HISTORIC PATA CONFERENCE TO BE HELD ON GUAM THIS MAY

Registration is open online for PATA Annual Summit

(Tumon, Guam) The Guam Visitors Bureau, with sponsors Dusit Thani Guam Resort and United Airlines, invite Guam’s government, tourism and business communities to participate in the Pacific Asia Travel Association Annual Summit from May 18 – 21, 2016 at the Dusit Thani Guam Resort in Tumon.

Guam, a charter member of PATA since it was established in 1951, will host the annual summit for the first time in the organization’s 65-year history.  The four-day summit is expected to attract hundreds of delegates from more than 30 countries, bringing together international thought leaders, industry shapers, and senior decision makers who are professionally engaged with the Asia Pacific region.

“This year marks the 65th anniversary of PATA and it is entirely appropriate that we are returning to our Pacific roots to celebrate this historic occasion.  We have created a programme that is both stimulating and engaging for all delegates,” said PATA CEO Mario Hardy.

The PATA Annual Summit will also serve as both the association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) and as a global tourism forum for enhancing the value and quality of travel and tourism in the Asia Pacific region, particularly as it relates to economic, social and environmental development and sustainable tourism.  This year’s theme, “Exploring the Secrets of the Blue Continent” addresses the Pacific Islands’ critical intersection of social, economic and environmental development and will examine what is required to take travel and tourism organizations to the next phase of sustainability.

“We are excited to welcome the PATA Annual Summit to Guam in May,” said GVB General Manager Jon Nathan Denight. “We invite our island’s community leaders, industry professionals and business owners to join us at the summit, including our young people who may want to participate in the PATA Youth Symposium. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Also for the first time, PATA and the United Nations World Tourism Organization will be hosting a ministerial debate for the Pacific on Saturday, May 21st. The ministerial debate will be a half-day, elevated meeting about Pacific Island Tourism in which government and private sector leaders come together to identify how they can better align to create sustainable growth.  Ministers will discuss climate change, sustainable tourism, workforce development in the Pacific and how to create ideal island economies. Registered delegates for the conference will receive complimentary access to the PATA/UNWTO Ministerial Debate.

Denight added, “We encourage everyone to take advantage of the opportunity of having a conference of this magnitude in our backyard.  It will be a high-level and well-rounded conference. Residents typically have to travel to major cities for conferences of this importance, and I think they will greatly benefit from the PATA Annual Summit being held right here on Guam.”

The summit is purposely positioned at the doorstep of the 12th Festival of Pacific Arts to allow delegates the ability to enjoy the festival and other cultures of the Pacific.  GVB and the PATA Micronesia Chapter will be offering complimentary tours for the delegates and encouraging self-paying tours, allowing them to explore Guam’s unique excursions and experience Guam’s culture, as well as the culture of our Pacific neighbors, first-hand. Other events are planned for the summit, such as the Welcome Fiesta to be held at the Guam Museum for all delegates, and a PATA Foundation charity gala dinner that will take place at the Sandcastle.

For more information or to register for the event, visit PATA.org/PAS-2016 or email [email protected]  Special rates are offered for PATA members and new Micronesia Chapter Members.

ABOUT PATA

Founded in 1951, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a not-for profit association that is internationally acclaimed for acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region.  The Association provides aligned advocacy, insightful research and innovative events to its member organizations, comprising of 97 government, state and city tourism bodies, 27 international airlines, airports and cruise lines, 63 educational institutions, and hundreds of travel industry companies in Asia Pacific and beyond.  Thousands of travel professionals belong to the 43 local PATA chapters worldwide.  The chapters organize travel industry training and business development events. Their grassroots activism underpins PATA’s membership of the Global Travel Association Coalition (GTAC), which includes ACI, CLIA, IATA, ICAO, WEF, UNWTO and the WTTC.  The PATAmPOWER platform delivers unrivalled data, forecasts and insights from the PATA Strategic Intelligence Centre to members’ desktops and mobile devices anywhere in the world.  PATA’s Head Office has been in Bangkok since 1998. The Association also has official offices or representation in Beijing, Sydney and London.  PATA Micronesia’s Headquarters is based on Guam and can be found online at www.micronesiatour.com.

Media Contact: JOSH TYQUIENGCO - Public Information Officer