The National Tour Association and the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) have agreed to work together with the help…
The National Tour Association and the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) have agreed to work together with the help of the Argus Group, a Washington, D.C.-area think tank specializing in tax and labor issues, to lobby the U.S. Department of Labor regarding regulations governing exempt and non-exempt tour director employees.
The issue of exempt/non-exempt employees has plagued tour operators since the early 1990`s. Due to the fact that tour directors are most often seasonal employees working non-traditional hours, the question remains whether their status should be regarded as exempt or non-exempt.
Working in conjunction with USTOA, NTA hopes to bring much-needed clarity to this long-standing and challenging issue, said NTA President Hank Phillips, CTP. While the two associations and the Argus Group are fully committed to a successful outcome, that outcome will be dependent on the active involvement of tour companies from throughout the United States.
By retaining the Argus Group, NTA and USTOA will respond to proposed Department of Labor changes to 29 CFR Part 541 that would make it easier for employees to be classified as exempt. NTA and USTOA are also asking the Department of Labor to develop specific regulations regarding tour directors, clearly defining their status.
I feel very strongly about the exempt/non-exempt employee issue. It is unrealistic to create minimum hours for tour directors, because it is the tour director`s job to maintain the safety, welfare and entertainment of travelers, and I can`t think of anything more managerial than that, said Martin Elson, chair of NTA`s government relations committee and president of Parker Tours. It is clear they are managers and should be exempt employees.
NTA and USTOA will jointly be submitting comments on this topic and will encourage their members to do so. Comments will be submitted to the Department of Labor by the June 30 deadline.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
