Certified
Travel Group
Leader.
The only professional certification built specifically for Group Leaders, across every audience, every focus, every path.
The CTGL recognizes Group Leaders who have committed to mastering their craft, through education, community, and demonstrated professional growth. It's not just a credential. It's a standard the entire industry can recognize and trust.
Nonprofit Focus
The credential that
says you mean it.
Group Leaders who earn the CTGL aren't just experienced, they're certified. They've put in the work, completed the coursework, attended the training, showed up at conference, and written the essay that proves they've grown. That means something to members, banks, institutions, and partners.
The CTGL is the first and only professional certification built specifically for Group Leaders across every sector of the group travel industry. There is nothing else like it.
Use CTGL after your name professionally, at conference, in communications, on your website. Signal your standard to the whole industry.
The CTGL gives you a framework for growing, not just a piece of paper at the end, but a structured path of real education and engagement.
Bank Club Directors, Independent Leaders, and Continuing Education/Nonprofit Leaders all have a path to CTGL. One credential family, three distinct focus tracks.
Earn it once, hold it for life. No recertification fees, no expiration dates. Your CTGL is yours, a permanent record of professional achievement.
One credential. Your focus.
The CTGL framework is the same across all three tracks, the same points, the same phases, the same standard. What changes is the focus-track coursework and the final essay, which reflect the specific realities of each Group Leader's work.
For bank-affiliated Group Leaders running travel club programs inside a financial institution. Coursework reflects the unique intersection of banking culture, member service, and group travel expertise.
"How has your CTGL journey changed the way you lead your club and serve your members?"
For entrepreneurs running their own group travel businesses. Coursework reflects the full scope of the business-owner reality, operations, marketing, legal, financial, and growth strategy alongside group travel expertise.
"How has your CTGL journey changed the way you run and grow your business?"
Nonprofit
For Group Leaders at OLLI programs, museums, zoos, libraries, botanical gardens, historical societies, and other mission-driven institutions. Coursework reflects the dual mandate of mission and revenue in educational travel.
"How has your CTGL journey elevated the educational mission of your travel program?"
200 points. Three phases.
Every CTGL candidate earns points across three phases. Conference attendance is a required gate, you must attend Peer Group Conference at least once to complete certification. Everything else can be earned through training, virtual engagement, and community participation.
The final essay is your opportunity to reflect on your CTGL journey and demonstrate how your learning has translated into professional growth. Essays are submitted to HCI, reviewed within 30 days, and scored on depth of reflection, application of learning, and professional growth demonstrated. Each focus track has its own essay prompt.
The training arm
of Heritage Clubs.
The HCI Academy is the formal educational arm of Heritage Clubs International, the home of every virtual training, webinar series, leadership development program, and focus-track elective that powers the CTGL.
Every activity offered through the HCI Academy carries a published point value so candidates always know exactly what they're earning. The more you engage, the faster you certify.
The Academy is growing. New training sessions, new electives, and new virtual formats are added throughout the year, giving candidates more ways to earn points, stay current, and keep growing long after they've certified.
From application to CTGL.
Achievable in one year with active engagement. Up to three years to complete at your own pace.
Submit your application and $195 enrollment fee to HCI. You'll receive your CTGL scorecard and point tracker to begin logging your journey.
Attend training, show up at conference, join virtual meetings, take your electives. Every HCI activity has a published point value, you always know where you stand.
When you've reached 175+ points and feel ready, submit your focus-track essay. HCI reviews and scores within 30 days.
Receive your certificate, your press release, public recognition at Peer Group, and the right to use CTGL professionally, for life.
Ready to earn your CTGL?
A one-time $195 enrollment fee covers your full certification, no annual fees, no renewal costs. HCI membership is required to enroll.
Complete your application, pay the $195 enrollment fee, and receive your personal CTGL scorecard. Your 1–3 year certification window begins when HCI receives your application.
- Personal CTGL scorecard & point tracker
- Notification of all HCI Academy events & point values
- Access to all three focus tracks
- Lifetime certification upon completion
- Public recognition at Peer Group Conference
Send your completed application and payment to HCI. Our team will confirm enrollment, issue your scorecard, and personally welcome you into the program.
Smithfield, RI 02917
Become a Certified Travel Group Leader.
200 points. Three phases. One lifetime credential. The CTGL is the professional standard the group travel industry has been waiting for, and you can earn it.