News
and Events
Giampa to be Feted by Travel and Tourism Students
Joanne Giampa, coordinator/professor of College of DuPage’s Travel and Tourism program, will be recognized on Friday, March 7, by students in an Advanced Meeting and Event Planning class during a Women’s History Month celebration that honors women in travel and tourism. (More…)
Giampa Helps Students ‘Find Themselves’
Joanne Giampa, professor/coordinator of College of DuPage’s Travel and Tourism program, helps students find themselves. She builds their self-esteem and confidence. That dedication has earned Giampa the John C. Kesler Achievement Award. (More…)
Earn an Associate Cruise Degree at C.O.D.
College of DuPage Travel and Tourism students and interested travel professionals can complete 15 hours of classroom instruction this November and earn the prestigious Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) associate cruise degree designation. (More…)
Everything about Events
A new spring Travel and Tourism class that will cover the waterfront on how to produce a successful event will meet on Thursdays, beginning Jan. 17. (More…)
The Travel Institute
College of DuPage is a licensed school affiliate of the Travel Institute, one
of the premier educational organizations in the travel industry. (More…)
New Plan and Pack Course This Fall
Responding to growth in the adventure travel area, the Travel and Tourism program
this fall will present a new Plan and Pack course that offers future and existing
travel industry professionals hands-on tour operator experience. (More …)
Travel
Trade Features Men’s HIStory Month
Men’s HIStory Month, a celebration conducted by
Joanne Giampa and her Travel and Tourism program, was highlighted
in Travel Trade, a national publication. (More …)
New! Objectives, Outlines for Travel and Tourism Courses
Explore the objectives and topical outlines for all Travel and
Tourism courses. (More …)
Travel
and Tourism Transfer Agreements
Learn more about transfer agreements between C.O.D./George Williams
College of Aurora University, and C.O.D./Northwood University.
(More …)
Special Topics Class: Outside Sales for the Home-Based and Independent
Contractor
Discover news ways to market your travel company and develop business
relationships in this Special Topics course. (More …)
Travel Trends
Explore the latest in travel trends. (More …)
Meeting and Event Planning Degree
The Travel and Tourism program is offering a new degree in Meeting
and Event Planning. (More …)
Geographic Specialist Certificate
The Geographic Specialist certificate is highly recommended for
students seeking advanced education about world destinations.
(More …)
Giampa to be Feted by Travel and Tourism Students
By Ken Reed
Joanne Giampa, coordinator/professor of College of DuPage’s Travel and Tourism program, will be recognized on Friday, March 7, by students in an Advanced Meeting and Event Planning class during a Women’s History Month Celebration that honors women in travel and tourism.
Giampa is being honored with a special award by the students “in recognition of all she does for the C.O.D. Travel and Tourism program and the industry.”
The celebration is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Drury Lane Theater in Oakbrook Terrace.
“I truly feel that teaching brings the best possible people into my life, which has been enriched by everyone in the travel industry -- students and professionals,” Giampa said. “I am deeply touched, excited and overwhelmed at the attention.”
Last October, Giampa was awarded the prestigious John C. Kesler Achievement Award from the International Society of Travel and Tourism Educators. This award, which is presented every three years, was in recognition of “significant lifetime contributions to the field of travel and tourism education.”
Giampa began working in the travel industry with Jefferson Travel in Chicago on Jan. 6, 1972. She was hired to teach at C.O.D. on Jan. 6, 1980, and was promoted to department coordinator on Jan. 1, 2000.
In addition to Giampa’s accolades, the event will also celebrate the achievements of women who have worked in the travel industry for 15 or more years.
Industry professionals and past and present Travel and Tourism students are invited to the gala event, which will include a silent auction, raffle and dinner at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $35 for professionals, $25 for students. Proceeds will benefit the C.O.D. Travel and Tourism Scholarship Fund.
For more information, call Marianne McNulty, (630) 699-1128.
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Photo by Rich Malec
Joanne Giampa, professor/coordinator of College of DuPage’s Travel and Tourism program, helps her students find themselves and become better people. Giampa was presented the prestigious John C. Kesler Achievement Award from the International Society of Travel and Tourism Educators.
Giampa Helps Students ‘Find Themselves’
By Ken Reed
While learning about waterfalls, beaches, volcanoes and travel schedules is important in Joanne Giampa’s Travel and Tourism classes, so is the well-being of her students.
Giampa, professor/coordinator of College of DuPage’s Travel and Tourism program since 2000, acknowledges that while “there is a lot to see in this world, that almost underlies what I am teaching my students. I am helping them to find themselves. I try to build their self-esteem and confidence.”
This dedication toward travel and education has earned Giampa (Glendale Heights) the prestigious John C. Kesler Achievement Award from the International Society of Travel and Tourism Educators (ISTTE).
Giampa’s award, which is presented every three years, was in recognition of “significant lifetime contributions to the field of travel and tourism education.” She was honored during the ISTTE’s 26th annual convention in Charleston, S.C., in early October.
“It was a great honor to be recognized by my peers as someone who has had a lifetime of achievement in the travel industry and in travel education,” she said. “It is an exciting thing. I was really proud to receive the award.”
Giampa began working in the travel industry with Jefferson Travel in Chicago on Jan. 6, 1972. She was hired to teach at C.O.D. on Jan. 6, 1980, and was promoted to department coordinator on Jan. 1, 2000.
“I like the travel industry because you can live vicariously through your clients. When I was investigating where my clients wanted to go and what they wanted to see, I placed myself in their position and thought, ‘Hmmm, what would I want to do if I was going to this destination?’
“Over the years, I have had fantastic opportunities to take trips myself, so I was able to see sights up close and personal. I would relate these experiences to my clients, which brings it all to life and actually makes the world a little bit smaller.” Giampa said she enjoys acknowledging, experiencing and appreciating the different cultures in the world.
While Giampa’s ultimate goal is to find jobs for her students, she also strives to help her students become better people. In fact, she offers a number of classes that do just that. For example, there’s a Travel Sales and Customer Service class that helps her students relate to people, develop rapport with potential customers, improve their communication skills and learn excellent customer service.
Giampa teaches her students about e-mail etiquette, how to write business letters and how to improve their speaking and writing abilities. “I help them with their computer skills and show them how to work on Word, Excel and PowerPoint. We work on how to make group presentations and even how to dress. I help their self-esteem and I teach respect for employers and colleagues.
“So when someone leaves me, they know how to handle themselves in the business world.”
Beyond that, Giampa also offers help in the personal arena. She shows her students how to handle stress and time management.
“As I am teaching them about the whole world, I pull in little bits and pieces on how to make them a better person.”
And her style is paying off.
“I have students who write or call me and say, ‘You improved my life. You made me a better person. I know I am better because I was in your class.’ That is very rewarding.”
What is most rewarding to Giampa, however, is when she helps students find jobs. “I belong to more than 10 different clubs and organizations, and the sole purpose of my involvement with those groups is to find my students jobs,” she explained.
For example, one of Giampa’s students expressed an interest in adventure tourism. Giampa’s myriad contacts paid off when she connected the student with a friend who owns an adventure travel company. The end result was that the student was hired.
“I hope that my students take from my classes a love of learning about and appreciating different cultures. I want my students to leave me realizing that the world is a small place, that it is a global community and that we must be aware of the environment.
“But my greatest satisfaction is when they tell me that they are just a better person because they took my classes.”
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Earn an Associate Cruise Degree at C.O.D.
College of DuPage Travel and Tourism students and interested travel professionals can complete 15 hours of classroom instruction this November and earn the prestigious Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) associate cruise degree designation. Learn more by viewing this pdf.
Everything about Events
A new spring College of DuPage Travel and Tourism class that will cover the waterfront on how to produce a successful event will meet on Thursdays, beginning Jan. 17.
This course will introduce students to professional event management, including customer appreciation events, product launches, trade shows, special event planning, weddings, sponsorship opportunities and fundraising.
Students will learn how to determine return on investment for events, how to select suitable facilities and how to choose the perfect event resources, including lighting, décor, linens, florals, audio visual equipment, rentals and catering.
This class will include participation by students in the planning of a major event for the travel industry through C.O.D.
For more information, call Joanne Giampa, (630) 942-2556 or e-mail: giampa@cod.edu.
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The
Travel Institute
College of DuPage is a licensed school affiliate of The Travel Institute, one
of the premier educational organizations in the travel industry. The Travel Institute’s
programs encompass all career stages from entry level to executive. Whether you
are just starting out or reaching for that next level of success, College of
DuPage and The Travel Institute can meet your needs and help you achieve your
goals. To learn more about the Travel Institute, visit this web
site.
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New Plan and Pack Course This Fall
Adventure travel
is blossoming into a growth area in the travel industry and the
College of DuPage Travel and Tourism program is responding with
a new fall semester Plan and Pack class that will offer hands-on
tour operator experience. The college’s
fall semester begins on Wednesday, Aug. 22.
Designed for
both future and existing travel industry professionals, this course will enable
students to plan, manage and execute an actual multi-day tour.
This course
will meet for 11 weeks on Mondays from 6:30 to 9:20 p.m.
For information
on this class and the Travel and Tourism program, call Joanne Giampa at (630)
942-2556 or e-mail: giampa@cod.edu.
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Travel
Trade Features Men’s
HIStory Month
Travel
Trade, a national publication that provides news and information
about the travel industry, recently highlighted a Men’s HIStory Month celebration
that was conducted by Joanne Giampa and her College of DuPage Travel and Tourism
program. To view Travel Trade’s story and pictures on Men’s HIStory
Month, visit
this site.
A
Men’s
HIStory Month program can be viewed by clicking on this file:
(Men in Travel and Tourism, PDF file)
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Objectives,
Outlines for Travel and Tourism Courses
Visit this web site for a comprehensive look at the objectives and outlines for
all Travel and Tourism courses (More …)
Travel
and Tourism Transfer Agreements
Review the transfer agreement between the College of DuPage Travel and Tourism
area and George Williams College of Aurora University by accessing this PDF
file.
Visit
Aurora University at: www.aurora.edu
Learn
more about the C.O.D./Northwood University Transfer Agreement
by accessing this PDF
file.
Visit Northwood University at: www.northwood.edu
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Travel
1820: Outside Sales for the Home-Based and Independent Contractor
Discover new ways to market your travel company and develop business relationships
in this Special Topics course, which is designed to show the relationship among
independent contractors and the companies that hire them.
Guest lecturers will present their success stories and share their marketing
strategies. Host agency representatives will explain the options available for
today’s outside sales force. Ideas will be explored for developing a specialty
travel niche for successful selling experiences.
For more information, call Joanne Giampa, (630) 942-2556, or e-mail: giampa@cod.edu.
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Travel
Trends
Discover why it’s better than ever to launch a career in travel today.
Visit this site for the latest information on trends in travel (PDF
file.)
Meeting
and Event Planning Degree
Learn the details of the new Travel and Tourism degree in Meeting and Event Planning
(PDF
file.)
Geographic
Specialist Certificate
Every area of the Travel and Tourism industry would acknowledge that the Geographic
Specialist Certificate offers necessary and valuable skills for the travel professional
in search of advanced placement. Learn about the Geographic Specialist Certificate
Requirements by visiting this PDF
file.
For
more information on current or upcoming news and events, call Joanne
Giampa, CTE, CTIE, at (630) 942-2556.
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