Following the success of the PATA Dream to Travel Festival, particularly the Dream to Travel Forums, PATA, in partnership with BBC World News, is pleased to announce the launch of the Destination Insight Series. This webinar series will take a close look at various destinations around the Asia Pacific region as examine how they are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare towards recovery. The panel discussions will provide a 360° local perspective of each destinations’ on-ground activities and preparations (operational, maketing, communications, etc.).
The second episode will focus on the Philippines, a country with various natural wonders, rich culture and heritage, and friendly hospitality where everyone knows “It’s More Fun in the Philippines”.
Speakers include:
Benito C. Bengzon, Jr., Undersecretary, Tourism Development, Department of Tourism, Philippines
Undersecretary Benito C. Bengzon, Jr. is a graduate of B.S. Hotel and Restaurant Administration at the University of the Philippines where he was awarded Most Outstanding Alumnus in 2012. He took his Masters in Business Administration at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business as well as Masters in National Security Administration at the National Defense College of the Philippines where he was cited Most Outstanding Alumnis in 2003. Read More
Grace Tolentino, Chairman of the Board, Boracay Beach Inc.; President, Akamai Holdings Inc.
In modern day entrepreneurship ecosystem, Grace Tolentino is widely recognized from her progressiveness and result oriented approach in leading multiple organizations, she is the Chairman of the Board of Boracay Beach Inc. (BBI), a multi-awarded lifestyle brand that started as a driving force of finance to Boracay and enormously contributed in positioning investments for wealth creation and uplifting the Philippines economy over the years. Read More
Katy Xu, Vice President - Greater China and North Asia, BBC Global News
In this role, she is responsible for generating advertising and sponsorship revenue from multinational and national advertisers based in Hong Kong, China, Macau, Taiwan, Philippines, Japan, Korea and other north Asia markets, across various BBC global commercial platforms: BBC.com (desktop and mobile - the No.1 International News website in APAC), BBC World News Channel, BBC Knowledge Channel and Topgear.com. Read More
Dr. Mario Hardy, Chief Executive Officer, PATA
Dr. Hardy was appointed CEO of PATA in November 2014 and is also the past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PATA Foundation, a nonprofit organisation with a focus on the protection of the environment, the conservation of culture and heritage, and support for education. He has 30 years of experience in specialised aviation businesses focusing on data analytics and technology, coupled with several corporate leadership capacities. Read More
Rajan Datar, Presenter, The Travel Show
Rajan is one of global TV’s most recognised and experienced faces. Rajan has been a travel presenter for the BBC since 1990 when he began co-presenting the ground-breaking BBC TV ‘Rough Guides’ which escaped traditional travel TV territory and became the first programme to embrace the independent traveller and experience the world from their perspective. Read More