PHOTO: ASTA President and CEO Zane Kerby opened the global convention by noting that ASTA’s best days could be ahead instead of behind. (Photo by James Shillinglaw)

The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) is staging the ASTA Global Convention at the Omni Shoreham in Washington, D.C., this week with more than 900 travel agents and travel suppliers in attendance. That’s the most ASTA has had in several years, indicating that the ASTA event may indeed be back on the right track after several years of much lower attendance.

This year’s convention also marked the “official” return of the U.S. airline industry, with the heads of sales for American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines appearing during an ASTA Premium members breakfast and later at the opening general session in individual interviews by ASTA Chairman Roger Block. The airlines have been conspicuously absent from the ASTA annual event ever since the commission cuts and caps in the 1990s.

Zane Kerby, ASTA’s president and CEO, kicked off the opening general session Monday, Aug. 31, by welcoming delegates to Washington, ASTA’s headquarters, where he said “political fortunes are won and lost, and where the real business of politics gets done in a back room or restaurant.”

Kerby noted that the opening general session was held in the hotel where Franklin Delano Roosevelt held his first inaugural ball and where women swooned over a new British rock band sensation called the Beatles, and where Jimi Hendrix, Janice Joplin and Ella Fitzgerald all made history as well.

“Why have we gathered in Washington?” Kerby asked delegates at the opening session. “It is because what happens here does not stay here. Decisions made here affect the country and the world.  That’s why it is so important that we nurture relationships with lawmakers and regulators to help them understand what you do, how you do it, and why our government needs to help, not impede you from doing your job.”

Kerby noted that most travel agents didn’t get into the profession to get rich.

“You provide an invaluable concierge service in the finest sense of that word to the traveling public,” he said. “You measure your life in terms of wishes granted, people helped, perspectives broadened and prejudices overcome. Not a bad way to spend your time. No wonder travel agents hardly ever leave the business. It is also no wonder that we feel honored to work for you and protective of you when the mainstream media, legislators and some suppliers don’t properly appreciate your work. ... One of the primary reasons to form an association is to tell your story so that you are not defined by other special interest groups. ASTA is your voice.”

Kerby then put up a slide of four key congressmen who sit on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, what he called the single most important committee for travel agents on Capitol Hill because it oversees everything having to do with the business, including ticketing, airline ancillary revenue, code-share disclosures, cruise ticketing and passenger rail.

“All four are under 40, they are millennials, and have spent most of their lives on cellphones, not land lines,” Kerby said. “They were in high school when the Internet reportedly killed off travel agents. They don’t know who you are. Who is going to introduce you? Who is going to tell them that travel agents live in their district? ASTA, that’s who. If you think anyone else is performing this work, I have some great beachfront property here in Washington to sell you. We have meetings planned with all four of these members in September, a critical time as the House will be writing the FAA reauthorization bill setting policy for the next four years.”

Kerby also recalled what he called “the halcyon days of ASTA’s past” but said he felt the association’s best days could be ahead instead of behind. He said that just prior to the ASTA convention last year, several consortia leaders stood up to say they had ASTA’s back, including John Werner at MAST and Alex Sharpe at Signature Travel Network. In addition, immediately after last year’s convention, ASTA chairman Roger Block, president of Travel Leaders Franchise Group, mandated ASTA membership for his group’s franchisees.

In March, Kerby noted, Virtuoso CEO Matthew Upchurch decided to reimburse ASTA membership dues, making it free for 85 percent of Virtuoso members to join ASTA.  He also said ASTA was close to an agreement with another consortium as well. “Because of these leaders, ASTA is growing and getting stronger and better able to perform the work that is required,” Kerby said.

Kerby also pointed out ASTA’s contribution to such issues as the opening of Cuba travel. He noted that he had flown with Eben Peck, who runs ASTA’s government and industry affairs, to Havana for the ceremonial opening of the U.S. Embassy. “It was worth it to get a little face time with Secretary of State John Kerry and other senators and congressmen to push for the opening Cuba to all Americans who want to travel there,” he said.

“As Americans, we don’t have exit controls at our borders, save one,” Kerby said. “We are free to travel anywhere in the world, except an island 90 miles off our coast. We have plenty of disagreements with governments around the world. We are free to travel to any of those places. An open Cuba is good for agents and the traveling public.”

Kerby also showcased ASTA’s upcoming events, including a new one called the ASTA Maui Showcase, May 11-15, at the Westin Maui, backed by the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau, which is providing an air subsidy for agents who want to attend. In addition, ASTA’s Destination Expo, previously announced, returns to Europe in 2016 with a conference in Seville, Spain on June 2-5, including discounted air supplied by Iberia Airlines for attendees. Kerby also unveiled the location of next year’s ASTA Global Convention, which will take place in Reno/Lake Tahoe, Nev., Sept. 25-28. 

Finally, Kerby welcomed ASTA’s new board. Roger Block will continue for another term as chairman, Jay Ellenby was elected vice chair and secretary, and Jorge Sanchez is the new treasurer. 

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