PATA Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart 2011 (AT&RTCM2011)

Ben Keene’s quest in 2006 to create a new cross-cultural sustainable community on a Fijian island via a social network captured international attention. He began to work with a young development travel company, Madventurer, whilst he was still at university studying politics.

Keene’s focus is on turning one island community into an international network of cross-cultural tribes that closely share the local development, culture and impact with their online members and audiences. In his words: “There’s no reason why the best and most inspiring vacations should finish the day you go home. Tribes – people connected to one another, a leader, and an idea – can change the way we all live, for the better.”

Sudhir Sahi has thirtyfive years of experience in sustainable design, operations, marketing, monitoring and evaluation of tourism programmes. These include community-based adventure and ecotourism projects at the local, state, national and international levels. He held the post of member, Environment Impact Assessment expert committee for tourism, transport and port projects in the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India, for four years.

In his last appointment, Sahi was the UNDP National Consultant for the UNDP-Ministry of Tourism, Government of India partnered Rural Tourism Project since its inception in 2003 at diverse rural sites across India. The Project’s Hodka rural site (Kachchh District, Gujarat) won the PATA Grand Award 2010.    

In 1990, Bruce Poon Tip founded Gap Adventures in order to deliver an authentic travel experience to travellers. In 2008, National Geographic Adventure rated the company as the ‘Best Do It All Outfitter on Earth’ in an international competition. Gap Adventures has been named as one of the country’s 50 Best Managed Companies and as a Top 100 Employer

Poon Tip has been honoured twice with the Ernst & Young ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’. He has received the ‘Travel Personality of the Year’ award by the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies as also the Global Traders Leadership award for excellence in exporting and international business.

Gap Adventures is universally recognised as an industry leader in sustainable tourism and community development, and was awarded the 2009 World Savers Awards by Condé Nast Traveller magazine.

New PATA Chairman 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 987 and quickly developed 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 sits on the Board of The Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

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. He also enjoys bird watching. 

Arlene Samen volunteered her services to Interplast, an international non-profit organisation, and has since participated in more than 15-volunteer trips to diverse locations such as the Philippines, Mexico, Jamaica, Tanzania, Chile, India, Madagascar, Honduras, and Ecuador.

Samen and her non-profit organisation, One Heart World-Wide www.oneheartworld-wide.org have designed and implemented a successful and sustainable maternal newborn model for indigenous cultures all over the world. One Heart is currently located out of China, Nepal, Mexico and Tibet.Samen has received many awards, including being selected as one of the ‘50 Unsung Heroes for Acts of Compassion’, in 2001,and as a CNN ‘Hero of the Week’ in 2008

She has also been nominated for awards by the Conrad Hilton Foundation, Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), the Gates Foundation, Noetic Science Institute and many more. In 2009, she was selected as one of six Rainer Arnhold Fellows by the Mulago Foundation in San Francisco, California. 

Brian T Mullis is an internationally recognised expert in sustainable tourism development and destination stewardship. He is the founder and CEO of Sustainable Travel International, a leading non-profit organisation with operations around the world.

Mullis has over 21-years of experience in the travel and tourism industry. He began his career working in National Parks in the United States. More recently, Mullis was the president and owner of The World Outdoors, an international travel company specialising in active and eco-travel. His work has taken him to more than 40-countries across five continents, including some of the world’s best examples of sustainable tourism and destination stewardship. Mullis has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a focus on Business from Auburn University, and holds a Master's Degree in Recreation Management from Springfield College.

Dr Mina Gabor is chairwoman and president of the International School of Sustainable Tourism. She previously served for 18-years in the Philippine government, either as Secretary of Tourism or Undersecretary of Trade. She has served as a consultant to numerous Philippine and international organisations such as the United Nations Trade Center, the International Finance Center of the World Bank, the UN World Tourism Organisation, the Asian Productivity Organisation in Japan, and Clark International Airport Corporation.

Dr Gabor earned her PhD in Entreprenology at the International University of Entreprenology in Hawaii. She is a recipient of various prestigious awards among which are the Philippine Legion of Honor Award (the highest award bestowed by the Philippine government to an individual), for her exemplary contributions for the development of Tourism and her outstanding performance as Tourism Secretary. She is the second woman, after President Corazon Aquino, to be honored by the Philippine Military Academy for her exemplary performance in government.

Jitendra Rana holds his MS and BS degrees in Engineering from USA and India respectively. His main field of study was Agriculture, with a MS thesis conducted on water management. He embraces a deep-felt importance of responsible tourism promotion for poverty alleviation and environment improvement. He has been working and writing on environmental and other issues having ramifications to promotion of eco-friendly tourism.

Rana has provided his services as a sustainable tourism promotion advisor and consultant to a number of reputed travel agencies and resorts. He has a deep interest to develop and promote a truly authentic and eco-friendly tourism image of Nepal within and abroad and is willing to contribute as much as he can towards this.

Rana has been on board with Nepal Environment and Tourism Initiative Foundation (NETIF) as its Sustainable Tourism Promotion Advisor. NETIF is an NGO founded in 2006 in partnership with SUOMEN LATU - The Finnish Central Association for Recreational Sports and Outdoor Activities. Suomen Latu has started its work in Nepal from establishing towards an eco-friendly trekking trail around the periphery of Kathmandu valley. 

Ian worked for three years in the rainforests of Malaysian Borneo where he designed facilities for ecological research and eco-tourism. This experience led to the formation of Arkitrek.

Arkitrek has subsequently developed two areas of expertise; sustainable design consultancy and experiential learning programs.To deliver on both objectives Arkitrek engages with social and environmental NGO’s as well as responsible tourism operators.

Arkitrek has recently completed projects for Borneo Rainforest Lodge, the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre and has launched the Arkitrek Camp and Intern Program in partnership with Camps International.

Mrs. Duangkamol Chansuriyawong is a driving force behind Thai ecotourism. Her 25 year career has spanned environmental leadership as a student activist; writing on Thai life, culture and nature; project advising for government forestry initiatives, and senior management roles leading 3 award-winning ecotourism operators.

 In 1997, Mrs. Chansuriyawong took what was to be her defining career step by helping to establish the “Thai Ecotourism and Adventure Travel Association” (TEATA), where she currently serves as President. Mrs. Chansuryawong balances this commitment with lecturing on Eco and Adventure Tourism at Kasetsart and Chulalongkorn Universities and working with her family on their celebrated tour operation, Wild Thailand!                                       

Greg Duffell joined PATA as the CEO on February 1^st 2009.

His earlier assignment was with Bangkok-based Indochina Services Travel Group where his responsibilities covered operations in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Indonesia.

Duffell’s extensive experience in the travel and tourism industry includes the role of general manager, Worldwide Network, for the Thomas Cook Group, where he developed and implemented internet e-commerce solutions across the group’s member retail travel network. He was also regional director - Asia Pacific for Budget Rent A Car, overseeing the opening and development of its Asia and Pacific franchise operations offices over an 11-year period.  

Since leaving school and spending a short stint learning to fly with the Royal Australian Air Force, he has built a career in business management living and working in Australia, the Middle East, UK and USA. In 1995 he was part of a team that introduced electric vehicles to Asia. His interest in IT and technology continued when in 2003 he co-founded a Silicon Valley software company, Migo Software.

Duffell’s home base has been in Asia for the past 20-years and he is conversant in a number of Asian languages, including Thai. 

Professor Zhang Guangrui is the director of the Tourism Research Centre at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), Beijing, China. In the past decade, he has participated and chaired major projects sponsored by national and CASS grants and has made many field study and policy recommendation reports to the central and local governments.

 Guangrui is vice president of the Beijing Tourism Society. Additionally, he is a member of the international editorial board of Tourism Management (UK) and Tourism Recreation Research (India) in addition to many other social posts in China. Since 2000, he has been editor-in-chief of the annual Green Book of China’s Tourism entitled China’s Tourism Development: Analysis & Forecast. His major interests of studies include world tourism trends, international tourism policies, tourism planning and development.

Mandip Singh Soin is a Mountaineer, Explorer, Environmentalist & Ecotourism expert and Founder & Managing Director of India’s leading Adventure, Eco & Luxury Travel organisation. Ibex Expeditions, established in 1979 is India's only tourism company to receive 4 International awards including the PATA Gold and Discovery Award as well as the Green Globe award and a National award.

In 2009, Ibex Expeditions was selected by National Geographic amongst ‘BEST ADVENTURE TRAVEL COMPANIES ON EARTH’.

A Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, Mandip is Founder President of the Eco Tourism Society of India; Member - National Committee on Tourism of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII); Member – PATA Internationals Sustainable Tourism Advisory Committee and Judge for the World Tourism & Travel Council’s ‘Tourism for Tomorrow Awards’.

He is the only Indian to be conferred the 'Ness Award' by the Royal Geographical Society, UK for Mountaineering & Expeditions.

Over the past 40 years Andrew Jones has worked in a number of senior management and corporate positions in prestigious hotels, resorts and management companies in London, Bermuda, Canada and several countries in Asia.

In 1996 Andrew started a new journey when he founded and became Guardian of Sanctuary Resorts, a company that offers responsible and sustainable tourism experiences where people can balance their body, mind and spirit in an environmentally-friendly space.

Andrew was previously Director, Asia Pacific Affairs for the International Hotel and Restaurant Association and a member of the Board of the Indian Ocean Tourism Organisation. Andrew is a Certified Hotel Administrator of the American Hotel and Lodging Association and a Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality. 

He is also a member of the World Travel Market World Responsible Tourism Day advisory panel. Andrew Jones grew up in the hospitality industry in the United Kingdom, where his family managed small country hotels and restaurants. He graduated with diplomas in Hotel and Catering studies from the Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies.

John King is Managing Director of Sydne y based tourism marketing and development consultancy, Global Tourism & Leisure Pty Ltd through which he works as an adviser to governments and tourism authorities, industry organisations and companies principally throughout Australia, Asia, Pacific and the Middle East. His 37 years tourism industry experience includes 12 years in senior executive positions with the Australian Tourist Commission. 

He was Chairman of Tourism Tasmania, for nine years up to February 2006 and has been Chairman of the Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) since May 2006. He was for seven years a Board member of the Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Tourism and is Chairman of the Industry Advisory Board of

the Southern Cross University School of Tourism and Hospitality Management and a Fellow of the University.  He is the Australian Government nominee to the Board of Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park and World Heritage Area and a Trustee of the Australian Travel Compensation Fund.He is a long time member of PATA currently serving on its Board and as Chairman of its Committee of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability.

Dr Siddhartha Bajra Bajracharya is the executive officer of the National Trust for Nature Conservation. Previously, he was the director of Annapurna Conservation Area Project from 1994–2000.

 He has been actively involved in integrated conservation development projects. His specialised fields of expertise are community based conservation, ecotourism, protected area management and sustainable development. He provides expert services on biodiversity and ecotourism to various local community-based organisations including academic, national and international institutions. He also plays the role of an academic supervisor to graduate research students in tourism and biodiversity.

Bajracharya took a lead to develop various management and sustainable development plans, wherein sustainable tourism development has been highlighted as a key part. In 2005, he was awarded the ‘RONAST Emerging Talent Award 2005’ by the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) for his contribution in conservation science.

Steve Harbert first became involved in the travel industry leading groups of holiday makers on walking holidays in the French Pyrenees. Upon completing a BEd (Hons) Degree in Outdoor Education during he spent eight years working for one of the UK's largest specialist tour operators, managing the expansion of their overseas programmes.  After 4 years lecturing in Business and Tourism, Steve returned to tour operating and in the last ten years has worked for three leading UK companies specialising in the adventure travel market.  Steve is now a Director and General Manager of Mountain Kingdoms Ltd (formerly Himalayan Kingdoms) one of the UK's leading trekking companies.

David Jones served 15 years as Director General of the World Youth, Student & Educational (WYSE) Travel Confederation, representing 550+ student and youth travel providers in 120 countries serving 10+ million young independent travellers:  backpackers, volunteers, study abroad, adventure travel language education, au pair, work abroad, the International Student Identity Card (ISIC), etc. 

David Jones began his life-long career in student services when he was elected as student union President at the University of Toronto, Canada’s largest university. After graduation and a year of travel in South East Asia, he became Executive Director of the Canadian Federation of Students – Services, the owner of a 100 million dollar specialist student travel agency serving 500,000 young Canadian travellers each year.     

Ajeet Bajaj with over 25 years of experience in adventure sports is the first Indian to ski to both the geographical poles. Mr. Bajaj has also earned the distinction of being the first Asian to have rafted and kayaked some of the most challenging rivers in six continents of the world.

Because of his myriad achievements, Mr. Bajaj has been invited by a number of prestigious organisations including the National Defence Academy, India to speak to their youth and to motivate them. Snow Leopard Adventures, a company set up by him in 1990, has introduced more than 30,000 school students to the joys of the outdoors and continues to encourage the youth to dream big and appreciate active holidays across the globe. 

Sweta Gurung is a Course Instructor for a USA based company Where There Be Dragons. She has been leading semester long cultural study abroad programs for Where There Be Dragons in Nepal and India since 2005. Prior to Dragons, Ms Gurung was working as an International Trip Coordinator for an adventure sports company in Nepal. Born in Kathmandu, Ms Gurung is among a few Nepali women to have rafted, paraglided and trekked in her country.

Working with youth has been Ms Gurung's passion and she finds it very rewarding. In 2009, Ms Gurung founded a non-profit organization focusing on the youth and women in Nepal.