ASTA Issues Statement on Marriott Marketing Campaign
In a statement, ASTA president and CEO Zane Kerby criticized Marriott’s new marketing campaign, calling it “not only disparaging to travel agents, but also misleading to the traveling public.” Kerby calls the decision to air the campaign, which guarantees travelers that they can find the lowest rates only on the Marriott website, “intentionally disparaging the same professional travel agents that Marriott selects to help market its services.“
According to Kerby, agents will still have access to inventory at the prices that appear on the Marriott website. He also said that ASTA will continue to resist forums that limit consumer choices. “The consumer is best served by full access to comparative information and professional help. The professional travel agent is the best search engine the consumer can find,” he said.