What:
The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) recently launched its “My Travel Agent Rocks!” blog as part of a consumer awareness campaign.
Why It Matters:
Travel agents sell more than $86 billion in air tickets, $15 billion in cruises and $9 billion in tour packages each year, and this blog is designed to remind the public why ASTA members are the best resource for planning a trip. The new blog will be featured on ASTA’s consumer-facing website, TravelSense.org, which connects consumers with professional travel agents. The first blogs will be culled from the dozens of nominations made for this year’s Extra Mile Award, which will be announced at the ASTA Global Convention on Sept. 15. In the future, travelers and agents can submit their own stories to the blog.
Fast Facts:
- The TravelSense.org website connects consumers with professional travel agents, either based on geographical location or by expertise, such as agents who are specialists in European river cruises or Caribbean honeymoons.
- According to ASTA, TravelSense.org brought $1.3 million in sales leads directly to ASTA members in the first six months of this year alone from travelers searching for a vetted travel counselor.
What They Are Saying:
“The new blog will regularly showcase what an ASTA member did to help one of their clients experience the trip of a lifetime, or to save that dream vacation from disaster,” said ASTA president and CEO Zane Kerby. “This website both reminds the traveling public of what agents do for them every day, and brings new clients directly to our members.”
The Details
ASTA
www.asta.org
TravelSense.org
www.travelsense.org
