ASTA has announced a change to its US Travel Agency member structure, transitioning from an individual membership to a company membership, extending benefits to all agency members and changing dues to a tiered structure.
“This change to the dues structure—the first since 2008—is necessary in order to allow ASTA to expand upon its industry advocacy efforts and continue to deliver exceptional benefits to members,” says Nina Meyer, ASTA president and chair.
With the new plan, both travel agency member owners and employees will have access to ASTA’s online benefits and resources for travel agents like its soon to be released 2013 Regulatory Compliance Handbook; a profile on its consumer website TravelSense.org; and invitations to chapter events and exclusive member-only webinars.
“This new dues plan seeks to equalize the playing field while allowing an even larger group of travel agents to take advantage of ASTA’s robust roster of benefits,” Meyer says. “We have worked hard to develop unparalleled programs and tools designed to help save our members time and money so they can focus on what is most important—selling travel.”
With the tiered structure, each company will have one vote and agencies with sales of less than $5 million will pay $295; agencies with sales between $5 million and $10 million will pay $495; those with sales between $10 million and $25 million will pay $695; agencies with sales between $25 million and $35 million will pay $895; and those with sales between $35 million and $50 million will pay $1,295. For agencies with sales greater than $50 million, they have the option to become Premium members for $2,500.
The membership benefits and dues change will affect renewing members on the anniversary of their membership renewal, but as of January 1, 2013, all members can register their employees to receive ASTA benefits.
To register your employees to receive ASTA member benefits or to learn more about ASTA membership, contact member services, call (800) 275-2782 or e-mail [email protected]. For more information on ASTA, visit asta.org.
