HONOLULU -- ASTA's 2002 Agent of the Year award went to the Oregon
travel agent who brought 1,000 community and corporate leaders to
New York in a show of support after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Sho Dozono, president and CEO of Portland's Azumano Travel, also
was recognized for the creative promotion of his home state to
Pacific Rim travelers for the past 16 years.
His efforts spurred the production of a TV series, "From Oregon
with Love."
It is produced in conjunction with Fuji Television in Japan and
is credited with generating significant inbound tourism to Oregon
from Japan.
Working with the Portland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, of
which he was chairman, Dozono organized a Flight for Freedom, a
program that prompted nearly 1,000 Oregonians a month to fly after
the terrorist attacks.
"Sho's commitment and devotion to the travel industry and ASTA
is evident in everything he does," said ASTA president Richard
Copland.
Dozono said that he and his wife came up with the idea of taking
1,000 Oregonians to New York in the days after the Sept. 11
tragedy, when he was forced to lay off 35 employees and reduce
hours for the rest of his staff.
"We felt the need to show that we wanted to take back our lives,
particularly the freedom to travel," he said.
Other award recipients at this year's congress included:
• Prem Paul Ohri, ASTA's International Travel Agent of the Year.
Ohri, an ASTA member since 1957, is the owner of G.C. Nanda &
Sons and founder of the Society's Singapore chapter.
• Donna Flora, vice president of Travel Industry Relations for
American Express, recipient of the Society for Accessible Travel
& Hospitality's Access to Freedom Crystal Star Stream
award.
The SATH award is presented annually to an individual or group
that promotes awareness of and access for disabled travelers.
• Michael Maino, retired president and CEO of the International
Airlines Travel Agent Network, who was presented with ASTA's Allied
Member of the Year Award.
• Mario Perillo of Italy
specialist Perillo Tours and Sandals' founder and chairman
Gordon "Butch" Stewart, who were inducted into ASTA's Travel Hall
of Fame.
• SNCF/French National Railroads and Karakorum Expeditions
Mongolia, which were presented separately with ASTA's Environmental
Award.