ASTA to Host 2015 Global Convention in Washington
The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) concluded its recent 2014 ASTA Global Convention “Seas the Future” on board Norwegian’s Breakaway by announcing the dates for several events in 2015, including next year’s AGC to take place Aug. 29-Sept. 1 in Washington, D.C., at the Omni Shoreham Hotel.
A special day of sessions will be added next year for the benefit of ASTA’s international members, in addition to their participation in the regular program. International destinations and the Embassy community will play a large role in next year’s event. ASTA is represented in more than 100 countries, including Canada, and has 21 International Chapter Presidents.
The ASTA Executive Committee and Board of Directors took this year’s theme to heart by immediately making plans to more than double the attendance for next year’s convention. All members were challenged to not only attend in 2015, but to find four others to sign up with them by Travel Leaders Franchise Group President Roger E. Block who took over as BOD Chair at the conclusion of the convention.
Noting the shorter conference planned on land for 2015 (versus the seven days at sea for this year’s conference), and ease of access, ASTA president Zane Kerby said he is confident that ASTA can indeed draw 1,000 attendees to the nation’s capital next year.
“This has been a year of growth for ASTA, both in membership and financially,” said Kerby. “Because of agreements we made this year with some of our larger partners to either support or mandate membership in the association, we know 2015 is going to be a banner year, and the Global Convention will play a key role in that.”
To assist, the board has already set up subcommittees to work on the educational program, speaker lineup and entertainment for AGC 2015.
In addition, events already planned for 2015 include:
- ASTA Destination Expo – Feb. 26-March 1 in Marrakech, Morocco. This event has more than a dozen pre and post trips to Fes, Meknes, Rabat, Tenerife, Casablanca, Volubilis, mountains and beaches and more. (Registration is already open for this event).
- ASTA Legislative Day/CAC Meeting – ASTA’s Legislative Day is set for March 19, and will be preceded by a Corporate Advisory Council meeting March 18 at the newly renovated Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C.
- Premium Business Summit – June 8-9 in Chicago at the new Virgin Hotel. This event is for ASTA Premium members only.
- NACTA Annual Conference – ASTA’s sister association, the National Association of Career Travel Agents, will hold its 2014 Annual Conference Oct. 30-Nov. 3 at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass in Phoenix. A special “Afternoon with ASTA” is currently being planned to offer media training to ASTA or NACTA members to help them promote themselves, and the profession. Also, the NACTA 2015 Annual Conference will be held in Kona, Hawaii, Nov. 8-12.
