In conjunction with its third annual International Destination Expo, held this year in Lyon, France, ASTA held its first Board of Directors (BOD) meeting of 2008. At its meeting, the Board unanimously voted to open its Premium Membership category to international travel agency members, allowing them to become International Premium Members. Previously, in order to become a Premium Member, travel agents were required to reside in the United States or one of its territories.
Since the launch of its Premium Membership in January 2007, there has been increased interest among ASTA international members in participating in this membership category. The cost to international members to become a Premium Member will be the same as for current Premium Members.
While in Lyon, the Board also unanimously voted to approve ASTA membership in the World Travel Agents Associations Alliance (WTAAA), a group of key travel agent associations from across the globe that aims to facilitate exchanges of information and advice on matters of mutual interest to its members. In addition to ASTA, WTAAA counts the Association of Canadian Travel Agents, the Australian Federation of Travel Agents, the European Travel Agents' and Tour Operators' Associations, the Travel Agents' Association of New Zealand, the Travel Agents Federation of India and the Association of South African Travel Agents as members.
ASTA staff provided the Board with a review of key issues facing the retail travel market and updated the group on the state of ASTA's current arbitration with the Airlines Reporting Corp. The Board also previewed the results of a collaborative study with PhoCusWright that examines changes to travel agency size, composition and trends, the results of which will enable the Board to correctly position ASTA in an ever-changing marketplace.
Additionally, the Board approved changes to ASTA's Code of Ethics to make it more relevant to today's membership and approved the 2008 election calendar.
Theodore Koumelis - Wednesday, April 16, 2008