These organizations are absolutely vital to the success of the travel industry today, because they advocate for the preservation of the indirect sales distribution ecosystem that keeps the industry balanced and honest. Without this ecosystem, the resulting direct sales distribution system would eliminate OTA's, third-party brokers, not to mention travel advisors, who in turn advocate for consumers' best interests as their clients.  This would fundamentally allow for suppliers to increase prices collusively, and eventually, eliminate the variety of options we enjoy today in the travel landscape.  In my opinion, organizations like CLIA and ASTA earn their salt every day they are advocating for us.