The Association of Retail Travel Agents (ARTA) on Monday announced the 2011 ARTA Board of Directors. Nancy Linares of Holidays N' Travel was named chairman and John Faulds of Travel Destinations was elected vice chairman and treasurer.
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| Nancy Linares |
Rounding out the 2011 ARTA Executive Committee is Carol Young of Experience Travel! as secretary and Gerda Myer of World Travel Management as member-at-large.
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| Bruce Bishins |
Joining the board for the first time is newly elected director Eleanor Bronner of Paradise Travel Service. Continuing on the board for another term are Bruce Bishins of Helen Thompson Travel, Jane Dever of Crosby Cruises and Tours, Lynn Hayes from CWT Vacations, Barry Richcreek, Richcreek Vacation Center, and Sally Watkins of Century Travel Service. The board appointed Bishins as managing director to oversee ARTA’s day-to-day operations, communications, and services to members and Pat Funk as editor of ARTA’s daily e-newsletter.
Among the many tasks outlined at its first board meeting of 2011, the new ARTA team will focus on increasing new automated and self-service tools for members, implementation of a new ARTA web site, and preliminary planning for events and a national conference to celebrate ARTA’s 50th anniversary in 2013.
"We have a great team in place to take ARTA forward as we prepare to recognize our half century of proud accomplishments and services to our members," Linares said. "ARTA’s leaders, past and present, will be key facilitators in designing the type of events which will mark this important milestone."
The board also decided to place particular emphasis this year on travel consumer issues, airline distribution and technology, the Travel Retailer Identification Program (TRIP), and improving travel supplier relationships for the industry as a whole.
ARTA was founded in 1963, and for the past 48 years, the association has been the largest non-profit association in North America which represents retail travel agents exclusively. ARTA is headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz. and is the strategic partner of ARTA Canada.