The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) has joined forces with leading travel industry partners to issue a resounding joint industry statement on the heels of Norwegian Cruise Line’s decision to permanently eliminate non-commissionable fares (NCFs).
The organization and its partners are also taking the opportunity to call on the broader travel industry to examine their own fare structures to maximize fairness and transparency moving forward.
"The practice of NCFs has long been a barrier to fair and transparent compensation for travel advisors," the statement reads. "Removing NCFs entirely reflects a trend toward more equitable and transparent commission models industry-wide, honoring the full scope of the work advisors do in service of shared clientele."
"As leaders representing travel advisors, agencies, networks and supplier partners, we encourage all cruise lines and travel suppliers to examine their compensation structures with an eye toward transparency, fairness and mutual success," the statement continues. "The elimination of NCFs should be seen as an opportunity for the industry to build more equitable commercial relationships that reflect the indispensable value travel advisors bring to global travel distribution."
"This collective progress benefits not only travel advisors and their businesses, but the travelers they serve," the statement says. "When advisors are fully and fairly compensated, they can invest more in delivering exceptional service, personalized planning and valuable expertise. This enhances client satisfaction and drives long-term growth for the entire travel ecosystem."
ASTA will host a virtual town hall featuring insights from and Q&A opportunities with John Chernesky, Senior Vice President, North American Sales for Norwegian Cruise Line, on Friday, January 16 at 1 p.m. ET.
Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Jewel. (photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line)
"Non-commissionable fares have been one of the most persistent and opaque challenges facing travel advisors,” ASTA President and CEO Zane Kerby said in a statement. "Norwegian Cruise Line’s decision reflects a growing recognition of the value advisors bring to the distribution ecosystem and the need for compensation models that are straightforward and equitable."
"This is the kind of leadership that moves the industry forward, and ASTA is proud to help unify voices calling for meaningful change," said Kerby.
"This joint statement matters because it gives our members something they rarely see at this scale: unity," added Michael Schottey, Vice President of Membership, Marketing and Communications at ASTA. "When advisors, agencies and industry leaders speak together, it sends a clear message that fair compensation and transparency are not niche concerns; they are foundational to a healthy travel marketplace."
In addition to the ASTA Executive and Consortium Council, the joint statement was signed by Presidents, CEOs and executives from a plethora of leading brands, including Avoya Travel, Cruise Planners and Nexion Travel Group, among others.
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