NEW YORK -- ASTA's Oregon chapter is preparing a membership drive
with a proposition it believes will increase its numbers
significantly: state certification for the group.
Last year Oregon implemented a travel seller law that enables
agents to form "self-regulating" associations or groups. By
satisfying a number of consumer- protection requirements, any
association can be certified as a State of Oregon Certified
Association of Sellers of Travel.
ASTA's Oregon chapter, which received its final certificate in
August, is the state's only certified travel association to date,
the Society said.
Paul Ruden, ASTA staff senior vice president for legal and
industry affairs, said the program does not call for certification
of individual agents and agencies, although ASTA agencies in Oregon
can promote themselves as members of a certified association.
Members of ASTA's affiliate, the National Association of
Commissioned Travel Agents, are not covered by the program.
ASTA is performing a service for the state, which wants
"enforceable ethics," with private interests doing the enforcing,
Ruden said.
ASTA's consumer affairs department will address complaints
involving ASTA agents, Ruden said. The Society will provide
mediation services to resolve disputes. Without Society membership,
any agency subject to complaints and enforcement action will be
dealing with the state directly, Ruden added.
Oregon is providing one-time grants of $5,000 for associations
to launch their participation in the program. The Oregon chapter
will use the funds to publicize the program, according to chapter
president Teri Lightfield.
The chapter now counts about a quarter of the likely candidates
for membership in Oregon, she said.
Besides boosting membership, the certification program provides
an opportunity to raise consumer awareness of ASTA. Members will
have the use of a logo promoting their membership in a certified
association. For $25 per office, they can obtain display
certificates. The first certificates, good for one year, will be
available in January.
The state plans to audit the performance of certified
associations at least every two years. Lightfield said she expects
the first audit sometime next year.
She said the Oregon program, if successful, could be a model for
other states.
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