ASTA’s New CEO Takes Office This Week

GBTA Exec Zane Kerby Tapped to Lead ASTA
Zane Kerby, ASTA’s new president and CEO, starts his new job this week. Kerby comes to his new job from the Global Business Travel Association where he held various executive posts since 1999. In his most recent position, as senior vice president of events, scholarships and advertising, his duties included orchestrating the annual GBTA convention.  At ASTA, Kerby’s responsibilities will include reporting directly to the board of directors on all internal and external ASTA business, as well as being ASTA’s primary spokesperson.  

“We believe he is the right person at this critical time in the Society’s history when we are re-imagining ASTA’s annual meeting and fighting to preserve the integrity of travel selling for travel agents,” said Nina Meyer, ASTA’s chair and interim CEO since the resignation of Tony Gonchar in July 2012. “He is familiar with our issues and understands our strengths and our challenges.”

Selling Cruises: The Real Competition
“The competition for cruises is not focused on North America versus Caribbean, in my mind. It’s focused on cruise versus alternative vacation product.” – Brad Tolkin, co-president & CEO, World Travel Holdings

Finally, Some Good News About the Airlines
In 2012, the nation’s largest airlines reported their lowest rate of mishandled baggage in 18 years. They also made improvements in on-time performance, tarmac delays and canceled flights, according to the latest Air Travel Commission Report from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The reporting carriers posted a rate of 3.09 reports of mishandled baggage per 1,000 passengers, an improvement on 2011’s rate of 3.35 and their lowest annual rate of mishandled baggage since this data was first reported in 1987.

The 15 largest U.S. airlines also posted an 82% on-time arrival rate during 2012, the third highest annual performance in the 18 years the DOT has collected comparable data. The 1.29% cancellation rate for the year also was the second lowest rate for the past 18 years.

DOT Rule Has Positive Effect on Tarmac Delays
In 2012, tarmac delays longer than three hours dropped to 42 on U.S. domestic flights, down from 50 delays in 2011.

In April 2010, a new DOT rule went into effect limiting to three hours the amount of time aircraft with passengers on domestic flights could sit on the tarmac. (Exceptions to the time limits are allowed only for safety, security or air traffic control-related reasons.)
 
Between May 2009 and April 2010, the final 12 months before the rule took effect, carriers reported 693 tarmac delays of more than three hours. Since August 2011, U.S. and foreign airlines operating international flights at U.S. airports have been subject to a four-hour tarmac delay limit.

Roadtrips Names Favorite Sports Events for Travelers
Roadtrips, which provides customized trips and packages for sports events, named the six most-requested sports events among their customers:
• 2013 French Open in Paris
• 2013 Masters in Augusta, Ga.
• 2013 Monaco Grand Prix in Monte Carlo
• 2013 Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Ky.
• 2013 Final Four in Atlanta
• 2014 World Cup in Brazil
Roadtrips is currently offering an Apple iPad Mini to agents who book a sports travel packages costing over $9,999. For further information, contact Roadtrips at 1-800-465-1765.

How to Be a Hero to Your Client
“Creatively interpreting a client’s articulated – and subliminal – needs is the key to becoming their travel agent hero/heroine.” – Steve Gillick, CTM, Talking Travel

Study: Luxury Consumer Confidence Plummeting in 2013
Confidence among affluent consumers did not get off to a good start this year, according to the latest Luxury Consumer Tracking Survey from Unity Marketing. Fewer than 23% of survey respondents in January said they planned to spend more on luxury goods and services over the next 12 months. Nearly a quarter said they expected to be worse off financially by the end of the year.

“Affluent consumers are starting 2013 with a dismal view of the overall economy and their personal financial situation,” said Pam Danziger, president of Unity Marketing. “Luxury marketers must focus their marketing message on quality and value this year as the affluent are reluctant to overindulge in extravagant spending.” The survey was conducted among 1,369 consumers with an average annual income of $267,800.

Hotels.com Names Top Destinations for U.S. Hispanics
Booking data gathered by Hotels.com shows Orlando as the top destination among Hispanic travelers in the U.S., followed by Miami, New York, Las Vegas, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, San Antonio and Santiago, Chile.  “The emerging Hispanic market is expected to wield up to $1.5 trillion in spending power by 2015, which represents a significant opportunity for the rebounding U.S. travel industry,” said Victor Owens, vice president and general manager for Hotels.com North America.

Ensemble Appoints Marketing VP
Georganne Shirk recently joined Ensemble Travel Group as vice president of marketing for its 850 member agencies in the U.S. and Canada. Shirk has more than a decade of executive experience in the consumer products industry, managing such brands as Skippy Peanut Butter, Slim-Fast, L’Oreal Skin Care and Hair Care, Aqua Velva and Dixie Cups and Plates. In her new position, Shirk is responsible for creating an overall North American marketing strategy that balances the needs of the organization’s members and travel partners.