Here they are – the 2008 ASATA awards finalists

The focus of the ASATA Awards is aligned to the 2008 ASATA Conference theme of “Putting the People Back into Travel”, and winners will be announced at the ASATA Awards Ceremony on the 29 April 2008, the final night of the ASATA Conference, which will be held in Egypt.

Finalists in each category are:

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:
Christelle Lamprecht, Thompsons Tours, Cape Town
Samantha Gash, Beachcomber Tours

Top Leisure Consultant in a Retail TMC:
Lindsay Ransom, XL Pentravel Cresta
Marcha Lourens, South African Reynolds Travel Centre

Top Sales Representative for a Retail TMC:
Chantal Kliche, Thompsons Travel
Lloyd Barkhuizen, TRT / American Express & Seekers Corporate Travel

Top Key Accounts Executive of a Retail TMC:
Beau Wynne, Rennies Travel
Japie Coetzee, XL Aloe Travel

Top Wholesale Sales Representative:
Christo Cronje, Beachcomber Tours
Gary Smith, Sun International Dreams

Top Airline Sales Representative:
Samantha Milburn, 1time Airlines
Wendy Clausen, BA/Comair

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:
Leanne Muir, Southern Sun
Rose Bischoff, City Lodge

Due to the fact that no nominations were received in the category of Top Credit Card Company Sales Representative, this category was scrapped for this year.

The Top In-house Corporate Consultant in a Retail TMC nominations were very poor, bar one nomination which was exceptionally strong and well motivated. The panel of judges were so impressed with the nomination and have unanimously decided that this nomination qualifies as the overall category winner. This category is therefore not listed above, and the winner will be announced at the ASATA Awards Ceremony.