Who's Who

Pata Profile

Mr. Duffell joined PATA on February 1st 2009. He was previously at Indochina Services Travel Group CEO); Migo Software Inc (co-founder); Thomas Cook Travel Group (GM - Worldwide Network); Budget Rent A Car (Asia Pacific Regional Director) and various other travel and technology companies.

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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.

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

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.

Janice Antonson is the Vice President of Marketing for the Nassau International Airport in The Bahamas.  She will be responsible for the marketing, communications and air service development for The Bahamas during the development of the new airport in Nassau. Having held a variety of positions within the aviation and tourism industry as well as marketing roles for two convention and visitors bureaus and a government tourism agency in Canada, her travels have taken her around the world presenting to airlines, tourism organisations and business partners.   In her role with PATA, Antonson has been on the Executive Committee since 2005.  She was chair of the Carrier committee and was an active member of the previous Marketing committee.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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