NACTA goes global, signs exclusive Canadian deal

The National Association of Career Travel Agents (NACTA) is going global, entering into an exclusive partnership with Vancouver-based WD World Travel that will see the association offering Canadian travel consultants automatic membership in NACTA when they join WD World Travel as an independent consultant. (NACTA’s move into Canada was first reported by Canadian Travel Press in its April 23, 2012 issue — https://www.travelpress.com/subscription/IDEA/143712_042312_ctp ). NACTA vice-president Ann van Leeuwen commented: “NACTA has entered the international market through its relationship with WD World Travel, Canada, and today is a global company our members and suppliers can be proud to be part of. It is exciting to see the growth in NACTA continue to build while maintaining our position as the most sought-after program for independent travel consultants.” ASTA CEO, Tony Gonchar noted that: “This agreement is a win for everyone involved, affording Canadian independent travel consultants the opportunity to work with one of the premier host agencies in Canada, while taking advantage of NACTA’s comprehensive membership benefits, including independent and home-based travel agent education.” NACTA is an affiliate of ASTA. As Canada’s only NACTA-licensed host agency, WD World Travel will be offering interested independent consultants a host-agency membership package for US$499 that includes among other things set up for Errors and Omissions insurance, accounting and a membership profile; access to WD World Travel’s two booking web sites — htp://www.CruiseCanadaTravels.com and http://www.CanadaTravels.com; an overview on the use of WD World Travel’s three GDS providers; and an initial orientation by Jacqueline Jamieson, host agency division head. For Canadian or international travel agents who want to buy their membership directly from NACTA, the cost is $189. U.S. travel agents can join NACTA independently for an annual fee of only $145. The partnership, which has already launched NACTA’s Canadian chapter system, is expected to add 500 new NACTA members in the coming three years. For more on NACTA and the membership benefits that it offers, go to http://www.nacta.com .