ASTA news YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY
Say hello to the Young Professionals Society
ASTA’s Young Professionals Society (YPS) is a group of travel professionals under the age of 40 with a focus on networking, education and career development.
In 2002, ASTA’s leadership created the
YPS for new young travel professionals to gather and learn about the industry. YPS is a place for agents to network, learn and grow in their careers. YPS is where new young travel professionals come together and make valuable connections with experienced peers who can act as mentors and sounding boards. It hosts networking events and retreats throughout the year. Over the past few years, the Society
has been very busy expanding programming and opportunities for members. One of its objectives is to promote travel careers and encourage young people to become travel agents. In 2010, it hosted ‘How to Become a Travel Agent’, a free webinar that traveled to schools and was open to the public. Tis educational tool is now freely available on the ASTA website and is a valuable resource for those looking for travel career information. Other initiatives include ‘Travel Talent for Tomorrow’, a mentoring program aimed at developing leadership, providing industry education and facilitating peer networking opportunities. Another successful project has been
the YPS podcasts, a series of downloadable broadcasts that delve into issues that are of abiding interest to young agents. Guests include industry experts and travel professionals who discuss topics such as ‘Getting into the Industry’, ‘Gadgets and Social Media’, ‘Travel Photography and Marketing’, and ‘What’s ASTA’s Legislative Day?’ Many of the Society’s members are
also active in their respective ASTA chapters, with several holding elected positions. One of its objectives is to develop future chapter and national leaders.
thenewbreedoftravelagents.com
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asta.org Meet your YPS representatives
Chris Minoletti Chapter president; Operations manager, Bay World Travel Having grown up around the travel industry, Chris made
the leap into the business full-time in 2010 as a third generation travel adviser. Joining Bay World Travel has reignited Chris’ passion for travel and left him constantly searching for unique experiences to share with his clients. Chris’ hobbies and interests include adventure travel, sports, hiking/biking, sailing and learning about the history, culture and people of the countries he visits. Chris believes in immersing himself in a destination; he says, “If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might as well stay home.”
Sheena Young Chapter vice president;
Director of business development, Global Meetr Sheena began her career in travel
focused on communications and training within the hotel industry. She went on to work for Valerie Wilson Travel for more than three years, supporting C-Suite executives on strategic project management. She currently works with Global Meetr as director of business development. She’s a self-proclaimed ‘wanderlust professional bohemian’ whose recent destinations include Bali, Chiang Mai, Monte Carlo, Lanai, Barcelona and St. Lucia. Sheena’s been actively involved in ASTA for many years and looks forward each year to the ASTA Global Convention, the Premium Business Summit and Legislative Day.
SURVEY
The emergence and impact of Alpha Millennials
According to ASTA’s comprehensive
‘How America Travels’ survey, millennial men (ages 25-39) are carving out a new, high-end, international and socially- minded travel profile. Tese ‘Alpha Millennials’ travel more frequently, spend more money when they do, and are more likely to choose exotic destinations. Tey hold the most favorable opinion of travel agencies among travelers and extend that favorability to airlines, rental car companies and cruise lines.
Key data points
• Although Alpha Millennials handle most travel details themselves, 39% say they’re likely to use a travel agent to plan a trip in the next two years.
• 61% of Alpha Millennials took an average of 2.51 vacations in 2016, vs. 1.94 for the broader sample surveyed.
• 62% of Alpha Millennials agree travel agents look out for their clients; 25% strongly agree ‘it’s worth using a travel agent’. A quarter of Alpha Millennials say travel agents save them time and 20% say they’d use a travel agent.
• Alpha Millennials have visited more countries than their older counterparts (4.04 vs 3.50) and 69% of them are passport holders.
• Alpha Millennials appreciate high-end services. Teir average hotel night is $195 a night vs. $162 for all travelers. Tey spend 55% more on rental cars ($128 per day vs. $81) and spend more to do things, averaging $311 on vacation activities vs. $256 for the whole sample.
• Tey’re voracious consumers of travel information — the leading users of multiple sources including friends (38%), social media feeds (24%) travel blogs (24%) and TV shows (23%). For more information on this research, visit
asta.org/research
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