ASTA Opens Registration for Global Conference

Registration is now open for the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) Global Conference, to be hosted in Washington, DC, at the Washington Hilton, August 21-23, 2018.

Once again, Samantha Brown will emcee the event, which also will feature Alison Taylor, American Airlines senior vice president of global sales and distribution, as one of its keynote speakers.

Also on the main stage will be TEDx speaker and leadership development consultant Tom Krieglstein, and Fabrice Houdart, Human Rights Officer, United Nations Office of the High Commissioner. Houdart works on the Free & Equal campaign, an unprecedented United Nations global public education campaign for LGBT equality, which has received the support of 140 companies, representing more than 9 million employees.

Breakout sessions will include instruction on legal issues, communicating with legislators and recruiting and hiring employees. There also will be training sessions built around ASTA’s new Verified Travel Advisor certification program, as well as destination updates, including Cuba and Galapagos.

Also returning this year is the ASTA Entrepreneur of the Year Award, “Shark Tank”-style competition. Companies are submitting nominations for travel business executives dedicated to entrepreneurship in some way. Sponsored by the Dan and Gloria Bohan Foundation, three semi-finalists will compete on stage in front of judges and the ASTA conference attendees, making a pitch for the $10,000 cash prize.

Travefy’s David Chait won the 2017 award and prize money, which is supporting his company’s development of itinerary management software used by thousands of travel agents.

An 8-day, post-conference cruise (Aug. 26-Sept 2) aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Pride, will include two days attendance at the National Association of Career Travel Agents’ (NACTA) annual conference. The cruise leaves from Baltimore harbor and sails to Grand Turk Island, Half Moon Cay and Freeport, Bahamas.