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United
States Tour Operators Association
What is
USTOA?,,,,,.....,,,,,
A national
organization of wholesale tour operators in the
U.S.
founded in 1972,
What is a Tour
Operator?
An entity whose primary purpose is to plan,
arrange and market tours and/or vacation packages
featuring domestic and/or worldwide destinations.
The cost of such tour and vacation packages
generally includes air and/or land transportation,
ground arrangements such as accommodations, meals,
local guides and other related services. The tour
and vacation packages are commissionable to retail
travel agents, who, in turn, sell the product to
the public.
USTOA
Offices
275 Madison Avenue, Suite 2014, New York, NY
10016
(212) 599-6599; Fax: (212) 599-6744; e-mail:
information@ustoa.com
USTOA Web Address: www.USTOA.com
USTOA's
Mission
* Inform the
travel industry, government agencies and the public
about tour operators' activities and objectives.
* Educate
consumers on matters pertaining to tours and
vacation packages.
* Help consumers
recoup financial loss arising from an Active
Member's bankruptcy or insolvency.
* Help maintain a
high level of professionalism within the tour
operator industry.
* Represent the
tour operator community and cooperate with other
trade organizations and government agencies.
* Facilitate and
encourage tourism on a worldwide basis.
USTOA's
Principles
USTOA Active
Members pledge to adhere to the following
principles:
Ethical
Conduct:
Members must
conduct business with competence and
professionalism, representing truthfully and
accurately all facts, conditions and requirements
relating to their tours and travel
packages.
Truth In
Advertising:
Advertising and
quoting of prices must clearly show total
deliverable prices, accurately identifying
facilities, accommodations and services used. Any
changes or substitutions must be communicated
expeditiously to the travel agent and/or client
involved.
Ethical and
Financial Responsibility:
Active members'
business conduct must instill confidence in their
financial stability, reliability and integrity.
Total
USTOA
Membership More
than 800 members
Membership
Categories
Active: 57
members, representing more than 135 brand
names
Associate: 264
members
Allied: 462
members
Active
Members'
Total Sales
Volume....,,,,,$8
billion (1999)
Total
Passengers Carried by Active
Members....,,,,,10
million (1999)
Membership
Requirements
Active
Members
* Must meet the
definition of a tour operator (see page 1). In
addition, they must have 16 references from
reputable travel industry organizations, plus two
from USTOA Active Members.
* Must be in
business at least three years under same ownership
and/or management.
* Must meet
specific minimums in terms of passengers and/or
sales volume.
* Must carry
minimum $1,000,000 of professional Travel
Agent/Tour Operator liability insurance, with
worldwide coverage.
* Must participate
in USTOA's Consumer Protection Plan by posting $1
million in the form of either a bond or letter of
credit, for use in reimbursing consumers in the
event of the member's bankruptcy or
insolvency.
Associate
Members
Organizations,
common carriers and suppliers of tour products and
services, other entities connected with travel not
directly serving travelers on tour
itineraries.
Allied
Members
Carriers (other
than common carriers) and suppliers whose products
or services bring them into contact with travelers
on tour itineraries; also trade press, media,
public relations firms, and advertising agencies.
Public Relations
Contact:
Linda Kundell Communications
(212) 877-2798, (212) 877-3387 fax
Web Site:
www.ustoa.com
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ASSOCIATIONS