FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                    AT
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1994                                    (202) 616-2771
                                                         TDD (202) 514-1888

               TRAVEL AGENT TRADE ASSOCIATION AGREES TO END
                         ANTICOMPETITIVE PRACTICES
     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Association of Retail Travel Agents,
which represents two thousand travel agents in the $90 billion a
year travel industry, today agreed to end an effort to boycott
travel providers such as airlines and car rental companies who
would not adhere to the Association's commission levels and other
policies.
     The agreement came as a result of a complaint filed by the
Department of Justice's Antitrust Division in U.S. District Court
in Washington against the Arlington, Virginia, based Association.
At the same time, a proposed consent decree was filed that if
approved by the court would settle the suit by preventing ARTA
from engaging in such activity in the future and requiring it to
conduct periodic reviews of antitrust requirements with its
officers and directors.
     ARTA is a trade association comprised of travel agents who
sell transportation and accommodations on behalf of airlines,
hotels, rental car companies, cruise lines and other travel
services providers.  Travel agents in the United States sold more
than $90 billion worth of travel services last year.
     According to the Department's complaint, in October, 1993,
ARTA adopted a set of "Objectives" that included specific minimum
commission levels that ARTA wanted paid to travel agents as well
as distribution and commission payment policy changes it wanted
travel service providers to adopt.  Also, some of ARTA's
director-members announced that they would cease doing business
with travel providers whose policies were at odds with ARTA's
"Objectives," the Department said.
     Anne K. Bingaman, Assistant Attorney General in charge of
the Antitrust Division, said, "Trade associations of competitors
can and do serve many useful, procompetitive purposes, but they
may not act as joint bargaining agents for their members to
coerce suppliers or customers.  The Department will vigorously
enforce the antitrust laws against any trade association that
agrees on the prices its members will charge or invites or
encourages its members to boycott suppliers or customers."
     Travel agents are paid a commission by travel services
providers for sales they make.  Commission levels vary and are
included in the ultimate prices consumers pay for travel
services.  ARTA members compete with each other and with other
travel agents both to sell travel services to the public and to
act as selling agents for travel services providers.
     Public comment on the proposed consent decree is invited
within a 60-day period, which if approved by the court, would
settle the suit.  Interested persons can write to Roger Fones,
Chief, Transportation, Energy, and Agriculture Section, Antitrust
Division, Department of Justice, Room 9104, 555 4th Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20001.
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