• TravelBizNews > Top News > PATA announces new executive board under leadership of Peter Semone

    PATA announces new executive board under leadership of Peter Semone

    June 12, 2024
    Top News
    PATA announces new executive board under leadership of Peter Semone

    Travel Biz News —

    BANGKOK – The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has elected a new PATA Executive Board under the leadership of Peter Semone .

    Semone has been formally endorsed and will serve as the Chair of the Association’s Executive Board for a consecutive second term.

    Semone is a leading tourism development expert specialising in the Asia Pacific region. He has served in leadership roles for international donor funded projects in Timor-Leste, Lao PDR and Vietnam and is frequently called upon as a short-term expert for UN Tourism and the Asian Development Bank. He is the founder of the internationally acclaimed Lao National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality (LANITH) vocational school.

    During the 73rd PATA Annual General Meeting on June 7, PATA also ratified Suman Pandey, President of Explore Himalaya Travel & Adventure, as the new Vice Chair, and Luzi Matzig, Chairman of Asian Trails Ltd., as the new Secretary/Treasurer of the Association , accoding to a release issued by PATA HQ. in Bangkok.

    Suman Pandey is a well-known figure in Nepalese Tourism and President of Explore Himalaya Travel and Adventure, a well-known name for diverse and innovative operations. He is also the CEO of Fishtail Air, a Nepalese helicopter company; Director of Summit Air, a fixed wing operator catering to tourists going to the Mt. Everest area; Director of the biggest business complex in Nepal, “Chhaya Centre”, a multi-faceted Mega Complex that includes a five star managed by Starwood under the “Aloft” brand; President of the Himalaya Academy of Travel and Tourism, an academy imparting tourism related vocational trainings, and President of Himalayan Pre- Fab Pvt. Ltd, a company specialising on making eco-friendly prefabricated homes.

    Luzi Matzig founded Asian Trails Ltd. in 1999 and is currently the Chairman. The Asian Trails Group now operates 33 offices with over 500 staff across Thailand, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Vietnam. He is involved in the cruise and hotel industries.

    Members of the Executive Board for this term include Ben Montgomery, Director of Business Relations Management, Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand; Henry Oh, Chairman, Global Tour Ltd., Korea (ROK); Noredah Othman, CEO, Sabah Convention Bureau, Malaysia; Mayur Patel, Head of Asia, OAG, Singapore; Gerald Perez, Vice President, Guam Visitors Bureau, Guam; and SanJeet, Director, DDP Publications Private Limited, India.

    Additionally, PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid remains on the Executive Board as an Ex-Officio member.

    The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) , founded in 1951, acts as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region.

    PATA facilitates meaningful partnerships to enhance the value, quality and sustainable growth of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region.

    11 June , 2024

    Picture: Top Row: L/R: Peter Semone, (President ); Suman Pandey, Luzi Matzig and Noor Ahmad Hamid. Bottom Row: L/R: Ben Montgomery, Henry Oh, Noredah Othman, Mayur Patel, Gerald Perez, and SanJeet. – PATA

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