ASTA is closing out the year with a string of successes.
Eben Peck, Executive Vice President Advocacy, is proud of the organization's achievements from the previous 12 months.
"It's been a tremendous year," said Peck. "We have a great leadership team and board of directors. All things are positive and we are in a growth mode."
Signs of strength continue in the travel industry as a whole. Outbound travel is growing by as much as 7 percent and the number of travel agents has grown, along with membership in ASTA.
A recent survey indicated the travel agent community increased by approximately 18 percent. ASTA added 11 new chapters and membership in its new independent contractor category also spiked.
"At the end of 2015, we created a new membership category for independent contractors," said Peck. "That has grown pretty dramatically. There were 195 in 2016. At the end of September of this year, we had 648 members."
Raising consumer awareness about the value of travel agents is a key function of ASTA and, this year, its efforts have paid off, especially with the launch of its new consumer awareness committee.
Engaging with consumers will be an ongoing focus for the organization in the coming year.
"One of ASTA's goals is to help travel agents learn to engage with the media and serve as ambassadors for themselves," said Erika Richter, ASTA's director of communications. "We will have mentoring opportunities so that travel agents can learn to engage on their own. I think that will continue to grow our efforts more than we can do by ourselves. One NBC news story is great, but 10 stories on local news stations across the country is better."
ASTA is also working to build consumer trust of travel agents through its Verified Travel Advisor (VTA) certification program launched this year at its Global Convention in San Diego. Twelve agents have already graduated from the program, with more than 450 agents currently enrolled.
Advocacy is always a top priority for the organization, and ASTA worked hard on behalf of the travel agent community this year, introducing the Travel Agent Retail Fairness Act to Congress in March, deciphering multiple travel bans and lobbying for fair tax policies in four states.
"Four fights, four wins, $52.6 million in revenue saved for agents in those states," noted Peck.
ASTA also assisted partners and travel agents in the response to recent hurricanes in the Caribbean.
"We worked with members and national media to do what we could to help get the word out that the majority of the Caribbean is untouched," said Peck. "There is still a lot of work to be done, but the immediate crisis has passed."
In the coming year, ASTA has a busy schedule, kicking off with its Premium Business Conference at the Westin Times Square on March 4, which is followed by ASTA's Destination Expo in Athens, Greece April 14-17.
ASTA's annual Legislation Day will take place on May 7 and the Global Convention will be held in Washington, D.C., August 21-23.
Throughout 2018, the organization plans to remain focused on its core programs: consumer awareness, advocacy, growing independent contractor membership and growing corporate memberships.
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