According to ATS Chairman David Parry, “Dave Spinelli of Vacation.com, as an ATS Board member and member of the Strategic Planning Committee, was very instrumental in helping to formulate the partnership, for he understands the new ATS strategic vision and goals for membership expansion, education and marketing.”

“This strategic alliance is a win-win for both parties. Vacation.com is proud to partner with ATS as it transitions itself into a new, revitalized organization. We expect great things to come of this partnership not only for our member travel agencies but for our preferred travel partners as well,” said Spinelli.

ATS President Phil Otterson, who chaired the Strategic Planning Committee, said “ATS is pleased to be aligned with such a prestigious and market-leading organization. ATS' new strategic vision seeks to secure resources, and to build new relationships as we concentrate on initiatives involving education, marketing and government relations. Our partnership with Vacation.com immediately speaks to most of these goals. The Vacation.com initiative is an excellent first step in our objective to build the future of the organization based on the successes of the past. This alliance provides us with a new momentum, and strengthens our clout in negotiating more partnerships that will support our mission: ‘Bringing the World Together’. I predict that the industry will begin hearing about additional innovative ATS partnerships in the New Year.”

Summarizing the “win-win” alliance, ATS Executive Vice President Don Reynolds, said, “This partnership will immediately give the ATS membership base exposure to the qualified and experienced Vacation.com travel agents as well as their preferred suppliers. Plus the travel agency professionals of Vacation.com will likewise benefit from the ATS relationship through the destination education and training and also participating in ATS annual conferences in those destinations, as well as through access to the recently announced ATS Tourism College Program. ”