my
certification, I agree that I will only use such service mark upon the terms and conditions prescribed from time to
time by The Travel Institute’s Board of Trustees and in a manner consistent with The Travel Institute’s educational
goals. I agree that I will use The Travel Institute’s seal only with written permission from The Travel Institute. I
further agree not to use the initials “CNS” as a designation after my name to indicate my certification by The
Travel Institute, nor in conjunction with, or as any part of, a trade or business name. I understand that ongoing
educational requirements are mandatory in retaining use of the Certified Niche Specialist designation.
I hereby certify that all statements made by me in this application are true and correct, to the best of my knowledge.
I authorize the Travel Institute to investigate all statements and references contained herein and I agree that
misrepresentation of facts called for in this application may affect my certification by The Travel Institute.
Candidate Signature
Date
This section to be completed by Notary Public:
SUBSCRIBED and sworn to before me this ________day of ______________________________, 20 ______
My commission expires _____________________Notary Public __________________________
(Notary Public Seal Here)
5. Certification Fee
Enclosed please find my payment of $25 in the form of
MasterCard
Visa
Card Number
 American Express
Discover
Expiration Date
Name as It Appears on Card
Cardholder Signature
Date
 Check made out to The Travel Institute
Mail or fax to: The Travel Institute, 945 Concord St., Framingham, MA 01701
Tel.: 781-237-0280, 800-542-4282, Fax: 781-237-3860, www.thetravelinstitute.com
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