2025 Election
For the 2025 election cycle, there are a total of nine open National Director seats on the ASTA Board of Directors, as follows:
Additionally, two Regional Directors (also from the Central and West regions) will be elected that will not sit on the national Board.
Click here to learn more about the terms and responsibilities of all ASTA national directors.
Submit a self-nomination by sending an email of intent to [email protected] before 5 p.m. ET Friday, February 14. Please include your name, title and company, and the Director seat for which you are running.
At-Large Director Elections
Three (3) At-Large Directors to the ASTA Board of Directors will be elected. The three (3) candidates receiving the highest number of votes will fill the seats being vacated by those Directors whose term of office is expiring and will serve on the Board for two (2) years.
Who is qualified to be an At-Large Director candidate?
Qualified candidates must be:
- A member in good standing with ASTA for at least two (2) years; and
- A Travel Agency ("Core") representative with voting privileges
If an Independent Advisor member would like to be an At-Large Director candidate, the member must first upgrade to the US Travel Agency Membership category and pay the appropriate membership dues.
Premium Agency Directors Elections
Two (2) Premium Agency Directors to the ASTA Board of Directors will be elected. The two (2) candidates receiving the highest number of votes will fill these newly created seats and will serve on the Board for two (2) years.
Who is qualified to be a Premium Agency Director candidate?
Qualified candidates must be:
- A member in good standing with ASTA for at least two (2) years; and
- The official representatives and appointed voting managers of Premium Member agencies (including Premium Consortium Members)
Host Agency Directors Elections
One Host Agency Director to the ASTA Board of Directors will be elected. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes will fill this newly created seat and will serve on the Board for two (2) years.
Who is qualified to be a Host Agency Director candidate?
Qualified candidates must be:
- A member in good standing with ASTA for at least two (2) years; and
- The official representatives and appointed voting managers of Host Agency Members
Independent Advisor Director Elections
One Independent Advisor Director to the ASTA Board of Directors will be elected. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes will fill this newly created seat and will serve on the Board for two (2) years.
Who is qualified to be an Independent Advisor Director candidate?
Qualified candidates must be:
- A member in good standing with ASTA for at least two (2) years; and
- An Independent Advisor member
Regional Directors
ASTA has six (6) Regional Directors, each of whom presides over a specified region of the ASTA Chapter network in the U.S. These volunteer Regional Directors are ASTA ambassadors and act as mentors for the ASTA Chapter Presidents, providing guidance on running a successful chapter program to serve the membership and advance ASTA's mission to promote and defend the entire travel agency community.
Each of the six (6) positions is filled by the vote of the Chapter Presidents in the geographic region in which the candidate resides and seeks to represent. To maintain continuity of leadership the six (6) positions will serve staggered terms of office so that four (4) Regional Directors are elected in odd-numbered years and two (2) Regional Directors are elected in even-numbered years.
More information about the position and the requirements of eligibility are set forth below. A member seeking to become a Regional Director candidate should send a letter of intent to ASTA Headquarters [email protected].
For 2025, the North Central, South Central, Northwest and Southwest Regional Director seats are open for self-nominations.
What are the responsibilities of a Regional Director?
Under the ASTA Bylaws, each Regional Director is responsible to do the following within their assigned geographic region:
- - Act as the primary communication liaison between ASTA staff and the Chapter Presidents to, among other things, discuss membership and revenue growth opportunities;
- - Hold quarterly conference calls/meetings with Chapter Presidents;
- - Act as a mentor, facilitator, and guide to the Chapter Presidents;
- - Identify potential new supplier partners for the chapters;
- - Serve on the Chapter Presidents’ Council Executive Board; and
- - Meet regularly with ASTA Staff and other Regional Directors
Who is qualified to be a candidate?
To be eligible for a Regional Director position, candidates must be an active member of ASTA in good standing and either a current Chapter President in the region which they seek to represent or a past Chapter President. In the case of a past president, they need not have served as president in the same geographic area which they now seek to represent.
How long is the term of office?
Two (2) years. Each Regional Director is also a member of the Chapter Presidents’ Council for the duration of their term of office as a Regional Director.
Which Regional Directors serve on the National Board of Directors?
A total of three (3) Regional Directors serve on the Board of Directors. In any given year, either one (1) or two (2) of the Board seats will be up for election. The occupant(s) of the Board seat(s) will be determined by a run-off election among the successful candidates for Regional Director in that year. Eligible Chapter Presidents will cast a vote in both the election to determine the Regional Directors as well as the run-off to determine who will serve on the ASTA National Board of Directors.
How many terms may a Regional Director serve?
Regional Directors may serve a maximum of two terms—consecutive or not—in the same office, exclusive of any partial term served before completing a full term. After the expiration of three (3) years from the end of the second term served, the member may run for election to two (2) additional terms.
National Directors FAQs
All positions noted above are considered National Directors of ASTA.
How long is the term of office?
Each National Director is elected to a two-year term. Official duties begin at the conclusion of the ASTA Travel Advisor Conference. Please plan to attend.
How many terms can a National Director serve?
A National Director may serve only two terms, whether or not consecutive, in the same office, exclusive of any partial term served before completing a full term, provided that, after the expiration of three (3) years from the end of the second term served, an eligible member may run for election or seek appointment, as the case may be, to two additional terms.
What are the responsibilities of a National Director?
- - Directors collectively have the final responsibility for the oversight and management of the Association
- - Each National Director is accountable to the membership
- - As a member of the governing body of the association, he/she will assist in:
- - formulating and adopting association policies in accordance with the association's purposes and strategic plans as mandated by the membership
- - approving the budget and monitoring the disbursement of the association funds
- - providing governance and strategic direction to Staff Executive Officer
- - managing and controlling the property, business and affairs of the association
- - Has a “fiduciary duty” to ASTA and its members, which means he/she must exercise the same care in making decisions for ASTA as he/she would in making his/her own business decisions. In addition, he/she must maintain loyalty to ASTA by putting ASTA’s interest above all others, including his/her own
- - Ensures that the Bylaws are upheld and followed by the association
- - Attends all Board of Directors meetings, reading and reviewing all reports prior to the meeting. Stays informed as to ASTA’s circumstances and activities
- - Reviews bylaws, financial statements and other significant association documents
- - Avoids conflict of interest and whenever there is a potential conflict of interest, discloses the possible conflict and removes him/herself from voting on that particular issue
- - Maintains confidentiality of association documents and discussions when required
- - Makes recommendations to the ASTA President and Chief Executive Officer for national committee appointments
- - Ensures that association activities comply with federal, state and local laws
- - Accepts assignments by President and Chief Executive Officer, except when time constraints prevent such acceptance
- - Attends and supports ASTA meetings and events including ASTA Travel Advisor Conference, ASTA River Cruise Expo, ASTA Legislative Day, ASTA Premium Business Summit, and ASTA Chapter Events (when appropriate)
- - Encourages colleagues, members and suppliers to attend/sponsor ASTA meetings and events and assists with new member recruitment
See the election calendar for exact dates and additional information
For more information email [email protected].