The HQ

Suppliers join California IC fight

Over the past few weeks, a slew of supplier companies have joined the fight over California Assembly Bill 5, which as written would severely disrupt the independent contractor business model in our industry in California and beyond. Specifically, AmaWaterways, Carnival Corporation & plc, Classic Vacations, Insight Vacations, Pleasant Holidays, Princess Cruises, Red Carnation Hotels, Trafalgar and The Travel Corporation all recently sent letters to the bill sponsor asking that a travel advisor exemption be added to the bill. Kudos to these companies for helping the cause and to Alex Sharpe of Signature Travel Network for leading the supplier engagement effort. Want to add your company to this list? Contact us at GovtAffairs@asta.org. Also, anyone in California who hasn't yet contacted their state senator on this issue is encouraged to do so through out grassroots portal below.

WTM London

Dates: November 4-6, 2019
Location: ExCel London, Royal Victoria Dock, London

World Travel Market London (WTM) is the leading global event for the travel industry to meet industry professionals and conduct business deals. Through its industry networks and unrivalled global reach, WTM London creates personal and business opportunities, providing customers with quality contacts, content and communities. This year we are proud to be celebrating World Travel Market's 40th Anniversary.

Puerto Rico's cruise numbers sustain protest-related cancellations (Travel Pulse)

In fact, last week several Puerto Rico travel leaders, led by ASTA Puerto Rico/Virgin Islands Chapter and its President Ivan Soler, issued an open letter to the industry recently, urging cruise experts to tell their clients not to be scared off by the protests.

Travel advisors can score you hotel upgrades, better flights, and free beer - and they're surprisingly inexpensive (money.com)

I've always assumed travel agents are only for rich people — that the services are way too expensive for my budget, so I shouldn't even bother — but now I'm reconsidering. Can someone like me, who's not rich and relies largely on Google Flights to plan trips, use a travel agent?

Letter: Travel advisors would be hurt by new measure (Del Norte Triplicate(Crescent City, CA))

If California Assembly Bill (AB) 5 is enacted without amendment, thousands of travel advisors in California and across the country will no longer have the option of rendering their services as independent business owners to the agencies that currently engage them.

Could digital ID be the key to achieving a frictionless travel experience? (PhocusWire)

Technology today is more advanced than ever before, enabling new opportunities for efficiency and personalization in the travel experience.Yet at the same time, data privacy and traveler security demands are increasing, while infrastructure cannot keep pace with the growth in the number of travelers.

What's the difference between travel insurance and trip 'protection'? (USA Today)

Travelers who want to protect their trip may be considering insurance and tempted to buy a less expensive waiver or trip protection plan. But there are important differences worth knowing.

What you need to know right now before you travel to Hong Kong (Bloomberg)

Months of protests in Hong Kong have made traveling to the city a potentially dicey proposition for visitors. Since June, repeated demonstrations have filled its streets, including marches estimated at a million or more people and a sit-in that shut down the airport. 

Five things to make travel more fun (Forbes)

The freewheeling days of straw pom-pom totes and summer Fridays are winding down. But getting back to business doesn't have to be all work and no play. Make fall travel more enjoyable with these five items. 

The benefits of a cruise ship wedding (TravelAge West)

One benefit of this kind of event is combining the couple's nuptials and honeymoon into one seamless package. The entire wedding party boards earlier than the rest of the passengers, and the ceremony and reception takes place before the ship sails.
 

There's an ultra-luxurious side to Disney World that's been hiding in plain sight (Travel + Leisure)

With molecular gastronomy dinners deep within hotel wine cellars and members-only access to Magic Kingdom's secretive club, Walt Disney World is rapidly becoming a destination for the kinds of high-end, cuisine-focused vacations you'd often think to take elsewhere. 

Webinar today: Exciting advocacy events taking place at ASTA Global Convention 2019

Did you know that in 2018 alone, ASTA's advocacy work saved the travel advisor industry over $98 million? At 2 PM ET, join our 30-minute webinar that will help current and prospective ASTA members understand the important advocacy work ASTA does on their behalf- and learn about the exciting advocacy events we'll have at ASTA Global Convention 2019! Day passes close today, get yours here.