Latest news with #ASTA
Travel Weekly
3 days ago
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Advocacy efforts by ASTA, ACTA take the stage at AMG's confab
ORLANDO -- "How many of you have had trouble collecting hotel commissions?" ASTA president and CEO Zane Kerby asked a room full of advisors at American Marketing Group's Travel Market 2025 here -- and throughout the room, advisors vocalized their agreement. "It's a big problem," Kerby said, "and it's something ASTA has taken very, very seriously." ASTA two years ago published a list of suppliers who pay commissions within 30 days of an advisor remitting payment. While he didn't provide further details, Kerby said ASTA is gearing up to take on the suppliers who aren't on that list. "We're going to really start calling out those people who do not pay commissions on time, because that's a problem for the industry," he said to applause. "It's a problem for you; it's a problem for us." Kerby was part of an on-stage discussion about advocacy alongside Wendy Paradis, president of the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA). Kerby highlighted some of ASTA's other advocacy efforts of late, including its battle to repeal the rule requiring the merchant of record, in some cases agents, to refund airline passengers even if they don't possess the funds; a recently won tax battle in Nebraska; and a fight against a new 11% tax on bookings for cruises in Hawaiian waters. For Canadian agencies, a focus on tariffs In Canada, the No. 1 issue for travel agencies is the potential impact of tariffs implemented by the U.S., Paradis said. Right now, agencies are mostly in wait-and-see mode, but the implications of tariffs could be great. ACTA has done forecasting regarding tariffs and what would happen if they stayed in place, as is, for any length of time. For people to travel, they need to have jobs and disposable income, and if the tariffs sap jobs and income of Canadian advisors' clients, advisor business would be affected. "Should they stay in place, the impact on Ontario and Quebec, which are the largest travel industry provinces in Canada, is much worse than the pandemic," she said. But the effects would take "months and months to unfold," Paradis said. In the meantime, ACTA continues to advocate on behalf of Canada and the travel industry. Travel advisors working with an older clientele will likely fare better, she said: Baby Boomers are the largest group of travelers in Canada right now, and for the most part they are empty-nesters with paid-off mortgages. Millennials and Gen X travelers, by contrast, are likely less resilient.
Travel Weekly
4 days ago
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Nebraska decides not to charge sales tax that would have hurt advisors
There will be no new sales taxes on travel packages in Nebraska, including travel advisors' professional fees. Senators in the state had initially sought to remove the state's sales tax exemption on "nonessential" goods and services to offset a decrease in property taxes, according to ASTA. That would have resulted in a sales tax of up to 7.5% on travel sold in the state. • Related: ASTA celebrates a legislative win in Louisiana As an example, the Society said, a $3,500 cruise vacation would be subject to a $262 tax. ASTA activated a grassroots campaign with advisors in the state who called and emailed their legislators, expressing the concern that travelers would simply seek an out-of-state advisor to book their travel instead of paying the tax. ASTA attributed its victory in Nebraska to those efforts alongside its lobbying work. Jessica Klement, ASTA's vice president of advocacy, said the tax would have had "serious financial consequences for both Nebraska travelers and travel advisors. "Nebraska legislators narrowly averted driving all travel booking from their state and harming small Nebraska businesses with this unfair and misguided proposal," Klement added. "I applaud the efforts of the travel advisors in Nebraska to successfully fight against this sales tax, protecting both consumers and their small businesses."
Travel Weekly
02-06-2025
- Business
- Travel Weekly
ASTA's Zane Kerby addresses key issues for travel advisors
ASTA CEO Zane Kerby sat down with tours and river cruise editor Brinley Hineman at the Society's Salt Lake City conference last month, where they discussed AI and the impact it will have on travel advisors, the organization's key priorities for advocacy efforts and how members' businesses are faring amid an uncertain economy. Zane Kerby Q: What are some key advocacy efforts underway? A: We have really important touchpoints with the Department of Transportation and with Congress to try to get our members from under this onerous provision [about merchant of record refunds] that was written into the FAA [reauthorization bill]. It doesn't affect a whole lot of our members, but for the ones that it affects, it is extraordinarily dangerous, so we want that fixed immediately. We also have written to DOT secretary [Sean] Duffy, who reached out to groups like ASTA to ask them which regulations were no longer in the public's interest. Q: How is AI impacting things for members? A: I talked to the ASTA board about this the other day, and I feel like I'm the most concerned about it of any of the 15 advisors that sit on our board. They're still looking at it as a really good research assistant. The reason that our profession is sturdy is because of the trust that exists between consumers and travel advisors. I'm not sure that AI is going to supplant that trust with a bunch of haphazard recommendations. It doesn't feel to me like it's replacing the trust at all that exists between consumers and travel advisors. Q: There's a lot going on, with economic uncertainty and with the U.S. projected to lose $12.5 billion in inbound travel. What's on your mind? A: I'm really thankful that my job is not inbound tourism to the United States. The vast majority of our members are executing and planning trips that are outbound from the United States, and that business is very, very good. We certainly understand that public policy decisions that affect Americans' willingness to travel abroad is important to keep our eye on. As we have talked to our members, both here and in surveys beforehand and anecdotally over the last several months, so far -- touch wood -- business is going very, very well for members. Obviously, it's something we want to keep an eye on, and we try to be proactive. But it's certainly not helpful to opine on every public policy decision that's made. When public policy decisions that are made affect our members' businesses, we will react and act appropriately at the time. Q: So it's not affecting advisors planning outbound travel? A: That's largely the case. Now, there are pockets: We're in the D.C. area, and so when I talk to advisors in the D.C. area, on the luxury side, everything is going gangbusters. But for those who are affected -- there's a large federal workforce in the D.C. area, and so some of that uncertainty [that comes] with layoffs and proposed layoffs has affected some travel in that sort of midtier range. Q: What about members planning domestic travel? A: Members are getting a lot of questions around the national parks this year, for obvious reasons. I think that it is having some effect, but it's not [having a big impact]. Even the domestic business is good -- pockets of stress, but nothing I'm worried about.
Travel Weekly
30-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Weekly
ASTA launches branded Swag Shop
Travel advisors who want to represent the industry wherever they go need look no further than the ASTA Swag Shop, a newly launched shop featuring apparel and other items. The online shop features a variety of apparel, like shirts and pullovers, as well as hats, bags and water bottles. Many items feature ASTA's logo as well as the message "Travel you can trust." Those words echo the message on the Society's consumer-facing website linking travelers with advisors, VeriVacation: "Travel advisors you can trust." "You don't need a cape to be a hero in the travel industry -- your ASTA swag is all you need to amplify your message and showcase your travel advisor superpowers," ASTA said in its Travel Advisor Daily newsletter. "Whether you're meeting clients, attending events or just repping your ASTA pride day to day, the ASTA Swag Shop has the perfect gear to help you stand out with confidence and professionalism."
Travel Weekly
29-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Weekly
ASTA and Travefy partner on new award for advisors
ASTA and Travefy have partnered to create the ASTA Emerging Leaders Award Program, Presented by Travefy. ASTA members under 45 who have been working in the industry for two or more years are eligible for the new award. It was designed to recognize the industry's future, the Society said in a release. "At Travefy, we've always been committed to empowering travel professionals," said Travefy founder and CEO David Chait. "Whether it's through our itinerary management tools or helping agency scale, our mission is to make the business of travel better, smarter and stronger than when Travefy launched 13 years ago. That's why we wanted to partner with ASTA to help further elevate the travel advisor profession through a new signature award." More new award categories are coming, ASTA said. The Society will host an awards gala on Jan. 22 at Chicago's Palmer House Hotel, where suppliers and advisors will be recognized.
