MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica -- The ASTA board, at its quarterly meeting
here, allocated "significant" funds to support a broad-based
nationwide consumer-awareness campaign.
Society president Richard Copland declined to reveal the size of
the allocation, saying many campaign details need to be hammered
out.
He said ASTA's 32 chapter presidents will be called on to
develop proposals for a grassroots effort that would involve
affordable ad placements in local markets, public relations
projects and other elements meant to "get the public talking about
the value of using an agent."
The campaign could involve other supplier-sponsored ads, like
the Carnival-sponsored series of 2001-2002 in USA Today, and
Copland will try to enlist participation from other agency
groups.
Meanwhile, he said, ASTA's Corporate Advisory Council of
mega-agencies and franchisers has made equal access for agents and
the public to all air fares, regardless of distribution medium, a
top priority. He said, "We will stop this [fares available only at
select Web sites], though it may take some time."
As previously announced, the board approved Copland's plan to
run for a second term as president. He also needs approval from 10%
of the voting members of each chapter. He predicted he will get the
approvals, "no question about it."
In other action, the board announced two new benefits:
• Creation of the ASTA Job Board, at www.astanet.com/education/jobs.asp. Travel
professionals can post applications from around the world and will
be alerted when there is an opening that fits their criteria.
Employers that post jobs will be provided with data on
candidates fitting most of their criteria. After a three-month
introductory period, nonmembers will be charged $189 to post a job
for 30 days or $920 for the option to search the job applicant
database for a year.
ASTA member firms will have a 35% discount on both options.
• Availability of discount-prescription cards to all those who
join ASTA or are official representatives of agency members.
The card, offered by ScripSolutions through a relationship with
Berkely Agency, will provide discounts of up to 50% on generic
drugs and up to 15% off brand-name drugs.