The invitation-only leadership golf tournament focused on networking and strengthening relationships between supplier and agency executives.
KA'ANAPALI, HAWAII, August 23, 2024 — The American Society of Travel Advisors is celebrating a successful third-annual ASTA Travel Masters, an invite-only golf event which supports the trade association's advocacy mission.
This year’s event hosted 14 golf foursomes and 100 total attendees, where participants enjoyed some of the most popular destinations on any golfer’s list, Kapalua Plantation Course and Royal Ka'anapali Course. The Westin Maui Resort & Spa provided accommodations for guests, featuring unveiled views of Lanai and Molokai as well as the iconic Black Rock with its historic presence.
“Our industry is a relationship industry. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the truest form of power comes down to answering these two questions: ‘Who do you know?’ and ‘What can they do for you?’” said Zane Kerby, President & CEO of ASTA. “The answer to those questions can only be developed by taking the time to network and nurture the relationships that build our businesses. And I couldn’t think of a better setting to do that than over a game of golf in Maui. I thank our friends at the Kā'anapali Beach Resort Association and all our sponsors for their dedication to making this event a huge success. We experienced first-hand the magic of Maui this week, and we’re going to continue to lend our support and strengthen the island’s recovery by showcasing the destination to travel advisors.”
An increasingly popular feature of the program - Women’s Day Out - sponsored by Windstar Cruises, had a strong showing of female executive leadership, expanding participation from last year’s Travel Masters event at St. Andrews by 50%.
ASTA also continued its partnership with Windstar Cruises to bestow the annual Icon Award, a celebration of female contributions and empowerment within the travel industry. The first-ever Icon Award was given last year to Gloria Bohan, Omega World Travel founder and CEO. This year’s Icon Award was presented to a staple in the travel industry, the Head of Travel Policy at Chase Travel, Jennifer Wilson-Buttigieg. With over 30+ years in travel, Jennifer is an expert and industry resource for many, and a leader who brings a forward-thinking approach and “challenge the status quo” mindset to all her endeavors. Her commitment to the industry is tremendous and only continues to grow.
