The Executive Committee of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) authorized the Society`s counsel to initiate…
The Executive Committee of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) authorized the Society`s counsel to initiate a class action lawsuit against the bankruptcy estate of Renaissance Cruises, stemming from the trustees` move to recall agency commissions on cruises that did not sail.
In initiating this class action, ASTA is fighting for the very essence of what travel agents do and how they earn their livelihood, said ASTA President and CEO Richard M. Copland, CTC. The principle is that travel agents earn commissions when they deliver to a cruise line a client who is ready, willing and able to sail. The subsequent failure of a cruise line to deliver the goods doesn`t change the fact that the travel agent has performed her job and it should not affect whether she receives payment.
Renaissance Cruises ceased operations on September 25, 2001, and since has filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in the U.S. Bankruptcy court for Florida`s Southern District. ASTA sent a letter on May 20, 2002, to Renaissance`s counsel advising that the Society would take strong action if the cruise line persisted in its attempt to collect commissions paid to agents for cruises the company itself failed to provide.
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