ALEXANDRIA, VA – In an effort to better advance its mission to represent and advocate for the travel agency community at all levels of government, before the traveling public and within the industry itself, the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) has created a Hotel Distribution Advisory Committee made up of travel agency and industry representatives with particular expertise in the hotel and lodging sector.
"Each week brings a new reminder that our industry is ever-changing, and we believe having a group of member experts to call on will put us in a better position to do our jobs as the industry's national trade association," said Zane Kerby, ASTA President & CEO. "We are truly grateful to the members of this new committee, who represent a broad range of agency business models and associated organizations, for the time and effort they are willing to put in to support their industry."
The objectives of the Hotel Distribution Advisory Committee include: helping ASTA understand the implications of emerging hotel and lodging-related issues; setting priorities for ASTA and the industry with regard to these issues; advising on the best way to respond and position ASTA on hotel and lodging-related developments; and providing an opportunity for members to share intelligence and otherwise stay abreast of and engaged in current industry issues. The committee, which will meet on a regular basis throughout the year, will adhere to all relevant antitrust laws and regulations.
Committee members include:
"Each week brings a new reminder that our industry is ever-changing, and we believe having a group of member experts to call on will put us in a better position to do our jobs as the industry's national trade association," said Zane Kerby, ASTA President & CEO. "We are truly grateful to the members of this new committee, who represent a broad range of agency business models and associated organizations, for the time and effort they are willing to put in to support their industry."
The objectives of the Hotel Distribution Advisory Committee include: helping ASTA understand the implications of emerging hotel and lodging-related issues; setting priorities for ASTA and the industry with regard to these issues; advising on the best way to respond and position ASTA on hotel and lodging-related developments; and providing an opportunity for members to share intelligence and otherwise stay abreast of and engaged in current industry issues. The committee, which will meet on a regular basis throughout the year, will adhere to all relevant antitrust laws and regulations.
Committee members include:
- Shaun Balani, CEO, Travel Time/Travel Leaders (Lancaster, PA)
- Kelly Bergin, President, OASIS (Boca Raton, FL)
- Marilyn Clark, Travel Advisor, Lighthouse Travel (Huntington Beach, CA)
- Christopher Dane, President, Hickory Global Partners (Delray Beach, FL)
- Julia Douglas, President, JetSet World Travel (Chicago, IL)
- Karen Goldberg, Managing Director, Hotels & Resorts, Virtuoso (New York, NY)
- Toni Lanotte-Day, President, Toni Tours, Inc. (Levittown, NY)
- Ignacio Maza, Executive Vice President, Signature Travel Network (New York, NY)
- Mike Reich, Owner/Corporate Travel Specialist, Master Travel and Cruises (Wellington, FL)
- Brian Wills, Product Marketing Manager, Americas, Carlson Wagonlit Travel (Minneapolis, MN).
