The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) is a business improvement organization which represents and defends the business and regulatory public policy interests of travel intermediaries including travel agencies

Travel agency

A travel agency is a retail business that sells travel related products and services to customers on behalf of suppliers such as airlines, car rentals, cruise lines, hotels, railways, sightseeing tours and package holidays that combine several products...

 (including traditional "brick and mortar" agencies, online portals, mega- and corporate agencies, and small and mid-market businesses) and tour providers (including wholesalers and operators). The headquarters are in Alexandria, Virginia

Alexandria, Virginia

Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...

, USA; it is a US Internal Revenue Service

Internal Revenue Service

The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...

 501(c)(6) tax-exempt not-for-profit entity.

Its members include travel agents, intermediaries, and supplier companies who offer travel products and services such as tours, cruises, hotels, destinations, tourist bureaus, ground transport, car rentals, local guides and hosts. ASTA calls itself the leading advocate for travel agents, the travel industry and the traveling public, and has over 20,000 members in 140 countries. It is governed by a 15-member US-based Board of Directors drawn from members eligible to vote.

Vision and mission

Vision Statement

ASTA seeks a retail travel marketplace that is profitable, growing and a rewarding place to work, invest and do business.

Mission Statement

ASTA’s mission is to facilitate the business of selling travel through effective representation, shared knowledge and the enhancement of professionalism.

History

The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) was founded on April 20, 1931 in New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

 as the American Steamship and Tourist Agents Association. ASTA changed its name to the American Society of Travel Agents in 1946. On January 26, 2000, ASTA acquired the assets of The National Association of Commissioned Travel Agents, Inc. (NACTA) which is now a membership subsidiary, called National Association of Career Travel Agents since 2009. NACTA represents independent travel agents, cruise-oriented agents, home-based travel agents and outside sales travel agents.

Executive committee

ASTA maintains a 5-person Executive Committee to handle most association decisions.

2011-2012 Executive Committee

• Nina Meyer, CTC, MCC, DS — President and Chairman of the Board
• Tony Gonchar — Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
• John Lovell, CTC — Vice President/Secretary
• Scott Pinheiro — Treasurer
• Lee Thomas — Executive Board Member

Membership

Most members are based in the USA. ASTA is organized under New York State Corporation Law but located in Virginia, just outside Washington DC, to assist in its government and industry affairs.

Voting members are only US-domiciled Travel Agent Members and Premium Members. According to ASTA bylaws (last revised in August 2009), ASTA has eight membership categories:

• Travel Agent Members
• Premium
• International Travel Agency Company
• International Travel Professional
• Travel School
• Allied Company (product, service and information suppliers to travel agencies)
• Allied Associate
• Honorary

See also

• National Association of Career Travel Agents (NACTA)
• Outside Sales Support Network (OSSN)
• Association of Retail Travel Agents (ARTA)
• U.S. Tour Operators Association (USTOA)
• National Tour Association (NTA)
• U.S. Travel Association (USTA), formerly Travel Industry Association
• International Air Transport Association
  International Air Transport Association
  The International Air Transport Association is an international industry trade group of airlines headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where the International Civil Aviation Organization is also headquartered. The executive offices are at the Geneva Airport in SwitzerlandIATA's mission is to...
  
   (IATA)
• International Association of Travel Agents Network
  International Association of Travel Agents Network
  International Airlines Travel Agent Network is an industry association in the USA designed to represent the interests of their member companies....
  
   (IATAN)
• Airline Reporting Corporation (ARC)

Related Sites

• ASTA.org - ASTA's Official website
• TravelSense.org ASTA's Consumer website
• Association of Special Fares Agents