ASTA - American Society of Travel Advisors

✨Partner Spotlight: AMADEUS River Cruises✨ Register now for ASTA’s virtual River Cruise Week, November 18-22! This is your chance to engage with and learn more about many of ASTA's river cruise partners…all from the comfort of your home or travels. 💻 This exclusive virtual event includes 10 sessions with seven top river cruise brands and featured speakers brought to you by ASTA. Learn more and register here: https://bit.ly/astarcw2024 More about the session with AMADEUS: Dive into the unparalleled luxury of river cruising with the AMADEUS fleet. Discover why we’re redefining European travel with our five-star ships, eco-friendly innovations, and thoughtfully curated itineraries. Plus, be the first to hear about exciting updates—including new themed itineraries, pre- and post-cruise options, and much more! Participating river cruise brands also include AmaWaterways River Cruises, Globus family of brands (Avalon Waterways River Cruises), Riverside Luxury Cruises, Riviera River Cruises, Van Loon Cruises and Viking. #astarivercruiseweek

What's ASTA's River Cruise Expo all about? Follow along with Alle Pierce and let us show you! We have opened a limited number of spots for members to join us in Vienna, Austria, March 12-16, 2025. Due to expanded ship inventory and a number of attendees sharing accommodations during the Expo, more space recently became available to attend our most anticipated event of the year. These spots will fill up fast, so be sure to act now before this event sells out again! Register here: https://bit.ly/rce25

📣 REGISTRATION IS REOPENING FOR ASTA’S RIVER CRUISE EXPO! A limited number of spots to join us in Vienna, Austria, March 12-16, 2025, are now available. Due to expanded ship inventory and a number of attendees who are planning to share accommodations during the Expo, more space was opened for members to attend our most anticipated event of the year. Don't wait...these spots are expected to sell out quickly! REGISTER NOW: https://bit.ly/rce25 ASTA's River Cruise Expo provides travel advisors with a unique opportunity to experience the best of European river cruising. This includes: ☑ The ability to tour 15 river cruise ships from 11 river cruise brands ☑ Four days of meals on ships ☑ Industry-leading educational content to supercharge your river cruise sales ☑ A supplier trade show and several days of networking opportunities ☑ A free Vienna Pass to explore more than 25 of Austria's most iconic sights and attractions Registration also allows you the option to book (for an additional cost) accommodations onboard a ship and an optional post-Expo FAM sailing. Cabins are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and inventory is limited. We also have a very limited number of VIP Admission spots available, which includes a VIP cocktail mixer and advanced access to make dining selections on the ships during the Expo. Important note: You must be an active ASTA member to register for the Expo. If your membership is lapsed or you will be joining for the first time as a new ASTA member, click here: https://lnkd.in/eJr67yEp

Travel advisors sell 735,000 air tickets daily, and they have witnessed first-hand the effects of airline consolidation throughout the history of commercial aviation. We welcome the opportunity to share our members’ views on this critically important issue. ➡️ https://bit.ly/4e2SRYE

We're proud to stand behind the incredible 80% of travel advisors who are women entrepreneurs! These inspiring women aren’t just booking trips - they're leading the way, building businesses, and transforming the travel industry. Their passion, expertise, and dedication are shaping unforgettable experiences for travelers worldwide. Together, we are creating a future where travel thrives, and women entrepreneurs continue to break barriers and inspire the next generation. Here's to empowering women, supporting businesses, and redefining the way the world explores! ✈️🌍✨ #womeninbusiness #traveladvisor #womenentrepreneurs #futureoftravel

We are pleased to announce Delta Air Lines as the Official Airline Partner for the ASTA Travel Advisor Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, May 20-22, 2025! Attendees can receive UP TO 10% OFF flights to and from the conference using the special discount code. Learn more: https://bit.ly/tacdelta

Next-level networking at ASTA’s 2024 Premium Business Summit onboard Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady. Find more photos on our Flickr page: https://bit.ly/3zYDbI8 #ASTAPBS24 #astapremiumbusinesssumit #traveladvisor #travelindustry

"I’ve always had a love for travel, but it took me a while to realize it could be my career. I studied advertising at the University of Tampa, landing an internship at an agency in Philadelphia. What started as a summer job turned into a decade-long career. I worked my way up from social media intern to director of digital marketing, leading a team of 10. I built a strong reputation—public speaking, earning accolades—but despite my success, I felt unfulfilled. In 2017, I backpacked through Europe and loved it, but I returned to the corporate world. Then, in the summer of 2022, I went on a food tour in Spain, and it changed everything. The food, culture, and people sparked something in me, and I realized, "I want to make people feel this way." That’s when I decided to turn my passion for travel into a career. I didn’t know where to start, so I interviewed at agencies and spoke to people in the industry. But I wasn’t interested in the commission-driven sales structure of many agencies. So, I moved in with my parents, started planning trips for friends, and it worked. In April 2023, I launched Planning Adventures with Chelsey Keenan and went full-time, focusing on European travel for millennials who crave authentic experiences. Starting from scratch was humbling. I missed the recognition from my past career, but I knew I had to make my mark. That’s when I joined ASTA—even before joining a host agency. The community and connections I found there were the game-changers. Getting involved at the local level gave me confidence and clarity. It was the push I needed, turning my passion into a thriving business and reaffirming that travel is where I belong." -Chelsey Keenan, Founder, Planning Adventures with Chelsey Keenan (PACK)

We're excited to announce that Delta Air Lines is the Official Airline Partner for the ASTA Travel Advisor Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Salt Lake City, Utah, from May 20-22, 2025. “This partnership with Delta Air Lines will help travel advisors across the country join us at one of the most important industry events of the year,” said Sarah Little, ASTA Vice President of Business Development. “We’re busy putting together our largest tradeshow of the year, along with organizing education and networking opportunities that include insights from a multitude of renowned speakers. We’re so grateful that Delta Air Lines is making it possible for thousands of travel professionals to join us for our largest and most influential educational conference.” Learn more at https://bit.ly/3BSTnvd

Big shoutout to our amazing speakers and panelists from the 2024 ASTA Premium Business Summit onboard Virgin Voyages' Valiant Lady. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expert insights with our Premium Members. Marc Casto BSC, Chief Executive Officer, MVC Solutions Chris Dane, President and Managing Partner, Hickory Global Partners John Diorio, Vice President, North American Sales, Virgin Voyages Erik J. Dominguez, Storytelling Expert, Inspirational Speaker & Communication Coach Kurt Gullikson, Director of National Accounts, AIG Robbi Jumaa Hamida, Senior Vice President, Nexion LLC Jeannine Hankinson, Managing Director, Operations & Customer Experience, Airline Reporting Corporation (ARC) Julie Higgins, Director, Hotel Operations & Uniworld Boutique River Cruises Sustainability Officer, GRC Global River Cruises GmbH Sam Hilgendorf, Chief Information Officer, Fox World Travel Terry Krstinich, Director, Distribution Partnerships, Hertz Eric Maryanov, President, All-Travel Paul McGannon, Global Account Executive, Travel Industry Sales, Marriott International Bruce McIndoe, President, McIndoe Risk Advisory LLC Timika Narine, Multi-National Account Manager, Delta Air Lines Paola Saraceni, Regional Sales Director, Delta Vacations John Sage, Chief Executive Officer, Sage Inclusion Dr. Jill Schiefelbein, Chief Experience Officer, Render Greg Takehara, CEO, Tourism Cares Zane Kerby, President & CEO, American Society of Travel Advisors Peter N. Lobasso, Senior Vice President & General Counsel, American Society of Travel Advisors Jessica Klement, Vice President, Advocacy, American Society of Travel Advisors Alvin Adriano, VTA, ACC, CTIE, Director of Education, American Society of Travel Advisors Thank you also to our General Session educational program sponsors: AIG Travel Delta Air Lines/Delta Vacations Enterprise Hertz Marriott MSC Cruises Sandals Virgin Voyages Find more event photos via our Flickr page here: https://bit.ly/3zYDbI8 #ASTAPBS24 #astapremiumbusinesssumit #traveladvisor #travelindustry