Appointment to IATAN Advisory Board

Montreal, June 27, 2008 – IATAN is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Tom Bauman to its permanent independent Advisory Board. Tom is president of ProQuest Travel Group, part of Travel Acquisitions Group (TAG), a new North American travel company that includes over 1,700 company-owned and franchised travel agencies in Canada and the United States.
 
IATAN’s Advisory Board is an independent body comprised of 14 accomplished and diverse individuals representing all aspects of the industry from home based agents to mega agencies, hoteliers, cruise lines and airlines.  The Board expertise and insight derives from a combined 400 years experience in the travel and tourism industry. 
 
This vast experience has allowed IATAN to always be at the forefront of the industry’s innovative initiatives such as the new on-line services, where eligible agents can apply for a new card or renew their card.  This service not only has a positive environmental impact by eliminating paper but also brings an efficiency component by reducing processing time by over 50%. 
 
Another win-win initiative driven by IATAN Board is AgentExperience.com. This site offers IATA and IATAN Cardholders the ability to gain first-hand experience of suppliers’ products and services as well as the latest familiarization trips.  There is now more than  800 suppliers reaching out to over 250,000 travel professionals around the globe. This program is gaining momentum and its popularity is increasing by leaps and bounds. 
 
The Board is extremely supportive of IATAN's recent actions in terminating agencies which violated its Standards and in particular that IATA numeric codes shall not be lent, subcontracted, or hired to a third party.  Two agencies sought review before the Travel Agency Commissioner.  The parties submitted written pleadings and other material to the Commissioner. In both cases the Commissioner upheld IATAN's termination of 10 Travel's and YTB.
 
IATA/IATAN serve the global Travel and Tourism industry – offering its customers well-designed programs with the significant added value of worldwide reach and recognition. 

Editors Notes:

  • IATA (International Air Transport Association) represents some 230 airlines comprising 93% of scheduled international air traffic.
  • IATAN offers global recognition to industry professionals through its accreditation program, geared for ticketing or non-ticketing travel professionals.
  • The IATA / IATAN ID Card is recognized worldwide as the industry credential for the identification of travel professionals, and is a valuable tool for Travel & Tourism suppliers, including airlines, hotels, car rental companies, cruise lines, etc...
  • IATAN Advisory Board members:
    • Scott Ahlsmith, Chairman of the Board - The Travel Institute and Executive Vice President, Global Technology - Virtuoso 
    • Tom Bauman, President ProQuest Travel Group
    • Patricia Conlan, Manager, Multinational Sales USA, Air Canada
    • John Fazio, President Caprice Travel Agency
    • Donna Flora, CTC, Vice President, Travel Industry Relations American Express
    • Aida Fournier, President & Founder Connections Travel Agency Inc
    • Horace Hord, Associate Vice President Community Relations Royal Caribbean Cruises
    • Fred Miller CTC,  Business Development Vantage Strategy Consulting
    • Anne Marie Moebes, President and Founder Curves Travel
    • Peter Rasmussen, General Manager USA Travel Counsellors LLC
    • Gail Ruderman, Executive Director Lee and Nancy Rosenbluth Foundation
    • Steve Smith, Vice President Passenger Sales for the Americas Japan Airlines
    • Ann White, Director of Industry Affairs American Airlines

For more information, please contact:

Martine Ohayon
IATA Corporate Communications
Montreal
ohayonm@iata.org
Tel: +1 514 874 0202 ext 3413