ASTA is requesting nominations for the 2009 ASTA Travel Industry Awards, to be presented during TheTradeShowin Las Vegas, Sept. 13-15. Nominations will be accepted through May 30. 

"The ASTA community is rich with talented travel professionals who have dedicated themselves to their clients, their business and the industry," said Lynda Maxwell, CTC, president of Destinations Inc. in Ellicott City, MD. , and chair of ASTA's Special Projects Committee, which oversees the award nomination and selection process. "This is ASTA's chance to acknowledge agents and suppliers who have left a positive impression on their peers and the industry as a whole."

As one of the travel industry's premier organizations, ASTA strives to promote excellence within the trade. To that end, ASTA presents top-level awards in the following areas to recognize those professionals who make lasting contributions to the travel industry. For a complete listing of all nominee criteria, please visit the awards section on ASTA.org. 

- Travel Agent of the Year recognizes an active travel agent member who has made a great contribution to the travel industry and whose outstanding influence and professional activity have advanced the status of travel agents.
- The Allied Member of the Year Award recognizes a person or company whose contributions to travel have positively impacted the travel agency community. 
- The Travel Hall of Fame Award recognizes and honors individuals whose careers have made an enduring impact on the development and expansion of the travel and tourism industry. 
- The Young Professional Award is intended to recognize the efforts of an outstanding young travel professional. This award will be presented to a young travel professional who has made great strides and contributions to the travel industry since entering the business. Candidates for the Young Professional Award must be 40 or under and have been a participant in the ASTA Young Professional Society (YPS) for a minimum of one year.  

To nominate a travel industry professional or to join, please visit ASTA.org.