Want to go to Africa? There are now five local travel agents who are qualified to get you there.

Patty Lent, CTC; Cristina Neal, ACC; Cynthia Ballard, OSM; Loie Lennon, MCC; CTC and Sandy Hardy, CTC, and manager, all of Carlson Wagonlit Travel in Silverdale, recently earned the Africa Destination Specialist designation from the Institute of Certified Travel Agents (ICTA).

ICTA has a dozen unique Destination Specialist designations that cover Africa, the Caribbean, China, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Hawaii, Latin America, North America, and the Pacific Rim as well as European Culture and Heritage, Corporate Travel Geography and Special Interest Travel.

The designations mean that the travel agent has completed coursework that provides them with expert knowledge of specific world areas and niche markets so they match their clients with the right travel products.