ASTA Honors Luminaries at 2022 Global Convention

Last week in San Francisco, as part of its annual global convention, the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) honored those who have made contributions to the travel trade both this year and throughout their careers in the industry.

“As travel trade’s premier organization, ASTA strives to promote excellence within the industry,” said ASTA President and CEO Zane Kerby.

“We’re pleased to use the occasion of our annual convention to lift up those professionals and companies who make lasting and meaningful contributions to the travel industry.” 

Among the awards is the newly named Robert L. Duglin Chapter Excellence Award, which was formerly called the Chapter of the Year Award. Duglin, who passed away in 2021,  was a steadfast presence for ASTA ever since that hiring and sat on the association’s senior staff the last eight years of his life, including the vice president of international membership and host agencies, and the managing director of ASTA’s Small Business Network.

This year’s Robert L. Duglin Chapter Excellence Award was given to the Rocky Mountain Chapter, represented by Chapter President Rob Hale.

Arnold Donald, the former president, CEO, and current vice chair of the board of directors of Carnival Corp., who played a significant role not only in leading Carnival Corp. out of the pandemic but also in the cruise industry in general, was given the Lifetime Achievement Award from ASTA. With the award, Donald joins last year’s winner, Richard Fain, as another cruise line executive honored for their support of ASTA.

Also this year, for the first time after a two-year pause, ASTA continued its tradition of welcoming entrepreneurs to the global convention as part of its Entrepreneur of the Year competition. Three different entrepreneurs pitched their business ideas onstage in San Francisco, all competing for a $10,000 grand prize from the Dan & Gloria Bohan Foundation.

Each competitor had five minutes to pitch their business on stage and those in attendance voted on the winner. This year’s competitors were Carrie Wallace from FamGuru, Josh Rome from Runway Health, and Debby Corwin, the founder, and CEO of TA Toolkit Inc., a program that helps advisors zero in on the product that matches their clients’ needs, who ultimately took home the award.

Other honorees this year included:

• Melinda Fortunato, the owner of Fairfax, VA’s Best Travel, took home the ASTA Travel Advisor of the Year Award.
• Fell Travel Inc., who took home the ASTA Member Service Award.
• The ASTA New York City Small Business Network Chapter was honored as the ASTA Chapter on the Rise.
• Shelly Phillips from ASTA Alabama Chapter, was chosen as ASTA Chapter President of the Year.
• Deb Belchak from Lazy Dayz Travel LLC was honored as the ASTA Regional Director of the Year.
• Camile Olivere, the chief sales officer of Globus, was honored with the ASTA Susan D. Tanzman Inspiration Award.
• Dave Hershberger, Prestige Travel, Inc., was awarded the Paul Ruden Industry Ambassador Award.
• Jenn Lee from TPI and Betsy Geiser from Uniglobe, both took home the Barbara O’Hara Advocacy Award.
• The ASTA South Florida Chapter won the John Haskins Chapter Advocacy Award.