COCKTAIL RECEPTION

DINNER

Oven Roasted Tomato Cream Soup

with Focaccia Asiago Croutons

Herb Crusted Filet Mignon

and Red Snapper

Citrus Gremolata, Cognac Morel

Mushroom Sauce

Fava Bean and Pancetta Risotto

White Asparagus, Haricot Vert

Roasted Long Stem Artichoke

Dark Chocolate Mousse Decadent Cake

with Strawberry Granita

Freshly Brewed Coffee

Decaffeinated Coffee

Gourmet Teas

Wines - Pinot Grigio & Merlot

ENTERTAINMENT

Direct from the stage of

London’s Prince of Wales Theatre,

Discover Travel & Tours brings you a

selection of songs from the smash hit

musical, based on the songs of

ABBA - MAMMA MIA!

Welcome to the 7th Annual Advocacy Dinner celebration.

This year’s dinner occurs

in the midst of a dramatic

midterm election season. The

travel industry has received

an unusual amount of national attention over the past

year, as events as varied as the Gulf oil spill, the lingering

economic downturn, and a major airline merger have

been the subject of front-page news. Lawmakers in

Washington and in state legislatures across the country

have been extraordinarily active in proposing legislation

affecting our industry.

At the same time, ASTA has been in a position to

influence the debate in new and meaningful ways. The

past year alone has seen ASTA’s first meeting with a

sitting Secretary of Transportation; news that, in response

to ASTA’s request, a U.S. Congressman has requested

a formal Government Accountability Office study of

the impact of proposed changes to airline merchant fee

agreements; and ASTA testimony before a House Aviation

Subcommittee hearing on the subject of airline ancillary

fees.

ASTA’s footprint is growing… and we have you to thank.

Without your support of ASTA’s advocacy agenda, we

would not be where we are today. Tonight, it is my distinct

pleasure to acknowledge and honor your dedication and

commitment. Your passion and continued involvement

have made a tremendous difference, and send a strong

signal to our allies and our opponents alike: we can do

amazing things when we work together.

Thank you for joining us, and we do hope you enjoy the

evening.

Chris Russo, President & Chair, ASTA

ASTA’s Corporate Advisory Council (CAC)Since its founding in 2002, the Corporate Advisory Council has provided guidance and direction on the crucial issues facing the travel agency industry. For the past six years, it has provided charitable matching funds to support ASTAPAC’s fundraising efforts. Special thanks are due to the CAC for its renewed support to ASTAPAC in the form of increased donations from individual company representatives and dedicated funding for ASTAPAC’s direct-mail solicitation drive.

ADTRAV Travel ManagementAll About Travel AltourAmerican Express Retail Travel

NetworkAzumano Travel Services/

American ExpressBest TravelCastoEnsemble TravelExpedia Flight Centre, USAHess TravelHogg Robinson Group (HRG)Marathon TravelNexionOmega World TravelOrbitzPolk Majestic Travel Grouppriceline.com

Protravel InternationalRADIUSSignature Travel NetworkStrong Travel ServicesThe Travel Authority/TTAThe Travel Team/American ExpressTravel Leaders CorporateTravel Leaders Franchise GroupTravel Dynamics GroupTravel Planners InternationalTravelink/American ExpressTravelocityTravelStoreUltramar Travel ManagementUniglobe Travel InternationalVacation.comValerie Wilson TravelVirtuosoWings Travel Group

PremierAmadeus American Express Avis Budget Group Best Western Business Travel News Intercontinental Hotel Group Las Vegas CVA Marriott International Orlando CVB Sabre Travel Network Starwood Hotels and Resorts Travel Weekly Turkish Culture and Tourist Office

GoldAccor HospitalityEnterprise HoldingsHertzHilton WorldwideHyatt HotelsJetBlueTravel Insured InternationalTravelport

SilverABC Corporate ServicesAirTran AirwaysCCRA InternationalNexionTourism CaresTravel Age WestTravel Research Online

ASTA Proud Partners

Table SponsorsAmadeusAmerican ExpressASTA Corporate Advisory CouncilAuto EuropeAvis Budget GroupEnterprise Holdings

IHG - InterContinental Hotels Group

Sabre Travel NetworkStarwood Hotels & ResortsTravel Insured InternationalTravel Leaders

ASTA Chapter SupportThe following chapters are recognized for their generous contributions in support of the operational costs of ASTAPAC: Hawaii; Mid-America; Missouri Valley; Pacific Northwest; New York City; Southeast; and Southern California.

Special ThanksASTA extends special thanks to the Interactive Travel Services Association (ITSA) and the Business Travel

Coalition (BTC) for their lobbying assistance and guidance on various state and federal issues in 2010.

ASTA is deeply grateful for these ongoing partnerships. SEPTEMBER 13, 2010

LOEWS PORTOFINO BAY HOTEL

ASTA Government Affairs: Major Federal Achievements in 2010• Arranged ASTA’s fi rst-ever meeting between ASTA

member travel agents and a sitting U.S. Secretary of Transportation

• Persuaded a Member of Congress to request a formal Government Accountability Offi ce study of the impact of proposed changes to airline merchant fee agreements

• Submitted joint testimony before a House Aviation Subcommittee hearing on the subject of airline ancillary fees

• Defeated a proposal that would have required travel agents to disclose the name and type of any pesticides applied on passenger fl ights

Ongoing 2010 Federal Legislative Priorities• Working with the

House Small Business Committee concerning the implementation of new small business lending programs contained in the 2009 economic stimulus package;

• Opposing legislation that would make it more diffi cult and costly for travel agencies to use the services of independent contractors;

• Opposing discriminatory taxes on rental cars;

• Supporting tax relief for small business owners who work from home;

• Protecting travel agents from the legislative threat of criminal penalties for failing to disclose fees for baggage, seat selection, meals, and other ancillary products;

• Conveying the perspective of the travel agency industry to Congress, the White House, and the Department of Transportation on the need for robust passenger rights protections for air travellers;

• Working with the Transportation Security Administration to ensure that travel agents have a voice in the implementation of the Secure Flight program; and

• Advocating for expanded protections for travel agents who rely on credit cards to fi nance small business purchases.

ASTA’s 2010 State ActivitiesAs in previous years, ASTA directed grassroots legislative efforts to combat proposed tax increases in multiple states, including:

MINNESOTA: ASTA Young Professionals Society Member Stephanie Lee testifi ed before the state legislature in opposition to a proposed tax on service fees. Other ASTA Members intervened with the legislature in writing. Result: Tax not enacted.

VIRGINA: ASTA Premium Member Mary Peters drove to Richmond from Northern Virginia to be present for a Finance Committee hearing on a proposed service fee tax. Other ASTA Members across the Commonwealth wrote, called, and e-mailed their legislators in opposition to the proposal. Result: Tax proposal postponed indefi nitely.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: Travel agents from across DC signed a letter requesting the DC City Council not to move forward with a proposed service fee tax. ASTA Member Heather Dolstra accompanied ASTA and ITSA staff to multiple meetings with members of the City Council and testifi ed before a Finance Committee hearing in opposition to the proposed tax. Result: Tax not enacted.

NEW YORK: A proposed service fee tax on all “occupancy providers” was included in various budget proposals. While the fi ght goes on, the combined effect of ASTA Member grassroots efforts across the state cannot be overemphasized. Result: Passed as part of fi nal budget. ASTA is working with the State Department of Taxation & Finance on compliance issues.

Separately, a statewide “seller of travel” registry was proposed and appeared to be on the fast track to passage. The bill would have required all New York State travel agents to submit to fi ngerprinting, criminal background checks, and a $100 annual fee. Led by Long Island Chapter President / CPC Chairman Steve Powers, the state’s three ASTA Chapters submitted joint testimony to the state’s Consumer Protection Committee.Result: Legislation withdrawn. Legislature now actively collaborating with ASTA to rewrite the bill.

ASTAPAC Salutes The 2010 DonorsThrough ASTA’s lobbying arm and our political action committee, the legislative concerns of travel agents are being heard where they count the most. Our political infl uence is sustained by the travel leaders listed below, and we are extremely grateful for their support.

� Dan Lanser, 2010 ASTAPAC Chair

SUPERNOVAS ($2,000+)

GOVERNOR’S CLUB ($500+)

NOVAS ($1,000+)

PRESIDENT’S CLUB ($250+)

TEAM 100 ($100+)

Coleman, JasonGreenwald, MichaelPeters, Mary

Strong, JimWagner, CarolWilson-Buttigieg, Jennifer

Hale, RogerLanser, Dan

Markham, BarabaraMusslewhite, Jay

Ardia, RickyBailey, JamesBarbeito, DaphneDaniels, DonnaGoodenow, WendyLovell, John

Nunez, SoniaPinheiro, ScottRodriguez, HumbertoRusso, ChrisSanchez, JorgeZelaya, Marilyn

Sabre, Inc. PAC

Aft, SusanBecker, RandiBettridge, EllenBrown, JanetCasto, MarcDailey, LucyDelpier, DonnaDixon, MichaelFord, LilaGedansky, DavidGreenlee, VickieHamida, RobbiHaskins, JohnHaskins, MargaretHeld, ErnieHoppe, ElizabethJackson, ThomasKlebanow, PeterKoenig, IleneKraemer, NealKunst, Janice

Lindsey, FrancesMangas, DeborahMarshman, JudyMcCue, BillMeyer, NinaMinoletti, GingerMinoletti, PaulPowers, SteveRodriguez- Verbera, LauraRosen, KarlRoss, IreneRuden, PaulSoto Maduro, LuisStahl, EdwardStock Mickelson, GloriaTillem, AliceTillem, JackWeingart, MikeWilson, DaveWood, Sheryl

PATRIOTS (up to $99)

Biancarosa, LindaBridges, ErmaDoak, WilsonDorgan, Mary LouDuhon, KermitEcheverria, BlancaEnos, DeanneEstill, GeorgeFaust, PamelaFlores, FelixFrapart, SusanFreeland, SandyGarcia-Slater, AmandaGilmore, RitaHollenstein, Sue AnneHouse, ByronHowes, Lois

Johnson, KarenJohnston, AnnKent, CherylKerr, JoanLamel, BarbaraLang, PeggyMack, GeraldMartinelli, MelodyeMatthews, LaurenMikuni, PeggyMiyashiro, RaymondMonzingo, NatalieMurray, DinaOcone-Pecora, CharleneParadiso, RobertPearson-Verbera, Amber LeePinales, Nilda

Poland, RobertQuon, PaulaRocchio, AndrewRogers, PaulineRosen, MaureenSaffl e, BarbaraSalcedo, AliciaSchwinn, KennethScott, PamelaSpence, AmySpohr, SandraStar, DorisStrong, NancyTanzman, SusanTaylor, PaulVan Beveren, ChrisVasami, LuciaVerbara, AntonioWest, Lloyd

Politically empowers travel agents

Provides necessary access to key lawmakers

Produces legislative results

The American Society of Travel Agents Political Action Committee (ASTAPAC) is a special fund established under the federal election laws to allow ASTA to collect personal, voluntary contributions from travel agent members for the purpose of supporting political candidates and parties.

Established in 1979, ASTAPAC has succeeded in building political infl uence for the Society. Congress realizes that ASTA’s strength comes from the thousands of individual travel agents who contribute to its PAC program.

SPOTLIGHT ON

AIRLINE ANCILLARY FEES

One of the hottest emerging issues in the travel industry

has received top billing in Washington this year: should

airlines be compelled to disclose ancillary fees to their

customers at the time of booking? If so, how?

ASTA is working with key legislators, including infl uential

Senators on the Commerce Committee, to ensure that

travel agents are not unfairly subjected to requirements

to disclose airline ancillary fees. One Senator proposed a

well-intentioned amendment to the FAA Reauthorization

bill that would have compelled ticket agents, including

airline representatives and travel agents, to disclose fees

for ancillary services such as checked luggage, extra

legroom, and airport lounge access.

Unfortunately, the original text of the amendment, which

is included in the Senate version of the bill, did not

contain a mandate that airlines disclose these fees to

travel agents—which created a mandate that agents

disclose information they didn’t have.

ASTA, working with a coalition of travel distribution

professionals and consumer advocates, has spent much

of 2010 turning this threat into an opportunity by arguing

that the solution is to compel airlines to disclose ancillary

fee information at the same time, and in the same

manner, as they disclose fare information—through the

GDS. Armed with that information, agents could make

accurate price comparisons across multiple carriers—and

further demonstrate their value to consumers in the

process.

What started as a niche issue with little traction or notice

quickly became recognized as a major consumer issue.

The Department of Transportation and the House of

Representatives are actively considering this matter—and

the House Aviation Subcommittee dedicated an entire

hearing to the subject in July. ASTA and its allies were

there to make the case that agents and consumers will

benefi t from increased transparency. The outcome has

not yet been written, but travel agents

are on the brink of a major victory if

our position carries the day.

not yet been written, but travel agents

are on the brink of a major victory if

our position carries the day.

Contributions received as of August 25th, 2010