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First Alexander W. Harris Founder's Award
Presented to Francis Goranin, CTC, Past President and
Chairman, American Tourism Society
At ATS Annual Conference
October 28, 2008, Cairo, Egypt
(November
18, 2008 — New York, NY) The first Alexander W. Harris Founder's Award was presented to Francis Goranin, CTC, Past President and Chairman, American Tourism Society (ATS) at the ATS Conference in Cairo, Egypt, Oct. 28, 2008. Alex Harris, CTC, now Honorary Chairman of ATS and Chairman, General Tours, presented the Award to Goranin in his absence. Goranin was being honored as a co-founder with Harris of the American –ndash; Soviet Tourism Society, the predecessor to ATS. The presentation was made at the Sofitel El –Gezirah Hotel in Cairo.
"The Award was created to honor those who have played leadership roles in the mission of ATS and the travel industry in general," said Phil Otterson, ATS President.
In presenting the Award, Alex Harris said, "the initial success of ATS was due in large part to the commitment, tireless efforts and support of Goranin." Like Harris, Goranin was a pioneer in opening up travel to Russia to the US Market. "We formed ATS in 1989 because by working together as a group," said Goranin in a telephone interview from his home in Chicago. "Those of us who were actively selling tours to Russia and the satellite countries realized that we would have more influence in the Soviet Union and overcome the many obstacles put in our path by Intourist, the Government Tour Operator. We were also very fortunate to have Alex Harris among us, as he spoke fluent Russian. The rest is history. ATS achieved its goal and Intourist was much more accommodating to the needs of the US tour operators."
David Parry, ATS Chairman and Chairman, Academic Travel Abroad noted, "Francis was a key player in the formation of ATS and was a tremendous asset during our turbulent early years. His Middle European Weltanschauung, or long historic view, as well as his extensive worldwide contacts helped ATS broaden its focus and thrive in those difficult times."
Born in Vienna, Austria, Goranin, trained as a pharmacist, was very active in the anti-Nazi Movement. In 1939, five hours after Hitler took over Austria; he escaped to Switzerland, then to England and eventually immigrated to the US in 1939. He launched his career in the Travel Industry following a trip to Europe to visit his father in 1940. In planning his trip, Goranin recalls his frustration with the local travel agents' lack of knowledge, expertise and level of service. After working in the travel business for five years, Goranin started his own company, Vega International.
Goranin ‘s first ASTA Conference was in 1959 in Cuba. He soon started taking a leadership role in the organization elected a Vice President in 1978 at the ASTA Munich Convention. His first Congress as ASTA president was in Budapest, Hungary. Goranin was responsible for launching ASTAPAC, the lobbying arm for travel agents.
About ATS
The American Tourism Society (ATS) was established in 1989 by a group of US tourism industry executives. It is a nonprofit, nonpolitical travel industry organization whose membership includes tour operators, hotels and resorts, international airlines, cruise lines, Government Tourist Offices, meeting and incentive planners, travel agents, tourism educators and public relations and marketing firms dedicated to promoting, developing and expanding high-quality, reliable travel between North America and the ATS destination areas: the Baltics, Central and Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean / Red Sea Region and Russia. ATS holds annual meetings and a Tourism College hosted by different destination countries each year; has a website www.americantourismsociety.org
For more information on The American Tourism Society: 149 Madison Avenue, Suite 602, New York, NY 10016; USA -Phone 212.893.8111, Fax 212.893.8153; email:
info@americantourismsociety.org.
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