Associations in North America

The United States Tour Operators Association is the largest and most influential U.S. organization of tour operators. USTOA encourages and supports professional and financial integrity in tourism and provides information about member tour operators’ activities. Formed in 1972, with a desire to elevate standards of professionalism in the travel industry USTOA developed into the first travel organization to establish a consumer protection fund, followed by a member bonding requirement to protect consumers' tour deposits and payments in case of bankruptcy or default.

The Travel Agent Arbiter (TAA) is an individual selected by a committee representing travel agents and air carriers whose responsibility is arbitrating disputes between travel agents and (a) the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), (b) individual carriers, and © computer reservation system participants. Since 1988, the Arbiter has established rules giving travel agents, for the first time, the right and power to initiate complaints against ARC.

The Outside Sales Support Network (OSSN) is an association formed in 1990 to support and educate Independent Contractors and Outside Sales Travel Agents, that is, commissioned salespersons who solicit business for a travel agency or other retailer. The Outside Sales Support Network is the largest travel trade organization in the U.S. for outside sales and independent contractors working with travel agents. OSSN also has a close association with ARTA which allows each of their members the opportunity to participate in joint training and familiarization courses and seminars.

The Society of Incentive Travel Executives (SITE) brings together individuals from all elements of incentive travel to provide a resource for information exchange and problem solving. Members are offered discounted rates to the regional Universities of Incentive Travel with curriculum covering a wide range of "how to" subjects in incentive travel. Members are offered discounted rates to the annual International Conference and other conference held around the world, whose agendas focus on trends and developments that will impact incentive travel in the future.