The Political Action Committee (PAC) of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) recently achieved a milestone: total hard dollar contributions raised…
The Political Action Committee (PAC) of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) recently achieved a milestone: total hard dollar contributions raised so far this year topped $60,000, an amount ASTA members have not achieved in more than a decade. ASTAPAC`s mid-year report filed with the Federal Election Commission shows travel agents out-raising travel-industry related PACs such as the Air Transport Association, American Bus Association, Holiday Inns, Marriott International, National Business Travel Association and many airlines themselves including, AirTran, Alaska, America West, Delta and US Airways.
This has been an exciting year for ASTAPAC, said John F. Haskins, chairman of the ASTAPAC Governing Board, and vice president, Viking Travel Service, Naperville, Ill. Travel agents are continuing to build political influence and strengthening their voice in Washington, D.C. For more than 26 years, ASTAPAC has been a vital part of the travel agent community`s involvement in the political process. The PAC has augmented ASTA`s lobbying efforts by providing the necessary access to key policymakers.
Contributing to the PAC`s successful fundraising efforts this year was the adoption of a Charitable Match program. Campaign finance laws allow PACs to match contributions with corporate funds and donate those corporate funds to a charitable organization. ASTA member contributions are being matched from funds derived from ASTA`s Corporate Advisory Council (CAC) once the ASTA chapter reaches a targeted goal. The CAC travel agencies include: Uniglobe Travel (International) Inc., RADIUS, Carlson Travel Franchise Group, Protravel International, Inc., American Express, Omega World Travel, Travelocity.com, Azumano Travel, Vacation.com, Ensemble Travel, TraveLeaders Group, Cendant Retail Travel Services, The Travel Authority/TTA, Inc., IAC Travel and Virtuoso.
The ASTAPAC Governing Board created additional recognition levels last year that also stimulated contributions levels. The new categories are $5,000 SuperNOVA contributors and $250 President`s Club donors. These categories are in addition to the following levels: $99 Patriot, $100 TEAM 100 and $500 Governor`s Club. To increase member participation in the political arena and to ensure ASTA`s legislative message reaches policymakers, ASTA`s Government Affairs Department launched the Now One Voice – ASTA (NOVA) program last year. This program seeks politically minded agents willing to go the extra mile in ASTA`s advocacy role. ASTA members who contribute at the $5,000 level are recognized as SuperNOVAs.
ASTA CAC member Sabre Holdings has been particularly instrumental in reinforcing the importance of building a PAC that helps to focus attention on travel agent industry issues in Washington, said Haskins. We thank Sabre for helping ASTAPAC reach its highest level in more than 10 years.
Total ASTAPAC receipts at the end of August were $159,506.87, with cash on hand of $135,578.76. ASTAPAC was established in 1979 to represent the collective voice of the Society`s travel agent membership before the United States Congress and the White House. Celebrating its 26th year as the strongest PAC for travel agents, ASTAPAC has educated elected officials about travel agent issues and helped counterbalance opposing positions. Within the last five years alone, ASTAPAC has contributed nearly $200,000 to pro-travel agent candidates.
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