The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) is launching a "Vacation Do Over" contest in which one contestant will win a trip valued at up to $10,000. An ASTA travel advisor will plan every aspect of the vacation.
Travelers planning trips themselves run the risk of making mistakes, ASTA said. Time and again, seemingly good deals turn out to be fraudulent or, at least, not what is expected. Using a travel advisor, ASTA argues, is a way to avoid disaster.
To illustrate this point, ASTA is asking contestants to share their worst travel disasters.
Here are the rules:
- Fill out our online submission form found on TravelSense.org by July 19. ASTA is also asking that travelers send over a quick video to help put a name to a contestant face (or faces).
- Follow TravelSense.org on Instagram or Facebook.
- Share one of ASTA's "Vacation Do Over” posts on Instagram or Facebook.
The winner will be announced on August 1, 2019.
The Data
According to ASTA research in the annual “How America Travels” study, more and more consumers are using travel advisors to find insider destination expertise and custom services. Travel advisors, typically assigned with booking trips, are now involved with travel planning and inspiration.
39 percent of travelers say they use travel advisors because of the high level of service they provide. Travelers also like having someone to help if travel disruptions occur (35 percent) and with booking an unfamiliar destination (32 percent).
According to the 2018 study, vacationers like to use travel advisors to book unfamiliar destinations (42 percent), to provide expert/insider information on destinations (40 percent), access to hotels, airlines and cruises (33 percent) and upgrades and/or amenities (33 percent).
In other ASTA news, the advocacy group reports that the Texas legislature has not passed House Bill 3579. This legislation would have added new taxes to the fees and markups travel advisors charge clients for hotel bookings in Texas.
For more information, visit https://www.asta.org/
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