During Friday’s general session, ASTA shared several major updates and announcements, including the location of the 2027 ASTA Travel Advisor Conference, the recipients of annual honors and the newly elected ASTA Board of Directors Executive Committee.
“ASTA’s Travel Advisor Conference is more than a gathering of our industry. It is a reminder of what becomes possible when advisors come together with purpose, curiosity and a shared commitment to excellence,” said Zane Kerby, President and CEO of ASTA. “This week in San Diego inspired us to think bigger about the future of travel advising, not only as a profession built on expertise and service, but as a force for connection, confidence and meaningful human experience. The energy from the conference makes clear that the future of this industry will be shaped by advisors who lead.”
Next year’s conference will take place May 4-6, 2027, at Signia by Hilton in Orlando, Florida. The 2027 conference will offer practical education, industry insight, advocacy updates and networking to help advisors grow their businesses, with sessions focused on premium and experience-driven travel, personalization and the expanding high-end travel market. Additionally, advisors will also have the opportunity to participate in exclusive pre- and post-conference FAM opportunities with ASTA’s cruise line partners, offering firsthand product experiences and additional ways to build destination and supplier expertise. Registration for the conference is now open.
The final general session also provided an opportunity to recognize leaders whose service, innovation and impact reflect the best of the travel advisor profession.
This year’s Travel Advisor of the Year honor went to Dr. Shenika Baisley-Woodley of Divine Dream Destinations Travel, LLC, a specialist in cruises, destination weddings, honeymoons, wellness retreats and curated group travel. Baisley-Woodley is recognized for delivering exceptional client experiences and mentoring travel professionals across the industry. She has also served in the United States Army for more than 25 years and is currently a Lieutenant Colonel and Deputy Commander, bringing the same commitment to leadership, service and excellence to both her military and travel careers.
Gabriel Gatete and Matthew Wade, co-founders of Toggle Travel App, were named 2026 Entrepreneurs of the Year, an award presented in partnership with the Dan and Gloria Bohan Foundation to recognize innovation and entrepreneurial leadership in the travel industry. Both University of Michigan computer science graduates, Gatete and Wade were honored for their work building Toggle, a travel technology platform that reflects the creativity, adaptability and forward-thinking spirit the award was created to celebrate.
The ASTA Community Compass Award was presented to Steve Cates, co-founder of The Hoist, a San Diego-area nonprofit that brings veterans and civilians together through community events and provides financial assistance to military families in times of hardship. A Navy veteran who served as a radioman on fast-attack submarines during the Cold War and Vietnam War, Cates helped found The Hoist to ensure veterans have a place to share their stories and be recognized for their service.
Conference attendees also heard the results of the Board of Directors vote for the organization’s 2026-27 Executive Committee. The Board annually elects Directors to serve on its Executive Committee, consisting of a Chair, Vice Chair/Secretary and Treasurer. The Chair of the Corporate Advisory Council also serves on the Executive Committee and is selected by the voting members of the CAC. ASTA’s President and CEO serves as an ex officio, non-voting member.
Following the vote by the Board of Directors, the 2026-27 ASTA Executive Committee was reelected and is as follows:
Chair — Lee Thomas, NousTravel, LLC
Vice Chair/Secretary — Eric Maryanov, All-Travel
Treasurer — Anita Pagliasso, KHM Travel Group
CAC Chair— Amanda Klimak, Largay Travel
ASTA President and CEO — Zane Kerby, ex officio, non-voting member
The full 2026-27 Board of Directors was announced in April.
The announcements capped a successful week in San Diego focused on providing travel advisors with the opportunity to sharpen their skills, strengthen their businesses and engage with the issues shaping the future of the profession.
“Every year, this conference reminds us that the travel advisor community is not only resilient, but forward-looking,” Kerby said. “The honorees recognized today represent the service, leadership and entrepreneurial spirit that define this profession. We look forward to building on this momentum next year in Orlando.”
Find more information and register for the 2027 ASTA Travel Advisor Conference here.
Tags: Conference Orlando Zane Kerby, ASTA