Highlights From the ASTA Global Convention

The American Society of Travel Advisors opened its 2021 Global Conference at the Hyatt Regency Chicago - and received this welcome message, among others.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot welcomed ASTA attendees, which numbered about 1,000, with about 700 of those travel advisors.

During the trade show, Kevin Doyle Smith, senior director of sales for American Queen Steamboat Company and Victory Cruise Lines, discusses business with Lael Hazan of Gracious Getaways based in Sarasota, Fla.

Jay Pope, global strategic sales director for Enterprise Holdings, putts the ball in a golf game while his colleagues - Allison Estapa, travel agency sales manager, and Rob Connors, vice president-business development - look on.

Eric Maryanov, of All Travel in Los Angeles, and Tiffany Hines, CEO of Global Escapes in Athens, Ga., and a member of the ASTA board of directors. Maryanov previously served on the ASTA board.

Jackie Friedman, president of Nexion, poses with ASTA President and CEO Zane Kerby.

Kelly Bigel, vice president of business development at ASTA, right, and Leila Dada, a Phoenix-based Cruise Planners advisor and president of the ASTA chapter in Arizona.

Gina Gabbard, chief sales officer for Lindblad Expeditions, meets with Barbara Pokornowski, president of Fun 'N Travel in Wheaton, Ill.

Kelley Malay, owner of The Royal Journey in La Grange, Ill., left, meets with Elzbieta Budzillo, operations manager for the Polish National Tourist Office.

Renae Battle, business development manager for Unique Vacations/Sandals Resorts, left, met with travel advisors at the trade show.

Joe Leon, vice president-field sales for Silversea Cruises, poses with Kimberly Hilliard of Front Porch Travel based in Severna Park, Md.

Diana Block Garcia, senior vice president-revenue, sales and itinerary development for Virgin Voyages, chats with Chandra Nims Brown of Global Travel Pros/Cruise Planners of Williamsburg, Va.

Atlas Ocean Voyages' regional sales directors Anthony Cooper, left, and Paul Girouard pose with Toni Lanotte-Day, president of Toni Tours Inc. in Levittown, N.Y.

Collette's Kevin Carter, left, and Todd Bridges met with Judy Marshman of World Class Travel in Oak Brook, Ill.

Seen at the Scenic/Emerald Cruises booth were Ann Chamberlin, vice president of sales-U.S., and Richard Hickey, senior director-national accounts.

At the formal Advocacy Dinner on Aug. 24 were, from left, Kristin Karst, owner and executive vice president of AmaWaterways; John Werner, president and COO of MAST Travel Network based in Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.; and Mary Margaret Reuther, the Illinois-based manager-key accounts for AmaWaterways.

Pictured are Virtuoso CEO Matthew D. Upchurch and Jennifer Wilson-Buttigieg, co-president of Valerie Wilson Travel, a FROSCH Company and active in ASTA's advocacy efforts. During the Advocacy Dinner on Aug. 24, ASTAPAC began the evening with $282,000 and concluded with $547,000 in total donations, although more may have since come through. Donations announced at the dinner were $100,000 from Royal Caribbean Group, $100,000 from Royal Caribbean Group Chairman Richard Fain personally; $20,000 from Matthew Upchurch on behalf of Virtuoso; $20,000 from Alex Sharpe on behalf of Signature Travel Network; $10,000 from Internova Travel Group; and $5,000 from Jackie Friedman on behalf of Nexion.

ASTA's Lifetime Achievement Award went to Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, for his never-ending support of travel advisors, especially during the pandemic. Here Fain, left, poses with ASTA President and CEO Zane Kerby.

Anita Pagliasso, posing with Drew Daly, senior vice president and general manager for Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc., received ASTA's Barbara O'Hara award. The award honors ASTA members who have made the most significant contributions in advocating for the interests of the travel agency community before federal, state and/or local governmental authorities. Pagliasso, who started her home-based travel agency Ticket To Travel in 1992, also serves as president of Professional Association of Travel Hosts (PATH) and vice president of industry relations at KHM Travel Group. (Photo courtesy of Drew Daly)