Jason Coleman, president of SoCal ASTA, was honored with ASTA’s Young Professional of the Year Award at this year’s ASTA Travel & Tourism Awards presented at THETRADESHOW in Orlando, Fla., on Sept. 12.
Coleman got his start in the industry in 1998 as an association meeting planner but switched to leisure sales in 2001 after taking his first cruise. One of the things he looks forward to in his career is changing the image of the travel agent in the minds of consumers.
“I don’t see the industry for what it was in its glory days as some might suggest,” said Coleman. “But I look forward to the potential of rebranding the traditional travel agent to represent an industry that I am proud to be a part of.”
Coleman acknowledged ASTA and the Young Professionals Society when accepting his award.
“I want to say thank you to ASTA for this recognition,” he said. “I just can’t say enough about what this organization means to me personally and professionally. Thank you to my SoCal ASTA executive board who put up with my wild ideas and helped implement our vision for the chapter. Thank you to my colleagues who serve with me on the Young Professionals Society steering committee. We’re making great progress growing our influence, and the exciting part is that we’ve only just begu
