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| Richard Fain, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group |
Richard Fain Honored
The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), which advocates on behalf of the travel agency community at all levels of government, honored its most active members for their participation in this mission at the 2021 ASTA Global Convention in Chicago, IL last week.
The ASTA Advocacy Dinner, which takes place each year during the Global Convention, was held at the historic Palmer House Hilton in downtown Chicago on Tuesday, August 24th. Top industry leaders and travel professionals were on hand for an inspiring evening to celebrate ASTA's influence in shaping the policies affecting the retail travel business today.
During the Advocacy Dinner, ASTA bestowed a rare honor and celebrated Richard Fain, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, with ASTA’s Lifetime Achievement Award. This marks only the fourth time that ASTA has given this award in fifteen years.
“The board of directors voted unanimously to bestow the 2021 Lifetime Achievement award on Richard Fain because of his obvious belief in and affection for the travel advisor community,” said Zane Kerby, President & CEO of ASTA. “Royal Caribbean’s protection of commissions, $40 million zero-interest loans for travel advisors and quietly hosting first responders in the wake of the Surfside Condominium tragedy, are just a few of the reasons that we’re honored to present Richard with this award.”
Royal Caribbean Supports ASTA
Vicki Freed, Senior Vice President of Sales, Trade Support & Services at Royal Caribbean International, honored ASTA’s Advocacy efforts by donating $100,000 to ASTA’s advocacy mission on behalf of Royal Caribbean Group. Richard Fain added an additional $100,000 personal donation to support ASTA’s mission to protect and defend travel advisors.
Vicki Freed Also Honored
Royal Caribbean Group, Vicki Freed, and Richard Fain have been strong supporters of travel advisors for years, and especially throughout the pandemic. Vicki Freed and the entire Royal Caribbean organizations have been instrumental in the industry return to service. Besides the efforts recognized by ASTA, in bestowing the award to Richard Fain, Vicki Freed and her team have kept travel advisors updated and in fact Vicki Freed just held her 70th Coffee Talk with travel advisors today.
It is fitting that the next morning, Vicki Freed, received, for the fourth consecutive time, ASTA's Partner Representative of the Year, during a general session of the ASTA Global Convention.
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