Neil Herbert, former head of partnerships at Value Retail, has already started as director of sales for the travel trade engagement and e-learning specialist, and he will be joined by former cruise specialist Linda North as business development manager.

Speaking to TTG, Herbert said his remit was to grow Equator’s client base in the UK and encourage more global participation from partners.

Herbert insisted that e-learning was still a relevant way for the trade to talk to travel agents, but that it had to be part of a wider travel trade engagement strategy.

“Anyone who says to me that e-learning is dead, I say that e-learning has matured and is now part of an overall travel trade engagement strategy covering communications, education and rewards. We build intranet sites that treat travel agents as ambassadors for travel brands.”

Equator Learning manufactures training courses for travel partners including NYC & Company, Travel 2, Silversea and Sandals and hosts them on its Online Travel Academy website and partner sites including TTG Knowledge.

“Equator is the power behind TTG Knowledge and Online Travel Academy,” he said. “Partners can decide where they want their modules hosted.”

Online Travel Academy is live in 70 countries and 10 different languages.

A recent course that went live in January has already achieved 18,000 registrations in English-speaking markets.  The most recent addition, from the State of Alaska, passed 3,500 registrations in six weeks.