Travel Agency Executives to Meet at ASTA Summit
ALEXANDRIA, VA, February 2, 2009 - More than 50 ASTA Premium Member companies, including executives from top travel agencies, travel management companies (TMC), consortia and franchise groups, and online travel agencies (OTA) will meet in San Francisco, Feb. 4-5, 2009, to discuss critical issues affecting the travel agency industry at ASTA's third annual Premium Business Summit.
ASTA's keynote speaker C. Stewart Verdery, Jr., head lobbyist at Monument Policy Group, will present behind-the-scenes advice concerning government relations, market conditions, policy deliberations and insights into the new Obama Administration to help agencies understand the changes in store for the year ahead. Also speaking is David Collins, president and CEO of the Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC), who will address the issue of improving ARC's relationship with the travel agency community.
ASTA's industry experts will report on present and future business, regulatory, legislative and state issues. Participants also will break into corporate and leisure focus groups for in-depth peer-to-peer discussions of matters that most impact their business. In addition, participants will network at two receptions in their honor.
Sponsors in addition to ARC are: Vicki Freed, senior vice president , Royal Caribbean International; Jay Jones, senior vice president , Sabre Travel Network, The Americas; Tony Hughes, senior vice president Americas, Qatar Airways; Tony D'Astolfo, vice president /worldwide sales, Rearden Commerce; Cindy Perry, vice president , Travel Insured International; and, Chris Austin, vice president /leisure and luxury sales for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
ASTA's Premium Membership provides members with access to a unique suite of services, products and opportunities. Travel agencies that would like to support the industry at this level; gain access to Premium level service and products; and participate in Premium-only events should contact Cheryl Ahearn, CTIE, ASTA senior vice president of market development, at [email protected].
The mission of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) is to facilitate the business of selling travel through effective representation, shared knowledge and the enhancement of professionalism. ASTA seeks a retail travel marketplace that is profitable and growing and a rewarding field in which to work, invest and do business.
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