Alexandria, VA; June 23, 2025 — The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) today announced a strategic collaboration with Florida International University’s (FIU) top-ranked
Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, intended to introduce students to meaningful career pathways in the trillion-dollar global travel industry and advisor profession. This initiative is designed to provide students with early exposure to career opportunities in the travel industry and equip them with foundational knowledge and professional support.
As part of this collaboration, FIU hospitality students now have access to ASTA’s online educational programs,
Roadmap to Becoming a Travel Advisor and
Geocultural Guide for Travel Advisors, as part of their curriculum. These courses offer in-depth, practical guidance for students exploring a career in travel advising and are specifically tailored to support the academic and professional development of aspiring travel professionals.
Courses offered by the FIU program undergo rigorous review and evaluation by a faculty panel to ensure required learning objectives and educational performance standards are achieved.
In addition to the coursework, students will receive complimentary one-year ASTA membership at the Future Travel Professional level. This membership offers access to exclusive industry resources, including webinars hosted by travel suppliers, ASTA events, educational sessions and other member-only activities designed to foster deeper industry engagement and mentorship opportunities.
ASTA worked closely with Dr. Michael Cheng, Dean of the Chaplin School, to bring this initiative to life and ensure meaningful integration into the student experience.
“Travel is at the core of hospitality and brings people together for memorable moments in their lives,” said Michael Cheng, Dean of the Chaplin School. “We are excited to partner with ASTA to offer this essential and unique opportunity to the future leaders of hospitality,” he added.
Further emphasizing the importance of preparing the next generation of travel professionals, Zane Kerby, President and CEO of ASTA added, “We are proud to support FIU’s outstanding hospitality students as they explore careers in travel advising. By providing them with industry-relevant training and opportunities to engage directly with travel professionals, we are not only investing in their future success but also strengthening the pipeline of talent that will drive the future of our industry.”
FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management is recognized as one of the top one percent of global hospitality programs and ranks fourth among U.S. public hospitality schools, according to the QS World University Rankings 2025. With over 1,200 students enrolled in hospitality and tourism programs, FIU remains a leader in producing globally-minded graduates ready to shape the future of hospitality.