Bangkok, Thailand - Reflecting the burgeoning role of the Asia Pacific region in the meeting, convention, incentive, and trade show market, today the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) confirmed initial details of a first-ever annual PATA Summit. The event will be a forum for the world's travel and tourism leaders to focus on the largest strategic issues impacting the business-travel and the tourism industries. The event will take place in April 2008 in Bangkok.
Speaking after the PATA board of directors' meeting in Vancouver, Canada, last month, PATA President & CEO Peter de Jong announced that PATA had formed a partnership with two organizations specializing in the hospitality-investment and aviation sectors to support a summit--the Burba Hotel Network and the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation. "BHN and CAPA are recognized leaders in their fields, with a reputation of excellence in convening conferences that draw a broad cross-section of industry leaders and keynote speakers, and which have an enviable track record of CEO attendance," said de Jong.
BHN President & CEO Jim Burba said he was excited about the Summit because it created an opportunity for leaders of all elements of the industry - including destinations, hotels, attractions, tour operators, airlines, and cruise lines - to come together to focus on strategic business issues from a cross-sectoral perspective.
Mr. de Jong said that PATA was still reviewing the theme of the first Summit but that it would center on a "crucial, strategic business issue that demanded the immediate attention of travel and tourism decisionmakers."