USTOA Reveals 2024 Future Lights of the Tour Industry

by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 2:45 PM ET, Tue August 13, 2024

The annual recipients of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) Future Lights of the Tour Industry have officially been revealed.

The 2024 USTOA Future Lights are Alison Atkinson, commercial director and executive team member, Avanti Destinations, and B Lavornia, senior region and account manager, WorldStrides.

Atkinson and Lavornia are being recognized for their championship of the critical issues like sustainability and DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion).

"It is such an honor to welcome Alison and B as USTOA Future Lights of the Tour Industry,” USTOA President and CEO Terry Dale said in a statement. “These two individuals are outstanding examples of the kind of creative drive and initiative needed to guide our industry to a more sustainable and equitable future for us all.”

USTOA's Future Lights of the Tour Industry program was launched in 2022 during USTOA’s 50th anniversary.

As part of the program, tour operator members are invited to nominate coworkers who have made meaningful differences in their companies and the communities they interact with to embrace and address critical sustainability and DEI issues.

“We are so grateful for the truly noteworthy nominations from our active tour operator members this year,” said Dale. “While there is much to be done, we can be proud of the proactive way our members have embraced and supported USTOA’s efforts to move us towards a responsible future for travel. Alison and B as shining examples of that commitment.”

The 2024 USTOA Future Lights will be welcomed and acknowledged during the USTOA Annual Conference and Marketplace in Marco Island, Florida, which takes place from December 9 through December 13, 2024.

Here’s a brief snapshot about this year’s winners.

Alison Atkinson, commercial director and executive team member, Avanti Destinations

Atkinson spearheaded the introduction of sustainability for Avanti’s business practices by focusing on the people and the places that drive the business.

Collaborating with ownership and stakeholders, Atkinson is driving the Avanti Footprint.

This initiative highlights their sustainable products as well as shaping the Avanti Footprint Foundation, a charitable fund that supports local endeavors to better the circular economy.

Atkinson has also worked on evolving Avanti´s partnerships with product suppliers to include select Business Impact Assessment requirements. Her next goals involve working with stakeholders to achieve company certification.

B Lavornia, senior region and account manager, WorldStrides

Lavornia oversees participant enrollment in higher education programs and co-chairs the DEI Higher Education Committee for WorldStrides.

Lavornia designed training courses on diversity, equity, accessibility, justice, and belonging, identified relevant DEI resources and created a learning framework for cultural competency.

Their DEI advocacy has been voluntary within the organization, and for the past nine years, they have become a founding member of WorldStrides’ PRIDE Employee Resource Groups focusing on the interests of the company’s LGBTQ2SIA+ community and allies and guided others as a subject matter expert on WorldStrides’ Accessibilities Team.

Judges for Future Lights of the Tour Industry

The judging panel for the 2024 USTOA Future Lights of the Tour Industry included Emma Cottis, general manager of Business Systems, Goway Travel; Derek Hydon, president, MaCher, Greg Takehara, CEO, Tourism Cares, and Kelly P. Sahner, chief commercial officer, Trip Mate.

“The Future Lights of the Tour Industry couldn’t happen without the time, thought, and care of our tireless judges,” Dale said in a statement. “On behalf of our members, I’d like to thank them for their continued support, along with that of our program sponsor, Trip Mate.”