White Papers

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• 2010
• 2009
• 2008
• 2007
• 2006

• July 13, 2010 — Federal and State Lawmakers Turn Up the Heat on Misclassifying Companies
  In recent months, federal and state lawmakers have stepped up efforts to significantly raise the stakes on businesses that misclassify their workers as independent contractors. The ramped-up pressure on employers comes in the form of newly enacted legislation or stern proposals aimed at non-compliant businesses.
  
  
• June 7, 2010 — Calculating Your Risk Factor - Identity Theft
  What Travel Agencies need to know about the Red Flags Rule. The Red Flags Rule goes into effect in December 2010. This document covers information on what you need to have in place ... regarding identity theft.
  
  
• May 26, 2010 — Travel Insurance Regulations: Time for Change
  ASTA and the United States Travel Insurance Association (USTIA) are working together to advocate that the insurance commissioners change the costly and fragmented regulatory compliance regimes that some travel sellers must endure to offer travel insurance to their clients.
  
  
• February 24, 2010 — British Airways' (BA) New Deal
  Premium member report. Overview of the new model BA plans to use to transition travel agencies that receive upfront commissions from a commission-based model to a pseudo-net model.
  
  
• February 16, 2010 — Travel Agents Guide to Travel Insurance
  Reviewing the 3 benefits of offering travel insurance - customer protection, agency protection and increased revenue - this guide summarizes the major types of travel insurance coverage as well as limitations, gives tips for choosing a travel insurance provider, and provides important cautions for agents implementing or reviewing their travel insurance program.
  
  
• February 5, 2010 — BTC Report on Airline Unbundling
  Premium member report. Airline unbundling of ancillary services and threat to unbundle GDS costs are perhaps the biggest threats that TMCs face.
  
  
• January 25, 2010 — The Role and Value of the Global Distribution Systems in Travel Distribution
  This white paper available to Premium Members only, courtesy of the Interactive Travel Services Association (ITSA) is PhoCusWright's most comprehensive study done to date on GDSs.
  
  
• January 19, 2010 — New DOT Rules On Enhanced Passenger Protection
  The Department of Transportation (DOT) has adopted a new rule that goes into effect on April 29, 2010 providing for new passenger protections related primarily to extended flight delays in which passengers are forced to remain on the aircraft for long periods of time. DOT has stated that another rulemaking proceeding will soon follow that further extends passenger protections.
  
  

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• December 10, 2009 — Using Census Bureau Statistics for Market Segmentation
  Explains ways to use the Census Bureau data to enhance your marketing
  
  
• August 7, 2009 — ARC Electronic Miscellaneous Document (EMD) and Carrier Fees Project
  ARC is developing two projects that will allow travel agents to collect carrier assigned fees and charges. One is called the Carrier Fees Project and the other is called the Electronic Miscellaneous Document (EMD).
  
  
• July 14, 2009 — Commerce Clause Analysis of State Seller of Travel Laws
  Over the past two decades, several states have responded to mounting claims of fraud perceived to be from within the industry and legislators in those states by enacting tough laws designed to provide certain protections to consumers. More often than not, Seller of Travel laws are duplicative and even overkill legislation since each state already has strict laws designed to combat fraud.
  
  
• July 14, 2009 — State Regulation - Seller of Travel Legislation Study
  Currently, seventeen states including the District of Columbia impose some type of regulation on travel sellers and tour operators. Due to the perceived rampart abuse of consumers, states began enacting stern measures designed to combat fraudulent business practices within the industry. California, Florida, Hawai'i and Washington generally have the most restrictive seller of travel regimes, while the laws in states like Massachusetts and Pennsylvania are much more limited in scope.
  
  
• February 24, 2009 — Navigating the Tax Labyrinth
  ASTA explains the nuances of the federal tax code as it relates to this category of deductible business expenses. It also provides members with general guidance on legitimate deductibility of the convention, fam trips and cruises expenses. Members can learn how to lower their tax bills by utilizing these tax benefits. But you are urged to consult your accountants or financial professionals in order to take full advantage of travel related tax allowances.
  
  
• January 7, 2009 — Travel Agents' Guide to Secure Flight
  ASTA has created a white paper called Travel Agents' Guide to Secure Flight to provide members guidance on how to best comply with Secure Flight data collection requirements. ASTA will continue to monitor the situation and update this paper throughout 2009.
  
  

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• November 25, 2008 — Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) Program
  On November 13, 2008, the Department of Homeland Security announced that the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) program will soon become mandatory for certain travelers. This White Paper is intended to serve as a reference guide for travel agents who wish to assist customers intending to travel to the United States.
  
  
• November 10, 2008 — State Work Share Programs: Are They a Viable Alternative to Lay-Offs?
  During an economic slowdown agency cash flow shrinks and credit is difficult to come by, so the owners of agencies often feel compelled to lay off employees in order to cut payroll expenses. However, members should be aware that they have a viable alternative to lay-offs.
  
  
• October 22, 2008 — 2008 Premium Benefit Report
  The Premium Benefit Report is a summary of just a few of the many benefits you received this quarter as an ASTA Premium Member.
  
  
• October 2, 2008 — Host Agency Management: Protecting Your Business
  It is important that you periodically review your business practices to minimize your risk of fraud, theft and errors. The following are guidelines that may help you reduce your chance of dealing with a bad IC.
  
  
• May 7, 2008 — Airline Payment Summit
  The airline industry held another Airline Payment Summit on April 9-10 in Toronto, Canada. The summit was particularly intense, with the first day alone consisting of twelve presentations and two panel debates.
  
  
• April 7, 2008 — Inactive Segments
  This document contains information to help members manage inactive airline segments.
  
  
• April 7, 2008 — Public Relations Guide
  If you've been wondering how to go about choosing a PR agency, this guide will walk you through a selection process. Topics include researching and interviewing prospective PR agencies, the information you will want to hear during an agency’s pitch, and the results you should expect from a campaign.
  
  

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• December 12, 2007 — Travel Agents Guide to Blogs
  Blogs are a modern, technology-savvy way to connect with your clients and potential new clients. The Travel Agent’s Guide to Blogs can help you start a new blog for your business and offers helpful ideas for maintaining your blog. Topics include how and why to write a blog, how blogging can help your business and the legal aspects of operating a blog.
  
  
• November 5, 2007 — PCI Standards and Travel Agents
  What are Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) and how does it apply to travel agents.
  
  
• September 28, 2007 — Travel Agents’ Guide to Travel Distribution Systems
  A primer on Global Distribution Systems (GDS), GDS New Entrants (GNE), and other distribution tools.
  
  
• July 11, 2007 — The Employee Classification Quandary Report
  A premium member report on how travel agents fall under the Federal Wage and Hour Laws, the report includes an overview of the federal minimum wage and overtime rules under the FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938).
  
  
• June 22, 2007 — Credit Card Surcharge Laws
  Focusing on the laws of eleven states that ban credit card surcharges in specific transactions, this report examines how those laws affect travel agencies and airlines. The report also includes an analysis on how well travel agencies are protected by these laws should the airlines decide to pass credit card expenses onto travel agencies.
  
  
• June 9, 2007 — Working With The Media - Communications Guide
  A premium member report on how travel agencies can work with the media and reporters to get favorable media coverage. Working with reporters can be painless with the proper preparation and understanding of the benefits the following report offers very practical advice that is easy to apply.
  
  
• April 2, 2007 — Travel Agents’ Guide to Debit Memos
  Covered in this white paper is the debit memo management including guidelines for responding to debit memos, common types of debit memos, sample debit memo response letters, tips for preventing debit memos and frequently asked questions
  
  
• April 1, 2007 — Creating a Privacy Policy for Your Agency
  This report explains the law on Web site privacy policies, offers privacy policy implementation tips and contains a sample privacy policy that Premium Members can use to craft their own privacy policy. It also addresses the issue of managing privacy within the office by protecting employee records and assuring that office equipment is used properly.
  
  
• April 1, 2007 — Payment Collection Programs Report
  This Premium Member report provides information on PayPal and its potential use for travel agents. Provided in the report is a detailed comparison of three payment options: ARC TASF, a typical merchant program and PayPal.
  
  
• April 1, 2007 — Protecting Your Travel Business: Legal Issues Regarding the Use of Independent Contractors
  This analysis provides guidelines for determining whether the government will view a travel-agency worker as an independent contractor or as an employee. It will also familiarize agents with some of the pertinent state and federal laws. Premium members receive expanded and analyses of state agency and contractor laws and a sample contractor agreement.
  
  
• January 24, 2007 — Analysis of 2006 ARC Sales Statistics
  The Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) released its 2006 year-end sales statistics with forecast for 2007. ASTA’s analysis of this data covers current sales trends, predictions and estimated demands.
  
  
• January 17, 2007 — ASTA/Sloan Foundation Study
  Conducted by the University of South Carolina's Travel & Tourism Industry Center, the ASTA/Sloan Foundation study gives a detailed look at the key strengths of highly successful American travel agencies. This in-depth study provides insight into what key factors make a travel agency successful, including: relationship building, customer service and networking.
  
  
• January 11, 2007 — Travel Agents Guide to Airline Bankruptcies
  Providing practical advice, this guide will summarize the applicable consequences of the bankruptcy process, and provide suggestions on how travel agencies can protect their customers, as well as their own businesses, in the event of an airline default.
  
  

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• November 1, 2006 — ASTA Guide To State Fax Laws
  Each state has its own laws concerning faxes and agents can find themselves in trouble if they don't know the law. The ASTA Guide To State Fax Laws is intended as a helpful aid to members in determining when to obtain legal advice before sending a commercial fax.
  
  
• June 1, 2006 — Travel Agent’s Guide to Copyrights
  An guide to help with the understand the many different types of tours offered in the marketplace, including traditional escorted, special interest and customized (independent) tours.
  
  
• May 1, 2006 — ASTA Guide to Selling Tours
  Covering the three benefits of selling travel insurance - customer protection, agency protection and increased revenue - this guide will help you set up a travel insurance sales program.