ASTA will hold its 2020 Global Convention virtually this
year from Aug. 25 to 28.
ASTA president and CEO Zane Kerby made the announcement during
a virtual town hall meeting Thursday afternoon.
The convention has been held in person annually for more
than 80 years, Kerby said. It was originally slated to take place in
Washington, D.C., but was moved online due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Initially, we struggled with the idea that we wouldn’t be
able to see each other in person,” he said.
However, ASTA found the right technology partners to enable general
sessions, small group sessions, peer-to-peer learning sessions and even a
virtual trade show.
Kerby said conference speakers will include U.S. secretary
of transportation Elaine Chao, public television host and guidebook author Rick
Steves, Celebrity Cruises CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, and Capt. Kate McCue, captain
of the Celebrity Edge.
Registration starts at $99. Those who register by July 11
and use the code “ASTALive30” at checkout will receive $30 off.
ASTA’s annual advocacy dinner, traditionally held during the
convention, has been rescheduled for Oct. 22, at the Ritz-Carlton in
Washington, D.C.
In addition to the announcement about the convention, Kerby
was joined at the virtual town hall by several member of the Society’s
executive committee: Dave Hershberger, president of Prestige Travel/Travel
Leaders; Marc Casto, president of leisure brands, Americas, Flight Centre
Travel Group; and Denise Jackson, president and CEO of Balboa Travel. The
executives discussed what they’re currently hearing from clients.
They agreed that corporate travel is coming back more slowly
than leisure.
Jackson said corporations don’t want to be held liable if
employees travel and come down with Covid-19. That is compounded by the fact
that nonessential corporate travel is logistically difficult right now with
reduced flight schedules.
All three agency executives said there is interest among
leisure travelers, though.
“Boy, there’s pent-up demand and pent-up interest,” said
Hershberger.
Prestige Travel hasn’t seen a lot of new leisure bookings,
he said, but has been fielding a number of inquiries.
While Balboa is primarily a corporate-focused agency,
Jackson said the agency is seeing some demand for leisure travel, as well.
Casto said Flight Centre is seeing search-term activity
increasing, indicating people are once again interested in searching for
travel. The increase is still at diminished levels compared to pre-Covid-19, he
said, but it’s still a positive sign.
There are two areas in particular where Flight Centre is
seeing growth: destination weddings, with a number of bookings in recent weeks,
and student travel with the StudentUniverse brand.
The executives agreed that in the short term, domestic
travel will be preferred, but once borders reopen and travelers gain
confidence, international travel will return.
“There’s nothing like seeing the pyramids,” Hershberger
said. “There’s nothing like seeing the Louvre.”