PATA shuffles staff

May 15, 2013 by  
Filed under News

BANGKOK, 15 May 2013: Pacific Asia Travel Association is making internal staff changes to achieve a commitment to human capital development , corporate social responsibility and enhanced digital communications.

Effective immediately, former communications manager, Parita Niemwongse, will take up the role of manager-human capital development projects and awards.

Halona Padiachy has been appointed manager-communications.

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The did you know of a PATA summit

May 9, 2013 by  
Filed under Blogs, Don Ross

BANGKOK, 9 May 2013: I am trying to be a new age traveller, smart and mobile, savvy and switched on. I might just qualify for premier status if I believe in miracles.

“Raise your hand if you have more than one mobile device on the table here today”, a whiz kid from Google asked delegates attending the recent PATA Summit. I can count. I raised my hand reckoning I had around five items. My reading glasses are for ever mobile, so is my pen if it is still on the table. Then there is my Iphone, a laptop and a wrist watch, an ancient mobile device that you can strap to your wrist or hang off a chain and dangle it from your waistcoat. That’s a fob watch and I don’t have one.

I thought I played the quiz quite well and the speaker was happy as he made his point. I was hoping he would sit down and call it day, but no he had to labour the point. Considering we all raised our hands and our mobile devices you would have thought the proverbial penny would have dropped. He was preaching to the converted. But he motored on; a speech had to be delivered.

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PATA signs CSR partnership

April 29, 2013 by  
Filed under Events, MICE, News, Thailand

BANGKOK, 29 April 2013: The Global Sustainable Tourism Council signed off on a partnership with the Pacific Asia Travel Association, Friday.

PATA Chief Executive Officer Martin Craigs and GSTC Board Member Guy Chester signed the MoU during the closing session of PATA Annual Summit in Bangkok.

The MoU underscores PATA’s support and endorsement of GSTC’s sustainability criteria but it will also open the door for joint advocacy and the sharing of sustainability practices with PATA 700 plus members.

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UNWTO and PATA share projects

April 29, 2013 by  
Filed under Events, MICE, News, Thailand

BANGKOK, 29 April 2013: Advancing economic diversification, cultural and environmental preservation through tourism are the key objectives of a new strategic partnership signed between UNWTO and the Pacific Asia Travel Association last Friday at the closing session of the PATA Summit.

The partnership was signed by UNWTO secretary-general, Taleb Rifai, and PATA CEO, Martin Craigs.

“We are proud to further deepen our relationship with PATA, a leading voice of tourism in Asia Pacific”, said Taleb Rifai, who spoke at the summit attended by approximately 300 executives many of them top management representatives of hospitality, technology and travel companies in the region.

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Asia Pacific climbs the chart

April 26, 2013 by  
Filed under News, Pacific

BANGKOK, 26 April 2013: Visitor arrivals to the Asia Pacific will grow to 581 million by 2017 with an annual growth rate of 4.1% according to a new PATA Asia Pacific Visitor Forecast released Thursday.

The study forecasts 2013 will close with 494 million and expand by almost 100 million visits by 2017.

Over the five year period China will top the rankings replacing the USA (second place) as the most popular destination in the region followed by Hong Kong and Macau in third and fourth spot. Malaysia will take the fifth spot and Thailand will rise to sixth place in the five-year period.

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PATA forum checks connectivity

April 26, 2013 by  
Filed under News, Thailand

BANGKOK, 26 April 2013: More than 100 Tourism experts, academics and students shared views on travel connectivity at the PATA Youth Forum held at Thammasat University Thursday.

Experts in various presentations  made a case for better connectivity with customers and creating more value for the tourism experience.

Assistant Prof Dr Glenn McCartney, Hospitality and Gaming Management, University of Macau and Author of “Event Management: An Asian Perspective” addressed the audience on the subject “Experience – Making Events Happen.”

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PATA hires Euro expert

February 27, 2013 by  
Filed under Europe, News

BANGKOK, 27 February 2013: The Pacific Asia Travel Association has appointed, Daniela Wagner as PATA European Coordinator.

PATA CEO, Martin J Craigs, said: “I am delighted to welcome Daniela Wagner to the PATA family. Her long and relevant career experience will add value as we build the PATA brand in Europe.”

“She worked for the Global Tourism Economy Forum in Macau last year and assisted in organising the PATA Aligned Advocacy Dinner at the House of Commons in London,” he said.

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Amadeus raises its PATA profile

February 6, 2013 by  
Filed under News, Southeast Asia

BANGKOK, 6 February 2013: Pacific Asia Travel Association has recruited Amadeus as its latest premier partner.

Amadeus, is a global provider of technology solutions to the travel industry, with its regional head office in Bangkok. It joins PATA’s premier partner, Visa at the top end of the association’s membership.

The two organisations said they will work together to the grow Asia Pacific visitor economy in a responsible way by leveraging data from their joint resources, including Amadeus’ Total Demand airline passenger database.

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Pata’s Nine to the rescue

February 1, 2013 by  
Filed under News

BANGKOK, 1 February 2013: Pacific Asia Travel Association launched a Rapid Recovery Task Force at the association’s engagement hub at its head office in Bangkok, Thursday.

The standing task force is led by PATA CEO, Martin Craigs, and eight volunteers who will collectively try to help PATA member destinations during and after times of crisis.

The announcement said the seven experts would provide a rapid response whenever a major crisis hit a PATA destination.

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PATA: A pain in the neck

January 29, 2013 by  
Filed under Aviation, Europe, News

BANGKOK, 29 January 2013: Pacific Asia Travel Association and World Travel and Tourism Council continue to hammer UK authorities over the unpopular Air Passenger Duty due for further increases in 1 April.

PATA CEO, Martin Craigs has used the UK air passenger duty as a launch pad to revive PATA’s advocacy role that fell by the wayside during the tenure of two previous CEOs.

He has lambasted UK authorities in various forums since his appointment in November 2011 culminating in a presentation to UK members of parliament at a dinner during the World Travel Mart last November.

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