WASHINGTON -- The Interactive Travel Services Association (ITSA)
scheduled its first Online Travel Day in Washington for March 14 to
educate Congress, federal agencies and the Washington press corps
about the on-line travel industry.
John Raffetto, executive director of the Washington-based trade
group, said the goal of the event, which is open only to ITSA
members, is to lay the groundwork for heading off any potential new
taxes or regulations that could harm the burgeoning on-line travel
industry.
One fear is that state and local governments may be granted
power to impose new taxes on Internet businesses, perhaps including
those involved in travel, Raffetto said.
State and local governments contend their revenues are eroding
as a result of a shift from brick-and-mortar commerce to
"click-and-mortar," and they are "eager to insert themselves into
the [Internet] transaction chain," he said.
The tax issue will be a hot one in March because a commission
established by Congress to study Internet taxation is due to
announce its recommendations in April, Raffetto said.
The report will be completed by the time ITSA gets to Capitol
Hill, Raffetto said, but as Congress considers the findings, it
will look to a wide array of sources for additional information,
and the association wants to make sure it is one of them.
The agenda for the Online Travel Day is still being worked out,
but it will likely be preceded by a dinner and organizational
meeting on March 13.
Raffetto said another idea is to hold an "expo" for members of
Congress as part of the schedule on March 14 to demonstrate on-line
travel applications.
If Congress makes any moves to adopt new consumer protection
regulations for Internet commerce, then ITSA wants to make sure
that the business interests of the on-line travel community are
protected as well, Raffetto said.
"We need to demonstrate to policymakers and the press that we
are responsible with consumers' data and money. If we can
demonstrate that we're a responsible industry, the desire to
regulate us further will be diminished," he said.
As for its media outreach efforts, ITSA hopes that by talking to
Washington-based reporters, it can make its case to a group other
than the trade press or the "San Francisco-based techie reporters,"
Raffetto said.
The Washington press corps is interested in policymaking actions
as well as in the new Internet economy, and "they are hungry for
information."
"As one of the largest industries on the Internet, we have
something to say," Raffetto said.
The ITSA membership list includes Preview Travel,
Lowestfare.com, Carlson Wagonlit Travel and America Online, among
others. Although the association was launched with an orientation
to on-line travel agencies, it is now attempting to diversify its
membership base to include, among others, airlines and hotels.
An informational and recruiting meeting at the recent
PhoCusWright Live99 conference in Miami Beach drew about 40 people
representing 35 companies, including suppliers and on-line
intermediaries who might be potential members, he said. "We talked
about the issues and the importance of joining together. We need a
broad membership to undertake a broad agenda," he said.
ITSA dues levels begin at $1,000 for individuals and then rise
to between $5,000 and $20,000 on a sliding scale based on gross
bookings.
Membership applications and information about the organization
can be found on the Web at www.interactivetravel.org, and Raffetto can be
contacted by e-mail at [email protected].