The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) announced the launch of ASTA Corporate, an initiative designed to better serve the unique needs of corporate travel agencies and TMCs in its network. The move, said the announcement, marks a significant evolution in ASTA’s commitment to the corporate travel community, going beyond advisory input to deliver a suite of dedicated resources and opportunities that will empower corporate agencies and TMCs to thrive in a rapidly evolving competitive landscape.

ASTA Corporate builds on the foundation of ASTA’s longstanding Corporate Advisory Council (CAC), which will continue to serve as a conduit for feedback and collaboration with corporate travel-focused agencies. While the CAC will continue to play a key role in guiding the association’s activities and providing strategic input, said the announcement, ASTA Corporate takes it to the next level by offering dedicated staff, research activities and exclusive events.

Mark Meader has been named inaugural executive vice president of ASTA Corporate. He has held roles on an Airlines Reporting Corp. advisory board and with the World Travel Agents Association Alliance.

Over the coming months, said Zane Kerby, CEO of ASTA, Meader will have the full resources of the association at his disposal and will be assembling a specialized team to drive forward the goals of ASTA Corporate.

ASTA announced three partnerships designed to address the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing corporate travel agencies and TMCs today:

— Research collaboration with top firms: ASTA Corporate is spearheading research projects to explore the true value of managed travel programs. This data-driven initiative will provide corporate agencies with actionable insights to reinforce their indispensable role in optimizing travel spend and driving efficiency.
— Strategic partnership with Temoji Consulting: Industry veteran Paul Tilstone, founder of Temoji Consulting, will serve as a key advisor on corporate agency issues, focusing on critical topics to the TMC community such as AI, air distribution, the blended travel opportunity, NextGen needs, sustainability challenges and mid- and back-office technology platforms.
— Inaugural event in Washington, DC: The first exclusive event under ASTA Corporate will take place on Oct. 9 at the Hay-Adams Hotel. Sponsored by the CAC, this event, said the announcement, offers an opportunity to engage with high-level government and administration officials to address critical concerns affecting the corporate travel sector.

“The corporate travel environment is facing unprecedented challenges,” said Meader, “from the rapid adoption of emerging technologies to shifting client expectations and evolving industry dynamics.” ASTA Corporate, he said, is designed to provide the tools, expertise and advocacy that corporate travel agencies need to succeed in this dynamic landscape.

Image: Shutterstock