Who's Who

Pata Profile

Hiran Cooray is an experienced tourism industry professional with a wealth of experience across the Asia Pacific region. He was appointed Managing Director of Jetwing Hotels in 1987 and has quickly cultured a reputation for creating specialist boutique properties in his home country of Sri Lanka. Hiran has taken a very active role in the repositioning of tourism in Sri Lanka and was conferred with the honorary title, Sri Lanka Sikhamani by Her Excellency the President of the Socialist Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka. He has served with distinction as a Board member of the Sri Lankan Tourism Development Authority and also serves on the Board of The Small Luxury Hotels of the World. He has displayed remarkable commitment to sustainable tourism and has been serving as Chairman of the Responsible Tourism Partnership of Sri Lanka. A Marketing graduate from the University of North Carolina, Hiran Cooray has previously served as Chairman of the PATA Sri Lanka Chapter. He became Chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association at the PATA annual meeting held in Kuching, Sarawak in April 2010. He is a keen cricketer and a life member of the Singhalese Sports Club.

Pata Profile

Mr João Manuel Costa Antunes is the Director of the Macau Government Tourist Office. A graduate of the Lisbon Technical Institute with a civil engineering degree he moved to Macau in 1983 where he initially worked as an advisor in the office of the Macau Government Under Secretary of Equipment and Infrastructure. In 1984 he was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Macau Urban Council. He then joined the Macau Government Tourist Office as Deputy Director in 1987 and was promoted to Director in 1988. Mr Antunes was entrusted with the responsibilities of Coordinator of the Handover Ceremony Coordination Office between 1998 and early 2000 to organise the official Handover Ceremony of Macau SAR. Upon completion of this momentous event, he returned to his current post as MGTO Director. Mr Antunes has also been active in many other official capacities in the Macau community such as Coordinator of the Macau Grand Prix Committee and Coordinator of Tourism Crisis Management Office. More details: www.macautourism.gov.mo

Pata Profile

The Managing Director of Asian Overland Services Tours & Travel, Malaysia, he established some 33 year ago, Anthony has an instinctive passion in nature and green tourism. He had made AOS a leading inbound tour operator for eco tourism, adventure, experiential learning, special interest and incentive tours. His leadership in eco-tourism and the projects he’s been developed won him the Global Travel Award 1993 at WTM in London. He also served as the first Vice President of the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) and Chairman of ICCA Asia Pacific Chapter.

Pata Profile

Janice Antonson is the Vice President for Airport Strategy and Marketing. She joined ASM, in Manchester, England, from the Nassau Airport Development Company in 2010, where she held the role of vice president, Marketing and Communications, and was responsible for air service development and community relations. She was a member of the senior management team on a US$450 million airport expansion in The Bahamas. With her new role at ASM, Janice works with airports around the world on air service development and other  related  aviation services. Previously, Janice was manager, Aviation Marketing, with the Vancouver International Airport Authority, where her responsibilities included international air service development, passenger marketing programmes and tourism industry marketing partnerships. With an education in tourism and aviation Janice has built up an extensive background working with airlines, airports and tourism organisations worldwide. As well as being past chairman of The Board of Directors for PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) based in Bangkok, she also chaired their Carrier Committee for three years. Outside of ASM, Janice is a golfer and is enjoying exploring her England, her new country of residence.

Pata Profile

Richard Beere is currently Managing Director of Fastrak Strategic Business Solutions, a new organisation that is focused totally on helping companies build business with Asia, by working with CEOs and Senior Management teams to immerse, involve, and engage with "Asia Today" and "Tame the Tigers".   Over 30 years experience- 29 in the tourism industry- 23 with Tourism Australia, 20 in senior management positions, and 13 living in Asia provide Richard with a powerful and unique set of skills, experience , and attributes covering international business, multi market cultural understanding, Government and commercial arenas, strategy, management, marketing, and communications. He recently received the Outstanding Individual Contribution to the Industry Award from the Australian Tourism Export Council( ATEC) in recognition of his efforts especially in regard to Asia.   Richard has been involved with PATA for over 25 years, and has held various Board and Executive positions including Chairman since 2004.

Pata Profile

Gloria Henderson has been a travel consultant for 32 years and attended her very first PATA Annual Conference in 1975. She became a member of the PATA Northern California Chapter and was elected to its Executive Committee, where she served as Chairperson and Treasurer. During that period, she also served on the PATA Conference Committee. In 1986, she joined the PATA Hawaii Chapter and was soon elected to its Executive Board as Treasurer. She has been PATA Hawaii Chapter Chair since 2004.  In 1993, she co-chaired the PATA Chapter Congress Committee held on Kauai, prior to the Conference that took place in Honolulu. Gloria Henderson has served PATA on its  PATA Executive Board, Industry Council, Marketing Committee, Executive Committee and as Chair of the 50th Anniversary Conference Programme Committee. She becomes PATA Life Member in 2010.

Pata Profile

Gerry Perez was born and raised on Guam, graduated from Fr. Duenas Memorial School, married Karri Trahin of Radford, Virginia, and between them had six children. Perez retired in 2003 as Travel Retail Executive (DFS President) after 23 years with over 500 employees. He now puts his energy into a responsibly building the tourism industry and is an active member of the following organisations; Guam Tourism Foundation; Member, Executive Committee, Pacific Asia Travel Association; and President, SKAL International Asia Area Committee covering East Asian countries, West Asia to Bahrain, and Mauritius in Indian Ocean; and Past Chairman, Micronesia Regional Tourism Council. Perez has authored more than 30 technical publications and other papers related to biological sciences, economic development, cultural issues and tourism.

Pata Profile

Mr Wong oversees the Hertz Car Rental and Equipment Rental businesses in the Asia and Japan region.   He has 30 years of travel and hospitality experience. He started his career in Avis Singapore in 1980 where he was the Deputy General Manager before moving to Mansfield Travel, a leading travel agency, in 1985 as General Manager – Marketing. He served as PATA Singapore Chapter Chairman for 8 years, Industry Council Chairman, Board Member and was a recipient of the PATA Award of Merit in 2007.

Rick Antonson is President & CEO of Tourism Vancouver, which represents over 1,000 member businesses and is responsible for the market development of Metro Vancouver as a convention, incentive, and leisure travel destination. Rick is a former book publisher, and train company executive. As a travel industry leader, Rick is an ambassador for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games and Vice President of the Board of Directors for Pacific Coast Public Television .  He served on the boards of the Vancouver Community College and on the Advisory Council for S imon Fraser University's Urban Studies Program. In the recent past he also chaired the Board of Directors for book publisher Douglas & McIntyre; was chair of Destination Marketing Association International based in Washington, DC, and a founding board member of the Canadian Tourism Commission. In fall of 2007, Heritage House Publishers released a book co-authored by Rick, titled Slumach's Gold, In Search of a Legend. It spent twenty three weeks on the BC Books Bestseller list in the Vancouver Sun. In June, 2008, Dundurn Publishing of Toronto published his third book, To Timbuktu for a Haircut; A Journey Through West Africa.

Arjun Sharma has been associated with the travel Industry for over 25 years, known for his exemplary vision, business acumen, leadership skills and drive – qualities which continuously lead him to successfully explore new ideas while building on existing foundations. He is today one of the pillars of consistent development of the tourism industry, not only in India, but also the entire Sub-continent. He is especially known for his passion for innovative marketing in promoting India. In 2005, Arjun Sharma brought the world’s largest travel conglomerate TUI to India through a Joint venture with Le Passage to India. As the Managing Director of Le Passage to India, he has nurtured its growth to be the No.1 Destination Management Company of the country.  The company has won three consecutive National Tourism Awards (2006-2009) under his stewardship. Mr. Sharma believes that his team is his most valuable asset and their ability to work with excellence shows in the success of the business. He re-affirms his faith in the team by constantly encouraging them, to strive for greater efficiency and growth sustenance within the organization. He says” Ability is what we are capable of doing, motivation determines what we do and attitude determines how well we do it.” Mr. Sharma is also the Managing Director of Select Group which has diversified business interests. Through its brand Select Hotels the group has two boutique resorts in Goa and Manesar and its real estate foray is Select Citywalk – a premium shopping centre in the New Delhi.

Pata Profile

Kevin Murphy has been active in the tourism industry and community affairs throughout his career, previously serving as a director of the largest Australian Chamber of Commerce outside of Australia in Hong Kong, is a Board member of Green Globe Asia Pacific, and active on the Board of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) where he was awarded the PATA Order of Merit in 2003 and the Chairman’s Award in 2006 for his continued contributions to the growth of responsible and sustainable tourism in the Asia Pacific region over the previous 20 years.    A citizen of Australia, resident in Asia for over 20 years, he remains a frequent and popular speaker on hotel brand and investment topics at major industry conferences throughout the world.

Peter Hoslin has over 20 years experience in airlines and airports from around the world, commencing his career with Laker Airways in the UK.  He has worked with airlines in Canada, Nigeria, Syria and Europe, before moving to Australia and joining Qantas Airways.  He joined Sydney Airport in 1991, where after many operational and commercial management roles he led aviation development for Sydney Airport.    Peter moved to the Middle East in 2006 and is responsible for the airline marketing and route development of the airports of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.