Nexion Debuts Independent Agent ASTA Membership Initiative

Nexion has become the first host travel agency to implement a direct-enroll program for its network in the American Society of Travel Agents. The new program, which was announced at Nexion’s annual CoNexion meeting in San Diego, allows Nexion agency members to make monthly payments of $17 for a two-year ASTA membership.

ASTA, in an effort to better serve independent agents, recently added a $199 per year independent contractor membership rate to help ICs get the benefits of ASTA. This IC rate is valid for all agents affiliated with an ASTA premium member agency or who are active members of the National Association of Career Travel Agents (NACTA). Nexion’s rate works out to $204 per year, but paid in 24 monthly installments.

Nexion will continue to roll out this program by promoting ASTA membership to all agents joining the Nexion network. Nexion currently has a membership base of nearly 3,700 independent agents.

“We’re always willing to customize a membership program that works for host agencies to make sure that all agents, and ICs, can have access to ASTA’s network of resources and benefits and we thank Nexion for making it that much easier for ICs to invest in their national trade association,” said Zane Kerby, ASTA’s president and CEO.

Nexion president Jackie Friedman, a member of ASTA’s executive board, said one reason she is promoting ASTA membership is that ASTA relies on membership to fund the important advocacy work they do at the federal and state level.

“They can’t do it without the fees generated through membership growth,” she said.

Nexion isn’t the first agency group to make it easier for its members to join ASTA, though it is the first host agency to offer such a program. On the travel agency side, MAST (Midwest Agents Selling Travel), NEST, Signature Travel Network, Travel Leaders Franchise Group and TRAVELSAVERS all offer programs that mandate, subsidize or otherwise encourage their agency members to become ASTA members.