IMERICA, New York, April 1—On the opening day of its annual meeting, members of the board of the American Society and Service of Corporate Ambulatory Managers (ASSCAM) gathered on a new floating island conference venue In Middle of East River, International Conference Area to announce a merger with the American Society and Service of Travel Industry Companies (ASSTIC).
“ASSCAM and ASSTIC are now both part of the ASS (American Society and Service) umbrella,” proclaimed the combined group’s new executive director, Erwin Smithers, a former group vice president of ASSTIC.
“Both groups share similar goals, so it was only natural that we make an ASS out of it,” he added.
For the time being, ASSCAM and ASSTIC will continue to function as separate organizations while developing closer organizational ties.
ASS also announced the findings of a new research study conducted by the independent research firm Takë Shortcutti, which asked ASS members to identify what motivates them to travel.
The study, conducted by surveying a total of 8 carefully selected executives from ASSCAM’s vast membership, asked them to identify what motivates them and their colleagues to travel.
The findings caught some people by surprise but others took the news in stride.
“After four plus years of pandemic, we’ve found our employees only want to travel to get away from work, not travel for work,” said one of the executives surveyed, Klaus Narr, who has worked for König Valdemar Atterdags Travel for over 50 years.
The study found that this change will relieve stress on both sides.
“The attrition rate for front desk clerks continues to be very high,” said Rüdiger Gruber, ASS’ group vice president for the travel industry wing. “It’s frustrating to hear grown men whine and repeatedly say ‘But I am a diamond guest’ when they don’t get an upgrade to a room or on a flight.”
Jeremy Del Nero contributed reporting to this story.
(Photo: Accura Media Group)
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