Become a Travel Agent

The History of Home-Based
Travel Agents, NACTA
and Good Reporting
Tom Ogg

(I wrote this article in response to an article that appeared in a trade publication implying that NACTA was not the first association for independent contractors and that this other association really founded the movement. I have always found that it is more meaningful to focus on positives, rather than negatives, so you might find this interesting reading)

I was surprised to read about NACTA’s history in another trade publication and was dumbfounded by the inaccuracies that were printed. I would have thought that the press would have the obligation to at least verify facts, before publishing misleading statements.  Oh well, at least we know that what we read in Travel Trade is accurate and timely. At first, I was going to contact the trade publication and demand a correction, or a retraction, or some satisfaction, but after thinking about it, I thought I would just share NACTA’s history with everyone, to clear up any confusion about statements you may have read.

Way back in 1986, a wonderful woman (and visionary) named Ms. Donna Sherf wanted to create an association for the independent travel agents in the Dallas, Texas area. She started ACTA, the Association of Commissioned Travel Agents. It was an immediate success, because it was the first time independent agents had a place to call home. They would get together once a month, usually at a restaurant and talk about their industry. They would share ideas, opportunities, information about suppliers, experiences and knowledge. One month, one of the Dallas members brought an agent from New York that happened to be visiting and she was so taken with the experience, she asked Donna if she could open a chapter of ACTA in New York. Donna thought for a minute and then decided to recreate the association as NACTA, the National Association of Commissioned Travel Agents to better describe her new status as a national association.

Those that attended the NACTA National Conference this last March (2004) in Acapulco got to watch Joanie Ogg present Donna with a Lifetime Achievement Award.  Donna and her wonderful husband, Walter live part-time in Acapulco and attended the NACTA conference as Joanie's guests.

During the mid 1980s, Joanie and I operated one of the very first credible host agencies. We were keenly interested in the new business model that had evolved and were acquiring independent contractors all over the country. I was doing “How to Start a Home-Based Travel Agency” seminars all over the place, to acquire new independent contractors for our agency. I had an agreement with the Learning Annex and did “How to Start a Home-Based Travel Agency” seminar for them monthly in San Diego and Los Angeles. These were very exciting times in our industry. In 1991, an article appeared in one of the trade publications the voiced concern about the new agent networks that were appearing. The article named our operation as one of only two that rated in the “Good” category (having been established for over 5 years as a host agency). (Here is a link to a copy of that article) The other two categories were “Bad” and Ugly” I still have the article if you would like a copy. Both Joanie and I were keenly interested in the evolution of home-based travel professionals and joined NACTA in 1988.

Donna grew NACTA into a national association with members all across the United States. I well remember looking forward to getting my NACTA newsletter and reading about things that pertained to Joanie and me.

By the early 1990s, the trend of agents moving home was underway and competition for independents was increasing. Host agencies were springing up everywhere, and while still considered controversial, home-based travel agents were becoming recognized. During the early 1990s, I had released my book “How to Start a Home Based Travel Agency” and was doing seminars all over the place. I did them for just about everyone in the industry at one time or another. (Here is a copy of an article written about a seminar that I did for a trade show in Reno in 1994. Note that Tom Ogg & Associates has been around for a long, long time.)

I got a telephone call from Donna in 1995 and she mentioned that she and Walter wanted to retire, and since she knew that I sold travel agencies, she asked if I would be interested in helping her sell NACTA. I mentioned it to Joanie, and Joanie said “you know, I think, I might like to try that”. We consummated the purchase of NACTA in early 1996 and the rest is history. NACTA outgrew our ability to manage it and we made the decision to work a deal with ASTA for the benefit of the members. In 2000 ASTA assumed possession of NACTA and NACTA continues on its original course.

So when you hear the kind of stuff that was published in that other Trade publication, you will be able discern the truth for yourself.

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