Asata Awards: And the finalists are...

ASATA has announced the finalists of its Asata Awards. The winners will be announced at this year's Asata Congress at Port Ghalib in Egypt. It is the first time that the Asata Awards will be recognising the contribution of people in the travel industry. Tomorrow’s Leader: Rung Button, International Travel & Tours Tibor Zsandanyi, Travel with Flair Exceptional Veteran: Janet Aldworth, Sure Voyager Travel Rob Crankshaw, XL Pentravel Top Independent Travel Consultant: John van Blerk, Thompsons Travel Michelle Wright, e-Travel Top Corporate Consultant in a Retail TMC: Beverly Naicker, Sure Travelmaster Camerin van Eyk, HRG Connex Travel, PE Top Wholesale Consultant: Samantha Gash, Beachcomber Tours Christelle Lamprecht, Thompsons Tours, Cape Town Top Leisure Consultant in a Retail TMC: Marcha Lourens, South African Reynolds Travel Centre Lindsay Ransom, XL Pentravel Cresta Top Sales Representative for a Retail TMC: Lloyd Barkhuizen, TRT / American Express & Seekers Corporate Travel Chantal Kliche, Thompsons Travel Top Key Accounts Executive of a Retail TMC: Japie Coetzee, XL Aloe Travel Beau Wynne, Rennies Travel Top Wholesale Sales Representative: Gary Smith, Sun International Dreams Christo Cronje, Beachcomber Tours Top Airline Sales Representative: Wendy Clausen, BA/Comair Samantha Milburn, 1time Airlines Top Car Rental Sales Representative: Darren Bibb, Imperial Car Rental Shaun Durieux, First Car Rental Top Sales Representative for an Insurance Company: Rozann Bate, Travel Insurance Consultants Serena Janse van Rensburg, Travel Insurance Consultants Top Hotel Company Sales Representative: Rose Bischoff, City Lodge Leanne Muir, Southern Sun A number of poor applications were received for the category Top In-House Corporate Consultant in a Retail TMC apart from one which was exceptionally strong and well motivated. The judges decided the category should stand based on the brilliant proposal by the nominator for the inhouse candidate. As a result, the judges have already determined a winner in the category Top In-House Corporate Consultant in a Retail Travel Management Company. For further details on the judging of the Asata Awards, please the next issue of Travel News Weekly. Natalia Thomson (nataliat@nowmedia.co.za)