New Jersey ASTA

05/08/2024

05/08/2024

“For decades IATAN and ASTA have worked collaboratively in support of airline and travel agency industries,” said Mark Meader, ASTA’s SVP of Industry Affairs and Education. “The VTA certification continues to gain recognition, momentum, and importance. IATAN’s validation of the credential is a vote of confidence and trust and will ensure the program’s continued success.”

Read our full press release here ➡ https://bit.ly/3WTZLKJ

04/08/2024

LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER! 🇺🇸 Are you looking to make a difference and affect policy outcomes to benefit travel advisors? This is your opportunity.

ASTA's Legislative Day—an exclusive member event—will take you to Capitol Hill this Fall to meet with your Members of Congress and their staff to educate them on the importance of supporting travel advisors and the travel industry.

Join us September 16-18 in Washington, D.C. as we come together with a strong voice to advocate on behalf of our industry during meetings with congressional offices.

To prepare for these meetings, Legislative Day will include:

✅ Pre-scheduled meetings with your Members of Congress and their staff

✅ Exclusive training on advocacy and holding successful legislative meetings

✅ A seasoned Team Captain assigned to your state delegation, giving you peace of mind

✅ Useful tips on how to follow-up with your elected officials

Don't wait to register! We need representation from every U.S. state, and some states are at capacity with a waitlist. Now is the time to secure your spot in your state's delegation.

Register now: bit.ly/legislativeday2024

04/08/2024

Thank you, Travel Weekly, for publishing this informative article on NDC and how travel advisors can prepare for a future with the evolving platform ➡
Read more: https://bit.ly/3SAdqUK

"As just about everyone in the retail travel industry knows, NDC is a standard data exchange format launched by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The program aims to make it easier for airlines to enhance the user experience, create more relevant offers and avoid the heftier costs of legacy distribution models like EDIFACT.

NDC benefits consumers and travel agencies, according to IATA, by helping advisors to access a wider array of content from the airlines and allowing them to make ancillary sales, all while giving customers a more transparent experience.

The topic has made even more headlines in the travel industry this year, as a major airline carrier pulled back from earlier attempts to pressure travel agencies to use NDC by removing nearly half of its fares from traditional GDS channels. The trade strongly opposed the initial move, but the carrier’s current strategy is viewed as a more palatable approach."

29/07/2024

The move is supposed to free up traffic demand in the Northeast Corridor amid a shortage of air traffic controllers.

26/07/2024

The airline has ceased its laser focus on direct and NDC distribution, but the damage has been done.

19/07/2024

The digital edition of our 2024 Travel Advisor Magazine is now available! This exclusive ASTA member benefit is packed with resources to support your business—from the latest travel industry updates and trends to exciting new destinations to share with your clients, and so much more.

Read the magazine now: bit.ly/4cU24m4

ASTA members as of May 1 also received a print copy of the magazine in the mail. If you did not receive a copy and would like to be added to our list for future mailings, please contact the ASTA Membership team at 800-ASK-ASTA or [email protected].

19/07/2024

Learn how Kaylee Stith leveraged her organizational skills from teaching to pursue a career as a luxury travel advisor, and read her tips for prospective advisors wanting to get started in the industry.

Featured in Business Insider ➡ https://bit.ly/3XYb8C2

19/07/2024

🖥 WATCH ON-DEMAND NOW! Access this webinar recording in the ASTA Video Library: bit.ly/3WEB452

Tickets for Clients provides an easy to navigate website to access the best seats at exclusive pricing to events in the U.S. and Canada. Determine your own commission rate or service fees, giving your business an added revenue stream at no cost with no risk. A 100% money back guarantee and enhanced ticket protection are available for further confidence. Top notch support and service, as well as online reporting, make Tickets for Clients the complete customizable package.

Please note this is a member-only resource, so you must be logged in to access the content.

19/07/2024

📣 CALLING ALL SPEAKERS! Submit a proposal to speak and be part of the educational program at the 2025 ASTA Travel Advisor Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, May 20-22.

The ASTA Travel Advisor Conference is the meeting place for all facets of the travel industry, providing attendees with practical insights and strategies to take their business to the next level.

We are looking for speakers who can present on topics such as:

📈 Business growth and increasing profitability
🖥️ Leveraging technology & AI
📱 Engaging clients through social media
📤 Workflow optimization
🔎 Succession planning

Speakers who provide the most compelling topics will be selected to present and receive complimentary registration to the conference. The deadline to submit a proposal is August 9.

Learn more and submit your proposal here: bit.ly/3xro0WL

19/07/2024

From a naturalist-guided bushwhacking wildlife-viewing cruise into Alaska’s back-country, to a super-luxurious safari that combines close encounters with gorillas in Rwanda with accommodations in a royal villa, travel advisors often arrange things most people might not even dream possible.

Here are five life-expanding journeys that travel advisors’ clients described as “beyond our wildest dreams” and “filled with experiences I didn’t even know to ask about." All illustrate the kind of unique arrangements and well-coordinated itineraries that travel advisors are able to arrange and the thinking and expertise behind them.

Read more ➡ https://bit.ly/3ScurUC

19/07/2024

Our Proud Partners support your business and make it possible for ASTA to promote and defend the travel advisor community. Thank you to AmaWaterways, an Emerald level Proud Partner, and Kristin Karst, Executive Vice President and Co-Owner of AmaWaterways, for joining us at the 2024 Travel Advisor Conference in Dallas.

We bring you the biggest names in travel and business to speak at ASTA events. Don’t miss your chance to gain the knowledge and skills you need to take your business to the next level.

To learn more and register for upcoming ASTA events, including the 2025 ASTA Travel Advisor Conference in Salt Lake City, click here: bit.ly/3xrhgYT

09/07/2024

EDUCATION & TRAINING RESOURCES! As the next step to follow our Roadmap to Becoming a Travel Advisor course, check out additional education modules we designed specifically for professionals newer to the industry. These resources are also an excellent refresher for experienced travel advisors.

The modules include:

✅ Corporate Travel Advisor: Booking Business Travel
Gain essential knowledge and in-depth insights towards a thriving career in corporate travel.

✅ Independent Contractor: Working with a Host Agency
Uncover the strategies and insights you need to flourish under the wings of a host agency, while forging your own path to success.

✅ On the Payroll: Working Directly for a Travel Agency
Learn the ropes and gain valuable insights into becoming an integral part of a travel agency team, related industries, and daily workload and responsibilities.

✅ Independent Travel Agency: Building Your Business
Unlock the steps and strategies needed to build your agency and find unique independent opportunities.

Learn more: www.asta.org/pathways

Please note that a prerequisite to access these modules is the completion of the Roadmap to Becoming a Travel Advisor course. Access the course here: https://learn.asta.org/

09/07/2024

Compared to many foreign currencies, the value of the U.S. dollar is currently strong, which means you'll be able to stretch your dollar when it comes to accommodations, shopping excursions, dining and activities.

If you haven't decided where to travel next, read this article ASTA was featured in by The Points Guy ➡️ https://bit.ly/3zvlqQ1

09/07/2024

REGISTER TODAY! 🇺🇸 Are you looking to make a difference and affect policy outcomes to benefit travel advisors? This is your opportunity.

ASTA's Legislative Day—an exclusive member event—will take you to Capitol Hill this Fall to meet with your Members of Congress and their staff to educate them on the importance of supporting travel advisors and the travel industry.

Join us September 16-18 in Washington, D.C. as we come together with a strong voice to advocate on behalf of our industry during meetings with congressional offices.

To prepare for these meetings, Legislative Day will include:

✔️ Pre-scheduled meetings with your Members of Congress and their staff
✔️ Exclusive training on advocacy and holding successful legislative meetings
✔️ A seasoned Team Captain assigned to your state delegation, giving you peace of mind
✔️ Useful tips on how to follow-up with your elected officials

Don't wait to register! We need representation from every U.S. state, and some states are at capacity with a waitlist. Now is the time to secure your spot in your state's delegation.

Learn more and register now: bit.ly/legislativeday2024

04/07/2024

The European Commission said Lufthansa and ITA Airways made concessions that alleviated its competition concerns.

03/07/2024

Featured in this year's publication of the ASTA Travel Advisor Magazine- check out this awesome article on the magic of Kaanapali Beach Resort in Maui!

Read more and discover all that this paradise has to offer: https://bit.ly/3xF9xGJ

03/07/2024

01/07/2024

🇵🇦 Join Tourism Cares on Thursday, July 11, at 12pm ET, for an exciting webinar focused on Panama's sustainable tourism offerings.

Gain first-hand insights from some of the newest impact partners featured on Tourism Cares' Meaningful Travel Map of Panama. This webinar is your chance to hear from Panamanian change-makers and destination experts on how to create a more enriching and responsible travel experience across the country.

Don't miss this chance to explore sustainable travel opportunities in Panama and discover the unique initiatives positively impacting its people and ecosystems. Register now to be part of this important conversation ⏩ https://share.hsforms.com/11o1rrpyiQgi070R3Wyo91Qq7wlh