The skyвЂ™s the limit for independent advisors. So agents can choose if they want to focus on building a localized network of travel agents in order to share resources and build their business, and/or engage in broader-view legislative efforts such as ASTA Legislative Day. More engagement options for ASTA/ASTA-BSN members: The merger means that independent agents will have the flexibility to engage with ASTAвЂ™s efforts on the local or federal level.Centralized outreach and support efforts: Under one roof, Independent agents will be easier to keep track of, quite frankly.(ItвЂ™s kind of like having a BDM of your favorite supplier assigned to your area.) This will ensure that ASTA has their ear on the ground to any state-level or local issues that affect travel agents-while still going to bat for travel agents at the federal level with events such as ASTA Legislative Day. What this means for independent agents is that local ASTA-SBN chapters will have a direct line of communication with ASTA HQ. More direct support for independent travel advisors: With the restructure, ASTA-SBN membership will be part and parcel of an ASTA membership (and vice versa).No more paying double fees, which is great news for ICs looking to support ASTA! Speaking of reduced fees, Host Agency Reviews readers can receive a special membership rate through ASTA! Lower membership fees: With the formalized relationship between ASTA and ASTA-SBN, independent agents will pay a lower membership fee, paying $199 annually instead of paying two different fees.The changes in ASTAвЂ™s name and branding also reflect the industryвЂ™s commitment to make sure that independent agents arenвЂ™t left out of the travel industry fray. The overhaul is more than just keeping up appearances. What does the ASTA/ ASTA-SBN merger mean for independent advisors? Anyone who has ever had two brands to their agency (such as a honeymoon division and a cruise division) can appreciate the beauty of simplifying things (imagine going from managing two CRMs (Customer Relationship Management) to one CRM. What does this mean? Instead of tracking two separate membership directories, ASTA now only has to keep track of one. Going forward, ASTA and ASTA-SBN will operate from a merged advisor membership database. The ASTA board unanimously voted to change their name, and here we are today: trying to get used to calling ourselves вЂњadvisorsвЂќ instead of agents. вЂњAdvisorsвЂќ garnered the strongest response from consumers. They landed on their decision after conducting extensive consumer research, asking travelers who theyвЂ™d want to book trips with. Well, ASTA didnвЂ™t pick out the term вЂњadvisorвЂќ willy nilly. and the scroll keeps on rolling! So why advisor? There are sooooooo many titles a home based travel agent can give themselves, Travel: Agent/ Advisor/ Specialist/ Consultant/ Curator/ Expert/ CEO/ President/ Owner. She shared information on why ASTA made the change, and how ASTA is changing as an organization to (more) fully embrace the IC advisor business model. HAR chatted with Ann Chamberlain, who runs the small business side of things over at ASTA. Logo courtesy of ASTAД«ut what do these changes mean for independent travel agents - err independent travel advisors? As it turns out, more than meets the eye. *gasp!* NACTA is now called вЂњASTAвЂ™s Small Business NetworkвЂќ (ASTA-SBN). Savitur is also associated with all the Divine Weapons used by the Gods in the Battle.If you havenвЂ™t heard the news-which is great for us because then we appear to have breaking news-at its 2018 ASTA Global Convention, ASTA formally announced that it changed its title from вЂњAmerican Society of Travel AgentsвЂќ to American Society of Travel Advisors.ДЄnd itвЂ™s not just ASTA changing names on us. He also is the Source fo the Procreative Energy of All Beings and is Worshipped in the Greatest Vedic Mantra the вЂGayathriвЂќ. He is the giver Creative and Transforming Energy. He has the Ability to Manifest what we are seeking and Place it our Hands. He is the Giver of Life and Assists with Child Birth. Symbol:В Hand or Fist, or open Hand in BlessingДeity:В Savitur (One of the 12 Aditya and the name Translates as the вЂњGolden HandedвЂќ Everything he Touches Turns to Light.

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