American Society of Travel Advisors (abbreviated as ASTA) is a

trade association A trade association, also known as an industry trade group, business association, sector association or industry body, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific Industry (economics), industry. An industry tra ...

which was formed to represent and defend the business and regulatory public policy interests of travel intermediaries, including

travel agencies A travel agency is a private retailer or public service that provides travel and tourism-related services to the general public on behalf of accommodation or travel suppliers to offer different kinds of travelling packages for each destinatio ...

(including traditional "brick and mortar" agencies, online portals, mega- and corporate agencies, and small and mid-market businesses) and tour providers (including

wholesale Wholesaling or distributing is the sale of goods or merchandise to retailers; to industrial, commercial, institutional or other professional business users; or to other wholesalers (wholesale businesses) and related subordinated services. In ...

rs and

operators Operator may refer to: Mathematics * A symbol indicating a mathematical operation * Logical operator or logical connective in mathematical logic * Operator (mathematics), mapping that acts on elements of a space to produce elements of another sp ...

). The headquarters of the ''American Society of Travel Advisors'' is in

Alexandria, Virginia Alexandria is an independent city (United States), independent city in the northern region of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. It lies on the western bank of the Potomac River approximately south of Downto ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

; it is a US

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501(c)(6) A 501(c) organization is a nonprofit organization in the federal law of the United States according to Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. § 501(c)) and is one of over 29 types of nonprofit organizations exempt from some federal income taxes. S ...

tax-exempt

not-for-profit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

entity. Its members include

travel agent A travel agency is a private retailer or public service that provides travel and tourism-related services to the general public on behalf of accommodation or travel suppliers to offer different kinds of travelling packages for each destinatio ...

s, intermediaries, and supplier companies who offer travel products and services such as tours, cruises, hotels, destinations, tourist bureaus, ground transport, car rentals, local guides and hosts. ASTA aims to act as an advocate for travel advisors (also known as "travel agents"), the travel industry and the traveling public.

History

The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) was founded on April 20, 1931, in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

as the American Steamship and Tourist Agents Association. ASTA changed its name to the American Society of Travel Agents in 1944. On January 26, 2000, ASTA acquired the assets of The National Association of Commissioned Travel Agents, Inc. (NACTA) which is now a membership subsidiary, called National Association of Career Travel Agents since 2009. NACTA represents independent travel agents, cruise-oriented agents, home-based travel agents and outside sales travel agents. On August 28, 2018, the organization was renamed to the American Society of Travel Advisors. ASTA supported the Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act of 2014 Act (H.R. 4450; 113th Congress), a bill that would extend the provisions of the

Travel Promotion Act of 2009 The Travel Promotion Act of 2009 (, Sec. 9) is a law creating the Corporation for Travel Promotion (d.b.a. Brand USA), a public-private partnership tasked with promoting tourism in the United States. To fund the Corporation's activities, the Act pr ...

(), which established the Corporation for Travel Promotion (also known as

Brand USA A brand is a name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that distinguishes one seller's good or service from those of other sellers. Brands are used in business, marketing, and advertising for recognition and, importantly, to create an ...

), through September 30, 2020, and impose new performance and procurement requirements on the corporation. ASTA President Zane Kerby said that the bill "is essential to marketing the United States as a desirable destination for international tourists, conferences and business."

Executive Committee, Board of Directors

ASTA maintains an Executive Committee to handle most association decisions. 2018-2019 Executive Committee * Zane Kerby, President & CEO, Alexandria VA *Dave Hershberger, President, Prestige Travel Inc./Travel Leaders, Cincinnati OH (Chairman) * Eric Maryanov, President, All-Travel, Los Angeles CA (Vice Chairman and Secretary) * Steve Powers, President, Hidden Treasure Tours, New Lebanon NY (Treasurer & Area Director, East Region) * Denise Jackson, President & CEO, Balboa Travel Inc., San Diego CA (CAC Chair) 2018-2019 Board of Directors * Rick Ardis, Ardis Travel, East Rutherford NJ (elected to second term) * Brian Chapin, Ensemble Travel Group, Chicago IL (newly elected, serving 1-year term) * Betsy Geiser, Uniglobe Travel Center, Irvine CA (elected to second term) * Toni Lanotte-Day, Toni Tours Inc., Levittown NY (completing final year of term) * Olga Ramudo, Express Travel, Miami FL (elected to second term) * Patty Thorington, Plaza Travel, Encino CA (newly elected) * Michael Dixon, Travelink/American Express, Nashville TN (CAC Vice Chair) * Helen Prochilo, Promal Vacations, Long Beach NY (NACTA/ASTA Small Business Network Member) (elected to second term) * Cheryl Bunker, Virtuoso, Fort Worth TX (Consortium Member) * Laura Rodriguez, Marina Tours and Travel Arizona LLC, Phoenix AZ (Area Director, West Region) (elected to second term) * Chris Seddelmeyer, Seddelmeyer Travel Concepts, Lima OH (Area Director, Central Region) (elected to second term)

Membership

Most members are based in the USA. ASTA is organized under

New York State New York, officially the State of New York, is a state in the Northeastern United States. It is often called New York State to distinguish it from its largest city, New York City. With a total area of , New York is the 27th-largest U.S. stat ...

Corporation Law but located in Virginia, just outside Washington DC, to assist in its government and industry affairs. Voting members are only US-domiciled Travel Agent Members and Premium Members. According t
ASTA bylaws
(last revised in August 2018), ASTA has thirteen membership categories: *Travel Agency Member (also known as Core Member) *Travel Agency Employee Member *Non-Affiliated Member *Premium Agency Member *Consortium Member *Premium Agency Employee Member *International Travel Agency Company Member *International Travel Associate Member *Allied Company Member *Allied Associate Member *Travel School Member *Honorary Member *Independent Contractor Member

References

External links

*
TravelSense.org – ASTA's Consumer website

Complaints About Travel Agents or Travel Agencies - USA.gov

Travel Agents: Their Role and Liability - American Bar Association, June 29, 2017
{{DEFAULTSORT:American Society Of Travel Advisors Non-profit organizations based in Alexandria, Virginia Organizations established in 1931 Trade associations based in the United States Traveling business organizations Travel-related organizations

History

Executive Committee, Board of Directors

Membership

See also

References

External links