News for travel agents | December 11, 2007
 
Editor's Viewpoint
  • Looking back at 2007
     
    Ashley McMaster, ASTA SmartBrief Lead Editor
    Over the course of 2007, I have been pleased to deliver you the industry news that matters to your business. Part I of this ASTA SmartBrief special year-end report rounds up the most important trends, stories and events of the past year. Part II, which will hit your inbox Thursday, will provide a glimpse into what's in store for 2008.

    This year was a busy one for ASTA, starting with the launch of its new membership and governance structure, which has proven to be quite successful. The year has also been filled with important legislative issues that affect travel agents, from home-based to corporate. Frequent and longer-than-usual delays on airport tarmacs led to a stronger push toward a passenger bill of rights, and the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative created an unforeseen demand for passports, which led to a backup in paperwork and delayed trips for some travelers. In the latter half of 2007, ARC proposed a steep increase in fees that has ASTA on the move and travel agents developing strong opinions, as seen in the record number of voters who responded to the ASTA SmartBrief poll related to the subject.

    This year's conferences took ASTA members to JeJu, Korea, for ASTA's International Destination Expo and to Las Vegas for THETRADESHOW. It's been an exciting year!


  Best of 2007 
  Your Favorite SmartQuotes 
  • Here are the quotes you shared with colleagues most often during 2007: LinkedInFacebookTwitterEmail this Story
The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
--Winston Churchill,
British prime minister
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worthwhile."
--Herm Albright,
writer
When you step into a turnaround situation, you can safely assume four things: morale is low, fear is high, the good people are halfway out the door, and the slackers are hiding."
--Nina Disesa,
as chairwoman of McCann-Erickson Worldwide
If toast always lands butter-side down, and cats always land on their feet, what happens if you strap toast on the back of a cat and drop it?"
--Steven Wright,
comedian, actor
The three great essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are, first, hard work; second, stick-to-itiveness; third, common sense."
--Thomas Edison,
inventor and businessman
One of the hardest tasks of leadership is understanding that you are not what you are, but what you're perceived to be by others."
--Edward L. Flom,
CEO of Florida Steel
Do what you feel in your heart to be right -- for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't."
--Eleanor Roosevelt,
former first lady and American political leader
The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four Americans is suffering from some form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they're OK, then it's you."
--Rita Mae Brown,
writer and activist
People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone."
--Audrey Hepburn,
Academy Award-winning actress, humanitarian
Rule No. 1: Use your own good judgment in all situations. There will be no additional rules."
--Bruce, Jim and John Nordstrom,
co-presidents of Nordstrom department store, in the employee handbook
  

Product announcements appearing in SmartBrief are paid advertisements and do not reflect actual ASTA endorsements. The news reported in SmartBrief does not necessarily reflect the official position of ASTA.
 
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