ELIZABETH CRABILL

USTOA CHAIRMAN

A Word From Our Chairman
As USTOA commemorates its milestone 50th anniversary, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge and share our appreciation for the significant role our travel advisor partners have played and will continue to play in the success of the industry. 

As the frontline of the tour industry, travel advisors have continuously provided consumers with the confidence to explore new destinations backed by the knowledge of the tour operator members of USTOA. We do not take your role in the recovery of travel this year lightly, and we are committed to strengthening our partnership.

Education has always been at the root of our mutual success. And I encourage travel advisors to visit the Travel Agent Resources pages at USTOA.com for inspiration and information that will also help navigate changes facing the travel industry. There you will find webinar opportunities from members as well as other useful tools and information. And, of course, the USTOA $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program has been a large component of providing travel advisors peace-of-mind knowing their clients’ vacation dollars are protected. 

With travel on the upswing, advisors have helped pave the way for a brighter future, and we look forward to the collaborations that are to come. 

On behalf of the members of USTOA, we thank you, our valued travel advisor partners. <

Looking Ahead 50 Years

It is incredibly meaningful to celebrate USTOA’s 50th anniversary, especially after the challenges of the past two years. And instead of reviewing our history, we have chosen to look 50 years forward toward what we can do as an association of global members to protect and preserve a future for travel and tourism. 

Two key pillars of focus in USTOA’s “50 years forward” message are sustainability and DEI (diversity, equality, and inclusion). These pillars are at the core of several programs launched this year.

The inaugural Sustainability is Responsibility Summit in Bodø, Norway, in partnership with Visit Norway, brought industry thought leaders together to share best practices and valuable insights to encourage responsible tourism. The Summit was an extraordinary opportunity to learn how the travel industry can make a positive impact toward a more sustainable and equitable future. 

Additionally, USTOA recognized the first Future Lights of the Tour Industry who have made contributions to sustainability and DEI initiatives within their companies. The USTOA Future Lights program invited our tour operator members to nominate coworkers who are leading the travel industry to a bright future. With wide support from our tour operator members, we look forward to seeing the positive strides made by all nominees and the Future Lights to come. 

USTOA also took a leap into the comic book world by launching the first superhero for responsible travel, Sustainable Suzie. Traveling sustainably means being aware of tourism’s impact on the environment and communities we visit. Our goal in creating Sustainable Suzie is to break down any barriers travelers might have in understanding how even small steps can make a big difference.  

This milestone anniversary represents years of hard work for the travel industry, but it is also a steppingstone to advocate for responsible practices to guide the industry forward. There is more to come, and I look forward to continuing the work with all of USTOA’s members and you, our valued travel advisor partners, to address issues, develop solutions, and build a long-lasting future. <

TERRY DALE

USTOA PRESIDENT & CEO

Terry Dale

USTOA President & CEO

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