--- title: "Tour Operators Try Levity to Help Prep Public for REAL ID Shift" id: "49504" type: "post" slug: "tour-operators-try-levity-to-help-prep-public-for-real-id-shift" published_at: "2020-02-27T21:39:11+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-17T03:05:06+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2020/02/27/tour-operators-try-levity-to-help-prep-public-for-real-id-shift/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2020/02/27/tour-operators-try-levity-to-help-prep-public-for-real-id-shift.md" excerpt: "The U.S. Tour Operators Association is taking steps to help the public better understand the new identification rule. It even has an in-house comedian to help lighten the mood." taxonomy_category: - "Marketing / Communications" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "Marketing" - "public awareness" - "Safety" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "C-Level" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Tour Operators Try Levity to Help Prep Public for REAL ID Shift Come October 1, Americans will need [REAL ID (opens in a new tab)](https://www.dhs.gov/real-id) -compliant documentation to board a commercial domestic flight and enter federal buildings, nuclear power plants, and military bases. The problem, according to the U.S. Travel Association, is a majority of Americans (57 percent) [simply aren’t aware (opens in a new tab)](https://www.ustravel.org/press/study-millions-americans-could-be-affected-real-id-deadline-2020) of that upcoming deadline. To stave off chaos, groups are developing campaigns to educate the public about the new rule. The latest entrant is the U.S. Tour Operators Association, which is bringing a bit of humor to a difficult situation. Recently, [USTOA brought in (opens in a new tab)](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ustoa-helps-travelers-understand-real-id-301009389.html) comedian [Harrison Greenbaum (opens in a new tab)](https://www.harrisongreenbaum.com/about-me) to explain the law, and the need for travelers to take steps to comply, in [a one-minute video (opens in a new tab)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2LUa6ZBof4&feature=youtu.be) . In the lively spot, he even dropped his pants—all for the cause. Greenbaum, a *Last Comic Standing* alum, has been something of a face for the USTOA [since last year (opens in a new tab)](https://ustoa.com/press-releases/recalculating-harrison-greenbaum-vancouver) , when he started a travel series for the association. Not only did USTOA put him in front of the cameras, it also gave him complete creative control of the final result of his filmed efforts. (Which probably explains why he wasn’t wearing pants.) Bringing in a comedian to explain the issue should help on the levity front, especially considering the [harrowing tales (opens in a new tab)](https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2020/2/25/21147550/real-id-explained) of REAL ID aggravation: overcrowded DMVs, long lines, and loads of confusion. USTOA’s efforts, which also include [a detailed blog post and guide (opens in a new tab)](http://ustoa.com/blog/real-id/) informing the public of the steps needed to update their identification, aim to ensure those taking tours are aware of what’s happening. The move follows [a similar toolkit from U.S. Travel (opens in a new tab)](https://www.ustravel.org/toolkit/real-id-toolkit) that assists those in the travel industry with their messaging efforts. Among other items, the kit includes banner ads, radio scripts, and talking points to help its members spread the word. Individual states are also promoting their own awareness campaigns. Compounding the awareness problem, says U.S. Travel, is that states have been slow to issue cards that meet the new standards—though the federal government helped ease concerns by [allowing online document uploads (opens in a new tab)](https://www.thepowerofa.org/2020/02/dhs-streamlining-real-id-application-process/) . Nonetheless, U.S Travel President and CEO Roger Dow warns of an “alarming lack of awareness and preparedness” creating a drastic effect. “This is significant not only because it will inconvenience travelers and create confusion at U.S. airports—it could do significant damage to our nation’s economy,” [he said last fall (opens in a new tab)](https://www.ustravel.org/press/study-millions-americans-could-be-affected-real-id-deadline-2020) . Comedian Harrison Greenbaum makes the case for REAL ID. (YouTube screenshot) [Jeff Hsin](https://associationsnow.com/author/jeff-hsin/) [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/jeff-hsin/) Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#Marketing](https://associationsnow.com/tag/marketing/) [#public awareness](https://associationsnow.com/tag/public-awareness/) [#Safety](https://associationsnow.com/tag/safety/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoRecap from the 2025 ASAE MMC+Tech ConferenceMay 19, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/05/19/recap-from-the-2025-asae-mmctech-conference/) - [VideoSneak Peek: Highlights from Day 2 of the 2025 ASAE MMC+Tech ConferenceMay 14, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/05/14/sneak-peek-highlights-from-day-2-of-the-2025-asae-mmctech-conference/) - [VideoDaily Recap: Day 1 from the 2025 ASAE MMC+Tech ConferenceMay 13, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/05/13/daily-recap-day-1-from-the-2025-asae-mmctech-conference/) - [VideoSneak Peek: Highlights from Day 1 of the 2025 ASAE MMC+Tech ConferenceMay 13, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/05/13/sneak-peek-highlights-from-day-1-of-the-2025-asae-mmctech-conference/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2020%2F02%2F27%2Ftour-operators-try-levity-to-help-prep-public-for-real-id-shift%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !