ASTA Young Professionals Group to gather in Las Vegas

ASTA’s Young Professionals Society (YPS) will again be holding its annual Member’s Only Day on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011 at the Topicana Las Vegas. This full-day program, offering participants networking, mastermind roundtables and industry topic discussions, is organized in conjunction with ASTA’s Travel Retailing & Destination Expo (Sept. 11-13). The event offers today’s young travel professional career-strengthening education and networking opportunities, as well as a chance to relax and mingle with their peers at special YPS events.

“Events such as the YPS Member’s Only Day only serve to reinforce ASTA’s position as a leader when it comes to attracting younger people to our industry, while still providing those already in the industry with the tools they need to become the leaders of tomorrow,” said Tony Gonchar, ASTA CEO.

The day will kick off with a welcome for YPS members, followed by a session examining the Secrets to a Mutually Beneficial Advisor / Supplier Relationship. Following the lunch break, the group will reconvene for three afternoon sessions: Branding and Visibility for Travel Agents; Building a Branding Plan – Mastermind Session; and Finding the Next Generation – Developing a Modern Job Description for Travel Advisors.

Several agency owners will join YPS members to provide perspective and insight to the program. Mary Peters, CTC, president of Friendly Travel Inc. (Alexandria, Va.), Bob Kern, president of PNR Travel/American Express (Canyon Country, Calif.), and Kathy Sudeikis, CTC, with All About Travel, Inc.(Mission, Kansas) will participate as “veteran” agents and help moderate the mastermind roundtable discussions.

“This year’s YPS Member’s Only Day program is filled with timely industry topics that are impacting our members now,” said Jason Coleman, YPS chair. “The real key is the action plans participants walk out with. The whole goal for this event is that our discussions will lead to action – in our own careers, and as we help to build the industry of the future.”

YPS Member’s Only Day is sponsored by Collette Vacations, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Travel Insured International. Representatives from these companies will fully participate in the program and provide a supplier’s perspective to the discussions.

YPS members are encouraged to register for ASTA’s Travel Retailing & Destination Expo so that they may take part in the other YPS events and activities planned during the conference, such as the special “Ride the Young Professionals Track,” the presentation of ASTA’s Young Professional of the Year award and the late night YP Rocks! party in Sam’s Town.

The Young Professionals Society was created for the purpose of networking, education, and career development. YPS is a free program for ASTA members and employees of premium agencies under the age of 40. YPS is proud to be sponsored by Best Western International, the Las Vegas Visitors and Convention Authority, Sabre Travel Network, and TravelAge West.