The HQ

ASTA represents advisor community at ARC Debit Memo Working Group

Last week, Genevieve Strand, ASTA's Senior Manager of Advocacy, represented our members at the semi-annual meeting of the Airlines Reporting Corporation's (ARC) Debit Memo Working Group. The group, made up of travel agencies, airlines, system providers and other key industry sectors, works to tackle key issues related to debit memos and find common solutions to optimize the way debit memos are handled. In case you haven't seen, the Debit Memo Working Group released a set of industry-wide best practices for debit memos, with the goal of standardizing the management of debit memos across the industry.

Instagram offers visual allure, and the travel industry wants in (New York Times)

Some hotels will do anything to attract the Instagram crowd, and that might include putting a 10-pound doughnut on the room-service menu.

Donate: Hurricane Michael relief (NBC 7 Panama City Beach)

Want to help relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael? There are a number of agencies where donations will make a difference. Follow the links below to learn about ways you can help.

Agent to agent: Why travelers are starting to use travel agents again (Travel Pulse)

I know that many travelers started to book their own vacations online once the option became available because it seemed so convenient. But lately, it looks like more travelers are starting to use travel agents again to book their vacations.

Silversea sailing to Cuba (Travel Weekly)

Silversea Cruises will bring its luxury ships from the U.S. to Cuba for the first time on 17 voyages in 2019 and 2020.

Studies find millennials are turning to travel agents to plan their trips (NBC 25 Saginaw)

Even though millennials are known to use the internet for anything and everything, Travel and Leisure reports that studies say millennials are relying on travel agents in record numbers.

NYU analysis outlines differing perspectives for 2019 rate negotiations (Business Travel News)

With the hotel sourcing season for 2019 corporate negotiated rates well underway, it's expected that U.S. corporate rates will increase between 2.5 percent and 3.5 percent next year.

Luang Prabang's newest luxury resort is a design fan's dream stay (CNN)

Luang Prabang's rise to become one of Southeast Asia's top luxury destinations for those in search of culture and relaxation was inevitable.

The Caribbean is making a comeback - Here's why you should book a trip this winter (MSN)

Luxury travel agency network Virtuoso said that bookings in the Caribbean between December 22, 2018 and January 3, 2019 are actually up eight percent, and business between January and February of next year is actually up 21 percent from last year.

First coast brews: Beer-centric traveler (First Coast News)

Where do you start if you are looking at a Beer specific vacation? Well the good news is there is now a Beer-Centric Travel Agent based out of Jacksonville who can help you plan that trip.

Webinar today - Discover Mexico's Hidden Gems

Friday, October 19 at 2:00 PM ET 

Join Emmy-winning investigative reporter and producer Peter Greenberg (who just finished producing a number of Mexico segments for his national PBS television series The Travel Detective) explores some of Mexico's best-kept secrets beyond the all-inclusive resorts. Learn about all that Mexico's hidden gems have to offer from archaeological treasures to jungle adventures and white sand beaches.