Retail Travel Leadership Summit News

Adam Aron, Robert Simonson to Debate Financial Future of Cruise Industry

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. October 14, 2008

ALEXANDRIA, VA, May 30, 2008. Adam Aron, chairman and CEO of personal consulting firm World Leisure Partners, Inc., and Robert Simonson, an analyst with William Blair & Co., a Chicago-based investment firm, will headline the debate entitled " The Financial Future of the Cruise Line Industry" at ASTA's first ever Retail Travel Leadership Summit.

The summit, held at this year's THETRADESHOW in Orlando, Sept. 8, from 9:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m., will put the spotlight on issues critical to the travel industry and provide an exclusive audience of senior level executives, travel agents, select media and industry representatives with insight into such topics as the future profitability of the travel industry and the economics of going green.

"Travel agents are constantly under siege from various segments of the industry and as airline commissions lessened and finally went away altogether, many agents turned their sights to cruise sales. As such, an open debate about the future of this market segment will provide much needed understanding for the travel agency industry and its future, as well as that of the cruise lines," said Bill Maloney, CTC, ASTA executive vice president and COO.

Simonson has been with William Blair & Co. since 1995 when he joined to cover consumer services companies. Today, his coverage includes cruise, motor sports, leisure products and sporting equipment retailers. Prior to working with William Blair & Co., he spent 25 years covering the retail industry for companies such as Kidder Peabody, Alex Brown and EVEREN Securities. He received his B.S. from Syracuse University and an M.B.A. from New York University

Prior to joining World Leisure Partners, Aron was chairman of the board of directors and CEO of Vail Resorts, Inc. Before that, he was president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line, senior vice president of marketing for United Airlines and senior vice president-marketing for Hyatt Hotels and Resorts. He serves on the board of directors of numerous industry and non-profit organizations and is co-chairman of the National Finance Committee of the Washington, D.C.-based Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and Business Executives for National Security.

After the debates, attendees will have the opportunity to hear from a renowned political speaker who will give insight into the 2008 presidential election, courtesy of Auto Europe/Destination Europe; l unch will also be provided.

For additional information on ASTA's Retail Travel Leadership Summit, please visit ASTA.org/events or contact Robin Costanza at [email protected]. The cost to register is $295 before July 1 and $395 thereafter.

The mission of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) is to facilitate the business of selling travel through effective representation, shared knowledge and the enhancement of professionalism. ASTA seeks a retail travel marketplace that is profitable and growing and a rewarding field in which to work, invest and do business