The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) is partnering with Hyatt Hotels and Resorts to increase ASTA member agencieså’ profitability by educating them on travel agency best practices. A new study, ASTA-Hyatt Travel Agent Best Practices Study: Opportunities for Profit, will focus on five key competencies that can benefit all travel agencies: Human Resources, Selling, Operations, Marketing and Technology. Results of the study will be distributed to ASTA members this fall.

“For today’s travel agency, efficiency and productivity are key,” said Richard M. Copland, CTC, ASTA president and CEO. “The results of this study of best practices will help ASTA member agencies critically evaluate and strengthen their operations.”

“Hyatt understands the importance of a strong travel agency distribution system for our business and for the entire travel industry, so we are pleased to be able to sponsor this study to help agents improve their businesses,” said Roberto J. Sarmiento, Hyatt assistant vice president, international & individual sales.

Best Practices submission applications will be sent to all ASTA members to solicit descriptions of their best practices in all five key competencies. An advisory committee will review the submissions, and those chosen as Best Practices will be posted on the Members Only side of ASTAnet (www.astanet.com/members), along with information on the company that submitted them. A pamphlet on the results of the study will be mailed to ASTA member agents and agencies in the United States.

“In recent months, ASTA has encouraged agencies to look closely at their business models,” said Copland. “We also have stressed the importance of supplier support. By backing this study, Hyatt is investing its support in the future of the travel agency community and the worldwide travel industry.”

The ASTA-Hyatt Travel Agent Best Practices Study: Opportunities for Profit advisory committee counts as members: Jim Connelly, Hyatt Hotels and Resorts; Mitchell Hicks, UNIGLOBE McIntosh Travel; Ron Letterman, Classic Custom Vacations; Jerry Mallory, Breezy Travel, Inc.; Chris Russo, The Travel Junction; and James Shillinglaw, Travel Agent magazine. Submission for the ASTA-Hyatt Travel Agent Best Practices Study: Opportunities for Profit survey are due July 31, 2002.

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