Alexandria, Va. — Sharing some big news ... Eben Peck, ASTA's longtime Executive Vice President, Advocacy, will be departing ASTA to pursue another opportunity within the travel industry, effective October 12. Eben's contributions to ASTA these past 11½ years cannot be overstated.
Eben joined ASTA in 2012 as Senior Vice President, Government & Public Affairs, and subsequently became Executive Vice President, Advocacy, in 2017, making him the de facto number two in our staff structure ever since.
Eben's integrity, judgment, graciousness, and persuasive power guided ASTA through many challenges facing both our organization and industry, including the difficult days of the pandemic. He has been a major force in achieving the solid footing ASTA and our members enjoy today.
From the start, Eben spearheaded ASTA's work to protect your interests at all levels of government—federal, state and the occasional local government dispute. From getting travel advisors off the dreaded DOL blacklist, to fighting for Paycheck Protection Program loans and unemployment insurance, to helping secure an exemption for advisors in California AB 5, to the too-numerous-to-count state tax fights, Eben has borne the heat of the day. His tenure featured a series of legislative and regulatory victories that saved our industry an estimated $720 million in new taxes, fees and other costs, and a fifteen-fold increase in ASTA's annual political fundraising receipts to more than $800,000. In short, Eben leaves a legacy of immense professional achievement.
Next month, we say "Godspeed" to one of the heartbeats of our association, and we wish Eben well in all his future endeavors.