ASTA

Travel Pros Make a Come Back as the Number of Web-Booking Leisure Travelers Drops

Forrester Research Study Indicates Travelers Using Web to Plan Vacations Has Dro

(Dive Travel Business News - April 25, 2011) -- Despite predictions that the demise of the travel profession is all but arrived, travel professionals are experiencing an unprecedented come-back. With natural disasters causing flight cancellations, revolutions putting tourist destinations off limits, and airline and rental car agencies confounding travelers with increasingly complex fees, vacations are becoming increasingly difficult to plan and execute. On top of this, the Internet generates so much information that it has managed to confuse consumers trying to plan their own vacations.

A recent article in The Washington Post touts consumers are increasingly turning to travel professionals to handle their travel needs. Travelers are on information overload when it comes to planning their own trips. A study by Forrester Research found that the number of leisure travelers who enjoyed using the Web to plan and book their vacations dropped from 53 percent in 2007 to 47 percent in 2010. read more »

States to pursue licensing standard for travel insurance sales

(Dive Travel Business News - October 31, 2010) -- U.S. state regulation of the sale of travel insurance could be moving in a new direction following an agreement among state insurance commissioners to work toward uniform guidelines for travel agents.

According to the U.S. Travel Insurance Association, whose members include some of the top brands of travel insurance providers, state governments now have a roadmap for developing a standard regime that would replace the existing patchwork of state laws and permit travel agents to distribute information about travel insurance and process applications, without a license.

The group said the National Association of Insurance Commissions recently agreed on a uniform licensing standard that would enable travel agents to engage in these activities as long as the insurance provider is licensed in that state. read more »

Accessibility Tips for Disabled Travelers

(Dive Travel Business News - Sept 12, 2010) -- Accessible travel -- travel by people with disabilities -- is an adventure enjoyed on a global scale. Yet too often this adventure is sidelined or delayed by inadequate facilities, higher prices and general hassles. Thankfully, the travel community is generating more and more solutions to these needs, creating a growing network of travel options for disabled people worldwide and broadening the access of accessible travel. The American Society of Travel Agents, ASTA, offers a series of tips to make the next trip memorable for all the right reasons. read more »

Travel Agents Still Find Deals

(November 23, 2008 - Jackson Citizen Patriot) -- When Cherie Moore, 62, of Jackson was planning a trip this past summer, she chose to go through a local travel agent.

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Linda Gonding, travel agent and owner of A Dream Realized in Jackson, helped Moore plan her Alaskan cruise and made many suggestions, which turned the trip into an even better experience than Moore had anticipated. For example, Gonding encouraged Moore and her husband to spend time exploring "pre- and post-cruise" in British Columbia. read more »

ASTA Offers Tips for Stress-Free Holiday Trips

(November 13, 2008 - ASTA) --In two weeks, the holiday travel season will officially kick off for Americans and with the traditional meals come the now traditional dire predictions of overbooked flights, long delays at check-in and lost luggage. So what's a hopeful holiday traveler to do? Check outTravelSense.org, a consumer Web site chock full of helpful travel advice and tips to make sure your holiday spirit stays bright.

"The holiday season is always the year's busiest time for travel, but it doesn't have to be frustrating," said ASTA President and CEO Chris Russo. "One sure way to make holiday trips smoother is by having a travel agent take care of all your travel details. Travel agents' always have inside information and can make holiday travel a lot less stressful."

Tips for air travel include: read more »

ASTA offers Tips for Summer Travel

(May 9, 2008 - ASTA) -- Memorial Day will kick off the summer travel season for Americans and with the usual trips to the beach and lazy days spent by the pool come dire warnings of high gas prices and economic recession, not to mention overbooked flights and long delays at check-in and lost luggage. So what’s a traveler to do? Check out www.TravelSense.org, a consumer website with travel advice and tips.

“The summer season is typically one of the busiest times for travel, but it doesn’t have to be frustrating,” said ASTA President and CEO Cheryl Hudak, CTC. “One sure way to make summer travel trips smoother is by having a travel agent take care of all your travel details. Travel agents’ always have inside information and can make travel a lot less stressful.” read more »

Be Cautious with Supplier Payments During This Economic Downturn

(Dive Travel Business News - October 14, 2008) -- With today's economic challenges and particularly the reduced availability of credit, some suppliers, including tour companies, may be unable to meet short-term financial obligations, including making deposits and final payments to hotels and other travel suppliers. These difficulties may be only temporary if the supplier is otherwise healthy, but extra care is required to protect agency clients in these economic conditions. read more »