American Society of Travel Agents Announces
Staff Changes
ASTA and NACTA Remain One Company, Two Brands
Alexandria, VA, July 21, 2016 –The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) is undergoing an internal reorganization focused on membership development and supplier relations while better utilizing the talents of existing staff.
ASTA President and CEO Zane Kerby announced to staff last week that, effective immediately, two staff members from ASTA’s sister association the National Association of Career Travel Agents (NACTA) are taking on new responsibilities at ASTA while two others are being promoted within the Society.
NACTA President Ann Chamberlin, who will retain that title, has added the title of Senior Vice President, Operations for ASTA. In this new role, Chamberlin will assist Kerby in the day-to-day operations of ASTA, focusing on membership growth and support, chapter operations and consortia partnerships.
Robert Duglin, NACTA VP of Sales & Industry Relations, will now be Vice President, Business Development for both ASTA and NACTA. In his new capacity, Duglin is responsible for ASTA’s existing and new business development activities with industry supplier partners, as well as meetings and events.
Additionally, as part of the reorganization Kelly Bigel (Director) and Sarah Kresge (Senior Manager) are being promoted to support ASTA-NACTA business development activities, meetings and events.
“Earlier this year, we saw the benefit of working as one team when we launched our first ASTA Showcase event in Maui,” said Kerby. “That event was successful due in large part to the strong professional relationships and sales and marketing efforts of Ann and Bob, which complemented the work of other ASTA staff members. I believe that integrating them into our existing top-notch staff team will strengthen NACTA as a vibrant and well-connected community of independent travel consultants while helping ASTA meet its mission to promote and defend travel agents,” he said.
According to Chamberlin, “Under Zane’s leadership, ASTA has been revitalized and been dubbed the ‘New ASTA’ in many industry circles.” She added that during his more than three years at the helm, the number of combined ASTA/NACTA members has risen to 186, showing that many individual members also see the synergies in belonging to both organizations. ASTA also has seen unprecedented support from consortia members and a renewed confidence from major travel suppliers and companies in the past two years.
ASTA’s first major event with the combined team is the largest of the year, the ASTA Global Convention (AGC) in Reno Tahoe Sept. 25-28. ASTA and NACTA members, as well as non-member travel consultants, are encouraged to attend. The working media may register here.
ABOUT ASTA
ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents) members represent 80 percent of all travel sold in the United States through the travel agency distribution channel. Together with hundreds of internationally based members, it is the leading global advocate for travel agents, the travel industry and the traveling public. ASTA's history of travel industry advocacy traces back to its founding in 1931 when it launched with the mission to facilitate the business of selling travel through effective representation, shared knowledge and the enhancement of professionalism. For more information, visit ASTA.org.
ASTA's sister association, The National Association of Career Travel Agents, represents a professional community of independent travel agents ready to assist the traveling public.
