The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) has announced that its membership increased by almost 5,000 members in the past two months, raising the total to more than 17,000. Spurring the membership campaign was Vicki Freed, senior vice-president of sales, trade support and services at Royal Caribbean International. Freed had announced a cruise giveaway for all travel advisors who joined or renewed their ASTA membership by the end of September 2021.
As a result of the incentive, as many as 4,539 travel advisors participated and joined or renewed their membership in ASTA. Of those, 2,574 were new to ASTA, while 1,965 renewed their membership. Validating the significant industry expansion in this category of business model, 4,026 of the total members are independent advisors or ICs.
The high-water mark for renewals and acquisitions occurred on September 15, when ASTA recorded 2,000 new members in a single day. Marc Casto, chairman of ASTA’s board of directors and president of Leisure Americas at Flight Centre Travel Group, joined Freed on her weekly coffee talks, rallying support for their shared and inspired mission: to grow ASTA membership.
“The value of a travel advisor couldn’t be more apparent than it is now. It is our honor to show our gratitude for their service to the cruise industry and the travel industry. And what better way to do that than to show them the pathway to success, which starts by joining ASTA,” said Freed in a press statement shared by ASTA.
Underlining the worth of ASTA’s role as the national trade association for the travel agency community, Royal Caribbean Group is paving the way for more travel advisors to receive the advocacy, professional development, consumer awareness and community support that stems from ASTA membership.
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