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Florida Keys & Key West Booth at Pow Wow: #709

Key Lime Academy Helps Travel Professionals Plan Florida Keys Vacations

FLORIDA KEYS — A new Web-based video-learning platform, providing travel professionals with the education necessary to become certified Florida Keys destination specialists, is to be introduced at the upcoming International Pow Wow.

Key Lime Academy (fla-keys.com/keylimeacademy) uses seven video-driven modules to educate participants on Keys properties, attractions and history. Each module is followed by an eight- to 10-question quiz presented in multiple-choice format. The process takes about 30 minutes to complete, and can be done either incrementally or in a single sitting.

When the user completes the entire e-learning series and passes all seven quizzes with a grade of 80 percent or better, an electronic certificate is issued acknowledging certification as a Florida Keys destination specialist.

Targeting U.S. and United Kingdom travel agents and tour operators, certification is available only to members of the International Association of Travel Agents. The site's high-definition video and professionally planned Keys itineraries can be accessed by all agents and consumers; and shared via social media.

The platform Key Lime Academy is offered on the official website of the Florida Keys & Key West (fla-keys.com) and is the brainchild of Stacey Mitchell, director of sales for Florida Keys & Key West Tourist Development Council.

“I want to engage, inspire and educate travel professionals at a deeper level than ever before,” said Mitchell. “My team and I want to make the interactive process convenient, fun and interesting while providing a depth of knowledge of the destination.

“The advent of virtual agencies, satellite offices and home-based businesses has been a game changer for the travel industry,” Mitchell continued. “Key Lime Academy enables us to reach travel professionals who no longer are accessible by traditional methods such as face-to-face sales calls.”

Future development plans for Key Lime Academy include creation of a more in-depth program for agents who wish to develop further specialization.

Key Lime Academy's official launch is set for IPW in Las Vegas, June 8-12. The U.S. Travel Association's largest trade event is expected to attract more than 5,000 international travel professionals to meet with U.S. destination representatives.