Home Based Travel Agent - May 2008 - (Page 29)

and training programs year-round. CLIA’s identification card is also a basic credential for home-based agents. CLIA membership is virtually indispensable for recognition from the cruise lines and access to perks. CLIA’s professional Cruise Counsellor Certification program can lead to the Accredited Cruise Counsellor (ACC), Master Cruise Counsellor (MCC) or Elite Cruise Counsellor (ECC) designations. CLIA has an excellent annual conference and offers widely accessible training. IATA: The International Air Transport Association (wwww.iata.org) is a trade organization—and a powerful one— representing 240-plus international airlines. While home-based agents are not members of IATA, a unit of IATA known as International Airlines Travel Agent Network (www.iatan.org), or IATAN, manages the IATAN Identification Card program. The IATAN card is coveted by travel agents of all types as the key professional credential, and is the gold standard of professional recognition. It can open the door to industry perks, including free nights and discounts for hotels and resorts, airlines, cruise lines and more. IATAN also offers a Travel Sales Intermediary (TSI) program for home-based agents. OSSN: The Outside Sales Support Network (www.ossn.com) encourages direct agent membership and is one of the most important and best known groups serving home-based independent agents. With 60 chapters and 5,800 members, OSSN offers a diversity of quality programs for agents including its TRUE (Travel Retailer Universal Enumeration) program for professional identification. OSSN also offers extensive education and training and business services. Founded by Gary Fee, OSSN has grown rapidly and plays a vital role in helping nurture homebased agents’ success. NACTA: The National Association of Commissioned Travel Agents (www.nacta. com) provides home-based independent agents with a wide range of education and training programs as well as chapters for networking. NACTA is managed by Scott Koepf, a veteran agent and champion of home-based agents, and has 3,000 members and 30 chapters. NACTA encourages direct membership and has fam trips and seminars at sea among an array of programs supporting home-based agents. It is affiliated with the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) and also manages the Travelsellers.com identification program. ASTA: The American Society of Travel Agents (www.asta.org) is critically important to the travel agency industry. With 20,000 members, ASTA is perhaps the most representative travel agent organization and includes international membership. ASTA also has NACTA as an affiliated organization and bears directly on home-based agents. ASTA is a membership organization with both agency and supplier members. It has a code of ethics and represents travel agents before Congress. ASTA has an excellent staff and outstanding elected volunteer travel agent leaders and a network of chapters. ARTA: The Association of Retail Travel Agents (www.artaonline.com) is a trade association that is focused on travel retailers including independent agents. While smaller than ASTA, ARTA has been a tough-minded pro-agent advocate. ARTA has chapters and other resources that support independent agents. Like many associations, ARTA has a code of professional ethics. It also has been an advocate of a new identification card system for travel agents that is based on productivity. Like ASTA, ARTA is led by volunteer travel agents. M AY 2008 Home-BasedTravelAgent 29 http://www.ossn.com http://www.asta.org http://wwww.iata.org http://www.nacta.com http://www.nacta.com http://www.artaonline.com http://www.iatan.org http://Travelsellers.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Home Based Travel Agent - May 2008

Home Based Travel Agent - May 2008 Contents Editor’s Note: When It’s Just Not Worth It Publisher’s Note: Never Underestimate Your Lifeline: When Things Go Wrong, You May Need To Agent Spotlight: Odyssey Travel’s Michelle Duncan New Technology: Resources That Can Help You Quickly Industry News: Costa Names Field Sales Director Hot Deals: From the Caribbean to Canada and London Success Stories Independent Associations Southern Swing Mexico Dominican Republic Cover Story: Australia Family Trips Theme Tours New Products: Urban At Ease Laptop Messenger Bag

Home Based Travel Agent - May 2008

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