The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) has taken the unusual step of making its Hotel Watch List publicly accessible through March 13, 2026, widening scrutiny on properties accused of failing to pay travel advisor commissions. Previously available only to members, the list is now open to the broader industry and consumers in what the organization describes as an effort to promote transparency and strengthen accountability among hotel partners.
The Watch List identifies hotels reported by ASTA members for not paying commissions within 45 days after a client’s completed stay. Before being added, properties are notified in writing and given 30 days to resolve the issue through ASTA’s dispute resolution process. Hotels that settle outstanding payments within that timeframe are not included. The current public list contains 16 properties.
ASTA leadership has framed the move as a necessary escalation. President and CEO Zane Kerby said that commissions earned are commissions owed and that advisors should not have to chase money contractually due to them. By publishing the list, ASTA aims to increase pressure on suppliers that delay payments and reinforce the expectation that commissions must be paid on time. The message to hotels is clear: resolve disputes promptly or risk public identification.
The decision builds on the organization’s “Report a Hotel” tool, launched in late 2025 to give advisors a structured way to flag unpaid commissions. Since its debut, the tool has helped recover nearly $15,000 in unpaid earnings. ASTA has set a goal of recovering $100,000 in commissions during 2026 and sees broader visibility as a way to accelerate progress.
Peter Lobasso, ASTA’s senior vice president and general counsel, said transparency drives better behavior. When issues go unreported, he argued, problematic patterns can persist among some suppliers. Public disclosure, in ASTA’s view, signals that timely commission payment is not optional but fundamental to healthy advisor-supplier relationships.
The organization is encouraging all member advisors to use the reporting tool to document noncompliant hotels. While the Watch List is only temporarily public, the reporting mechanism remains exclusive to ASTA members.
The move reflects a broader shift in how trade groups use public accountability to influence industry standards. By stepping beyond private dispute resolution and into public disclosure, ASTA is testing whether reputational pressure can produce faster compliance and more predictable compensation practices for travel advisors navigating an increasingly complex supplier landscape.
