ASTA Debuts Globes with Three Hall of Famers

The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) in Chicago on Thursday night rang in its first-ever Globes, a soon-to-be annual celebration gala celebrating the excellence and leadership that helps drive the travel industry forward.

The event was held at Chicago’s Palmer House hotel, the same setting as the 2021 advocacy dinner—the place where the ASTA Advocacy Fund was created.

“It’s fitting we’re here to launch a new tradition,” ASTA’s Zane Kerby said to kick off the night.

All of the awards dished out on Thursday were based on “service, leadership, and trust,” Kerby added, acknowledging that “everyone in this room plays an important role in moving our industry forward.”

More than a dozen awards were handed out on Thursday, but the night was highlighted by the introduction of three new members to ASTA’s Hall of Fame.

The first, to kick off the night, was Valerie Wilson, the namesake of the now-legendary New York City-based luxury travel agency. Wilson, onstage, spoke about the birth of her agency in the 1970s when she was living in London and needed a travel agent to help her “explore the rest of the world I haven’t seen yet.”

After quickly discovering that London-based agents only handled group travel, and no agencies stateside would assist someone living abroad, “I took matters into my own hands.”

“Never did I imagine that a lack of options would lead me down this incredible way and change my life forever,” she said. “I was lucky to be part of this incredible industry that we call luxury travel today.”

The second Hall of Fame inductee was Mike Julius, the longtime Carnival Cruise Line voice who announced plans to retire as vice president of North American field sales in September 2025. Julius spent 47 years in the industry—11 as an advisor, and then the last 36 with Carnival.

“I had the genuine opportunity to meet and work with thousands and thousands of travel advisors across North America…I am one lucky guy,” he said.

Julius also added that he will start his retirement on Friday, the day after being honored by the community that he helped shape, and helped shape him, throughout his almost half-century in travel.

The last Hall of Fame inductee was Roger Block, who stepped down as Travel Leaders Network president at the end of 2024. Block is one of the most consequential voices in the history of ASTA.

As former chair of the ASTA Board of Directors, Block helped change the way ASTA operates, including making the president and CEO position into a full-time professional, recruiting now-president and CEO Zane Kerby, and helping all of the separate and distinct (and competing) voices in the industry come together under one banner, including at times when ASTA was “literally on the ropes,” he said.

“I am so honored that our trade association has honored me with this lifetime achievement award,” he said. “We couldn’t succeed without the support, the dedication, the passion, the creativity, and the belief of all the people that work with us.”

Other honorees on Thursday included the Greater St. Louis Chapter, which received the Edouard Jean Chapter on the Rise Award; Tara Salsman of the Greater Chattanooga Chapter, who was named the George Eddie Woods Chapter President of the Year; and the San Diego Chapter, which took home the Robert Duglin Chapter Excellence Award.

Additionally, the ASTA Chair Award was presented to Norwegian Cruise Line in recognition of its NCF decision, while the ASTA Presidents Travel Leadership Award was given to Christina Pedroni, executive vice president of Envoyage.