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	STARS TO UNITE TRAVEL AGENT PROFESSIONALS


A Candid Q & A self interview with Peter Stilphen, ECC concerning STARS

January 28, 2010

Question: What is STARS?

Response: STARS is the only IRS approved non-profit organization to be owned, controlled and operated by its membership.

Question: Who is the STARS' membership?

Response: STARS' membership is solely made up of individual travel agent professionals who qualify via strict requirements to become members of STARS.

Question: Does STARS allow other forms of memberships?

Response: The individual travel agents is the only voting member of STARS;. Subject to member approval. Host Agencies, Consortia and Suppliers, may be allowed to serve and support STARS, but have no voting powers.

Question: Why should I join STARS when there are many other organizations to choose from?

Response: STARS is unlike any of the other organizations in that this organization will be controlled by you, the travel agent professional. It was created to allow the travel agent professional to control its own destiny as a recognized professional. STARS' requirements for membership are much more difficult to attain as well as requiring continuous training to remain a member.

Question: Are you telling me I should not join those other organizations?

Response: Absolutely not. We recommend that if you are happy with your present organization that you remain a member of that organization. All of these organizations do offer training, education and networking. STARS takes it one more step which allows the travel agent professional to have full control of its own organization and the destiny of the travel agent professional.

Question: What are some other reasons for joining STARS?

Response: We all know that the travel agent community is highly fragmented with travel agents coming from and working in diverse environments. The travel agent professionals come from all walks of the travel agent distribution system. However, no one has ever adopted a definition of what is a travel agent, nor has anyone has ever tried to assemble the travel agent professional under one umbrella. STARS was partly created to establish an organization similar to what the Bar Associations are to attorneys or the Institute of CPAs are to the individual CPAs. These are examples of highly fragmented professions with individual specialists much like the travel agents,

Question: We know it costs a great deal of investment to create such an organization. How can the travel agent professionals get this off the ground?

Response: I have personally invested my own funds to get STARS off the ground. I have been building the STARS' infrastructure since 2008. My idea, as it was when I founded PATH, the organization for Host Agencies, was to create an organization specifically under the control of its' membership. One that would establish a standard code of ethics and conduct as well as having its say when establishing relationships with the rest of the travel industry.

Question: Is STARS willing to work with other organizations?

Response: We have to work with other organizations especially those niche organizations as well as others that offer unique services. STARS cannot provide all things to all travel agents and must depend on working with other groups that can provide those needed services.

Question: Travel agents have never been able to work together since day one due to the many conflicting interests, lack of business acumen and the "what's in it for me" attitude. Why do you feel it can happen now?

Response: That's absolutely true and most suppliers and others would prefer to leave it that way. However, I believe most travel agent professionals are tired of being treated as second class professionals by those who have invaded our profession and have converted the travel agent professional into an unimportant entity, without a voice nor the strength to control their future. I feel it's time that the travel professionals be heard, be able to define themselves and work toward a common goal of preserving and building value for this profession.

Question: So what happens now with STARS as it grows its membership base?

Response: I plan to continue to build and subsidize STARS until the travel agent professional community feels they can take over the organization. I see having approximately 500 members that may be required to move forward. At that time, with a few leaders that will come forward, I will turn over the entire organization to the members. If any of those leaders are out there, please call me directly at 866- 481-4678. It is my contribution to the travel agent community for helping our Host Agency, to become one of the best in that segment. Then I will cruise off into the sunset.

Question: How much does it cost to join STARS?

Response: It is absolutely FREE. Go to the website at www.thebrighteststars.com to complete the application.