Joanie Ogg, co-founder of the National Association of Commissioned Travel Agents, joins Travel Counsellors USA on March 10 as senior vice president of global sales and industry relations. In addition, on March 8, she was inducted into the Cruise Lines International Association's Hall of Fame. She looked back, and ahead, with Travel Weekly editor at large Nadine Godwin.
Q: What did you accomplish by founding NACTA?
A: I believed NACTA would empower home agents. It was to be a place that allowed them to have respect from peers and recognition from suppliers. I believe we accomplished that.
Q: What did you accomplish under the ASTA umbrella?
A: In 2000, ASTA approached us [Ogg and her husband and co-founder, Tom]. We were only two people. We could take this further if we had more support. [ASTA] helped NACTA grow from 1,000 to 3,500.
Q: There is some credentialing available to home-based agents. Is there a need for something more to draw a sharper line between amateurs and professionals?
A: The numbers [from ARC, IATA and CLIA] don't give you credibility. They give you access to booking and commissions, but they don't require much education.
The numbers aren't enough. That's why I believe in the hosting model because of the need [for most independent sellers] to work with a strong entity that's solid in the marketplace.
Perhaps we need more educational requirements to go with the numeric codes. Maybe that will happen, but in the supplier's world, it is about filling berths and rooms.
Q: Suppliers are under no obligation to select partners based on credentials. Do you have hopes that suppliers may become more selective and weed out amateurs and trip whores?
A: Absolutely. I think they will look at host agencies, the number of contractors, the value of bookings [per seller] and recognize that support dollars are better spent where sellers are more productive.
Q: Do you have regrets?
A: I know it sounds bogus to say no, but no. When we sold to ASTA, I had to learn how to work in the corporate world. I was always entrepreneurial. I really learned. It made me a better businesswoman.
Q: What would be a good next phase for NACTA?
A: I might have liked to take NACTA global, but there never was time to do that. I should sell this idea to Bill Maloney [ASTA executive vice president and COO].
Q: Why are you leaving an organization you founded?
A: I did what I said I was going to do. I was ready for something new.
Q: Why choose Travel Counsellors?
A: I have a vision that Travel Counsellors will be the first global host. That really intrigues me.
I'd have loved to do that with my agency [a host agency she and husband Tom sold in 1986].
This will empower agents across the world. If an agent is selling Dubai and doesn't know much about it, the agent would have a worldwide network and could find a colleague to help close the sale.
Travel Counsellors members are really in the business; they have bought a franchise. And, they love the program. Travel Counsellors approached me. I was approached by other hosts and other groups, too, but this one felt right. A big thing at NACTA was that we were creating a family. When I met with Travel Counsellors, I immediately had that feeling again.
To contact the reporter who wrote this article, send e-mail to Nadine Godwin at [email protected].