ASTA to Host Exclusive Advocacy Dinner at 2004 Congress in Hong Kong

The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) will hold its first ever event in celebration of industry advocacy at its 74th annual World Travel Congress this year in Hong Kong. ASTA’s Black Tie Advocacy Dinner will be held at 7:30pm on Thursday, Sept. 30, at the Renaissance Harbour View Hotel.

ASTA created this new World Congress event for the membership to help recognize and celebrate the Society’s advocacy role before United States Congress, in the state legislatures and within the travel and tourism industry.

“This exclusive reception and dinner will mark the first time ASTA has held an event of this kind at a World Travel Congress,” said Richard M. Copland, CTC, ASTA president and CEO. “It will be a celebration of ASTA’s relationship with its allies in developing a unified voice for issues facing the travel industry and an exciting way to show our members how much we appreciate them. We are successful because of our members’ grassroots efforts.”

“Some of the clearest examples of the power of unifying ASTA’s grassroots strength with the major industry allies with whom we regularly work are our successes in deregulating the computer reservations system rules, rolling back anti-travel agent legislation in Massachusetts and Florida, and our powerful advocacy for reasonable fax and e-mail regulations that will save travel agents many thousands of dollars a year.”

As well as meeting with special guests Doris Kearns Goodwin, political analyst, and the Honorable Jim Santini, four-term member of the U.S. Congress, ASTA members who attend the dinner will have a unique opportunity to mingle with top industry leaders. 

The dinner is open to Congress attendees, ASTA members and their guests. Each seat will cost $175 per person or $1,400 to reserve a table for eight.