ASTA and ACTA: Different Groups, Same Goals

ASTA and ACTA each have their own set of challenges, issues and tactics to achieve results but exactly how do these two travel agent groups work together?

Strategically and operationally there may be differences between ASTA and ACTA but the leaders of both groups believe a strong collaboration between the two organizations will achieve better results for their respective members.   

ASTA president and CEO Zane Kerby and ACTA president and COO David McCaig spoke with Travel Market Report about the two groups and their continuing commitment to agents in these critical times for the agent community—both in the U.S. and in Canada.

Advocacy, education, promotion
Kerby and McCaig said advocacy, education and promoting the value of travel agents are areas in which the two organizations work in unison.

“Our number one [priority] is advocacy, in terms of fighting for the travel agent – it doesn’t matter whether it’s to do with professionalism or the supplier or the government, we certainly focus very strongly on that,” said McCaig.

At ASTA, Kerby said, “Our primary focus is defend, promote and educate the travel agency community.”

Working together
Beyond the general goals of each organization, Kerby and McCaig have consulted and worked together on a variety of issues.

“We got very involved with ASTA in the Department of Transportation (DOT) changes and regulations regarding NDC (New Distribution Capability) and IATA, “ said McCaig.   

He said the two groups are always comparing notes on ADMs (Agent Debit Memos), consumer protection laws,  and travel health insurance as well as taxes that U.S. states add on to various travel transactions.   

“IATA’s NDC is a primary example,” Kerby said of the relationship.  “We also collaborate on issues that involve supplier relationships.  David and I talk fairly regularly and he has keen insight which has been very helpful.”  

The two organizations have also worked closely together on the contentious NCFs issue and looked at ways on how best to approach the cruise lines.   

Unique challenges
Not surprisingly, dealing with the government and travel industry legislation works quite differently and presents unique challenges for each organization.

“There are very clear differences between the Privacy Commissioner’s laws here versus the U.S. and we use each other as good sounding boards because often there’s something that’s tried in the U.S. that’s different than here and the results are going to be different,” explained McCaig.  

“We use each other as ‘learning schools.’”

Lobbying the government for change also works differently for ASTA and ACTA.  You won’t be seeing ACTA duplicating any Agent Legislative Days like ASTA’s event, held last month in Washington, D.C. with U.S. Congressional members.

“Their (ASTA) lobbying is very Washington-centric whereas we’re dealing with more of the provinces in terms of regulatory things,” said McCaig.

He pointed out that most things are decided in Washington, D.C. which is why ASTA must lobby there but in Canada’s case, consumer protection laws and other issues are done on the provincial not federal government level.

Supplier relationships
ASTA and ACTA also differ on how they work with suppliers, according to Kerby.

“ASTA has a different relationship with our supplier community than ACTA,” Kerby said. “ACTA is able to offer specific supplier programs that are normally a benefit of consortia programs here in the U.S. and are not allowed to be offered by non-profit entities here.  

“ACTA made a great move last year by incorporating the Canadian agency credentialing body into its operations (CITC- Canadian Institute of Travel Counsellors),” said Kerby.     

ACTA doesn’t organize big conferences like ASTA but both groups invite each other to their respective events and functions.  Kerby said they have talked casually about future collaborations and increasing event participation with ACTA.