Three finalists competed at the Travel Advisor Conference May 29-31 in Dallas, TX, where audience members voted for the award winner.
Alexandria, VA, June 5, 2024 —The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) congratulates the three finalists who participated in the annual Entrepreneur of the Year competition during the annual Travel Advisor Conference.
“Congratulations to all the finalists of this year’s Entrepreneur competition, each one deserves recognition for innovating while taking risks as they built a creative business,” said Gloria Bohan Founder, President & CEO at Omega World Travel. The competition is sponsored by the Dan and Gloria Bohan Foundation, “Finding new ways to apply technology solutions in our industry is going to make a big difference, and I’m delighted to be a part of it. Along the way to entrepreneurship, one needs the support of likeminded people who cheer you on. It is important, too, to develop an entrepreneurial spirit in others. Large companies need to innovate and develop the mindset of an entrepreneur within their teams."
This year’s finalists; Lisa Watson, Founder & Owner of FyndTravel, Richard Earls, President of Arqiteqt Software, and David Shull, CEO & Co-Founder of Tern, each presented their three-minute ‘pitch’ to the General Session audience members, vying for their votes. The winner was David Shull of Tern, a software company built for travel advisors that streamlines business workflows for maximized growth.
“Winning the ASTA Entrepreneur of the Year award is a tremendous honor,” said David Shull. “My team and I flew to the ASTA conference in San Francisco in 2022. While there, we heard firsthand the intense need from advisors for one system that could power their travel businesses. We committed then and there to building something that would transform the way industry uses technology. This award is a powerful testament to the impact we’ve had to date, and we’re just getting started. We’re incredibly grateful for this award and opportunity and are excited for what the future holds for the travel industry.”