Celebrate National Travel Advisor Day by showcasing your value. The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), in conjunction with its travel partners, is celebrating National Travel Advisor Day on May 6, offering advisors a heartfelt “thank you” for all the work that you do to care for the traveling public.
The Society is calling on its members and industry allies alike to use National Travel Advisor Day to educate the traveling public, policymakers, and the media on the value advisors provide in the complex travel ecosystem well after COVID-19 has loosened its grip.
“During these difficult times, we say a hearty, ‘thank you’ to all ASTA members all over the globe for all you do every day to advise and serve the traveling public,” says Zane Kerby, president and CEO of ASTA, in press materials. “National Travel Advisor Day is about celebrating the individuals who make up our growing and diverse industry. As the home and advocate for travel advisors everywhere, ASTA is focused on providing travel advisors the tools needed to prepare for the return to travel, and our commitment to you is unwavering. We’re going to continue to fight on your behalf for the relief you need to keep your businesses ready for the return of America’s intrepid travelers.”
The careers of travel advisors are built on collecting customer feedback and insights from suppliers in order to be the best travel expert for their clients. As new travel policies are implemented from airlines to cruise lines, popular destinations to tour operators, travel advisors will continue to play a vital role in communicating the “need to know” information for future travelers.
“Travel advisors are innate problem solvers,” says Kerby in press materials. “The advisor serves as the consumer’s advocate in the event something inadvertently goes wrong. We saw this play out in full force during the early phases of the coronavirus pandemic where travel advisors spent countless hours navigating the maze of cancelation policies while also monitoring the best routes and options to safely bring their clients home. ASTA’s campaign, ‘Not All Heroes Wear Cape,” highlights many of these heroic efforts first-hand from travel advisors and client testimonials.”
On May 6, ASTA will premiere their #TravelHero campaign video on TravelSense.org–the Society’s consumer-facing tool for finding a travel advisor–during its virtual celebration at 3 p.m. EST. The video campaign will be a montage of story submissions collected in late March and early April of this year. Each advisor’s story will also be highlighted on their own dedicated page on TravelSense.org and ASTA will highlight throughout the year.
“We want to make sure the traveling public sees for themselves why working with a travel advisor is the way to go,” said Erika Richter, senior director of communications for ASTA in press materials. “These stories will really bring the message home. Travel advisors have and always will go to great lengths to save vacations and problem-solve in real time under dire circumstances.
“We’re still seeing advisors continue to advocate for their clients and travelers contemplate future plans for honeymoons, anniversaries and bucket-list trips,” continued Richter. “The future of travel post-pandemic will have a strong emphasis on the role of the travel advisor.”
ASTA is using National Travel Advisor Day to share with Congress, the media, and the industry, its widespread support and admiration for the people who make travel special. ASTA is hopeful that together, you can renew consumer confidence and get America’s economy, and its intrepid travelers, moving again.
Celebrate National Travel Advisor Day
Here are three easy ways to use ASTA’s toolkit to show support and leverage the advisor community’s collective power.
- Be a Storyteller. Use #TravelAdvisorDay to share stories with your local media networks. Use #TravelHero to tell your save-the-day travel story and be a part of our “Not All Heroes Wear Capes” campaign with your very own superhero graphic. You are the expert and front-line hero! Whether you were able to help someone travel home successfully, assisted a client in booking an emergency flight, or even chartering a private jet, the world needs to hear about it. If you prefer to use the written word, use ASTA’s custom Letter to the Editor tool to submit a pre-written letter to your local paper in less than 2 minutes and it is fully customizable.
- Be an Advocate. ASTA’s Advocacy Portal connects you directly to local and federal lawmakers. Inform these legislators about your business and ask them to join you in supporting travel advisors. The process is simple and easy, allowing you to send a custom letter with just one click.
- Share on Social. Follow ASTA on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to join the conversation and you can repost their content. You can also create your own social media posts by downloading ASTA’s social media graphics provided. Don’t forget to include #TravelAdvisorDay or #TravelHero and #ASTAAdvisors so that the ASTA team can follow along with you.
For more information visit ASTA.org. And, for more 4-1-1 about what ASTA is doing to support you, check out “ASTA Fights to Get You Funds.”
