Weekly Chapter Update: New Student Chapter and Events that Add Value

Author: Ben Montgomery
Posted: Thu 12 Jan, 2012 11:12 AM

PATA Student Chapter Likely in Cambodia

I’m on a PATA mission this week at the ASEAN Tourism Forum in Manado, Indonesia. I hope to meet with lots of PATA members there and update them about our PATA Next Gen outlook and progress, especially Chapter opportunities.

The development of our new PATA Cambodia Chapter started a few weeks ago. On December 14, the PATA Cambodia Chapter conducted a seminar with tourism students at Norton University, Cambodia, to present PATA, the Cambodia Chapter and tourism development in Cambodia. The purpose was to help students better understand about the industry, what PATA is, its role in the industry, and why it is important for Cambodia to have PATA.

The PATA Cambodia Chapter gives opportunities for students to be its members. The Chapter would like to inspire the students to start getting involved professionally even while they are studying. The Chapter would like to promote more human resources development for the industry.

The seminar went well. Some 146 students attended. We will start a new PATA Student Chapter there soon. It was a very good start for PATA Cambodia Chapter. Very well done everybody!

Chapter Events that Add Insight and Value

The Asian View from LA: The PATA Southern California Chapter led by Chairman Bernhard Clever and Executive Director Klaus Billep will represent PATA at the Los Angeles Times Travel Show January 27-29 at the Los Angeles Convention Centre. The show includes a travel conference January 27 at which the PATA Southern California Chapter will present and promote Asia. Please click to view the event synopsis and join them if you are in the area.

Headwinds in Bangkok: The first 2012 PATA Hub City Forum will take place January 30 at the Landmark Hotel, Bangkok. The event is co-organized by PATA and the PATA Thailand Chapter with the theme, “Navigating the Headwinds.” The forum will be of interest to anyone who is involved in travel and tourism in Thailand and the Greater Mekong Subregion. In interactive sessions, speakers will look at maximizing developments in transportation, manpower, hospitality and capacity building, and discuss future trends in Thailand and the Mekong region.

Senior executives from organisations such as IATA, Visa, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Starwood, IHG, Accor, BBC, CNN, and Boeing are expected to attend.

This time, our special keynote speaker is Thai Airways International President, Dr. Piyasvasti Amranand. Please click to view the event synopsis and mark your diary now if you are in the area.