• TravelBizNews > News > Personality / Awards > PATA Grand and Gold Award 2015 to 29 organizations

    PATA Grand and Gold Award 2015 to 29 organizations

    July 16, 2015
    Personality / Awards
    PATA Grand and Gold Award 2015 to 29 organizations

    BANGKOK, July 16, 2015 — The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)has announced the winners of the 2015 PATA Grand and Gold Awards. Proudly supported and sponsored by the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) for the last 20 years, this year’s awards recognise the achievements of 25 separate organisations and individuals.

    PATA will present 29 Grand and Gold Awards to such organisations as Accor Asia-Pacific, Cox and Kings Ltd, Hong Kong International Theme Park Ltd, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Jetwing Hotels Ltd, Korea Tourism Organization, Taiwan Tourism Bureau and Taylor’s University.

    The awards luncheon and presentation takes place at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) on September 8, 2015 during the PATA Travel Mart 2015.

    Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of the Macau Government Tourist Office, said, “The list of PATA Gold Awards 2015 winners unveils once again the very best of Pacific-Asia tourism practices. The excellence and innovation revealed by the works and projects awarded are impressive and can certainly provide inspiration to raise the standards of the tourism industry stakeholders in the region. Macau Government Tourist Office congratulates all winning organisations and individuals for such outstanding achievements and we are honoured to be part of this prestigious PATA initiative for the 20th consecutive year.”

    Mario Hardy, PATA CEO, added, “On behalf of PATA, I extend our warmest congratulations to all 2015 Grand and Gold Award winners and I also thank all participants. This year we received 269 entries from 83 travel and tourism organisations and individuals – the highest number since 2007. We look forward to celebrating these accomplishments at the PATA Gold Awards Luncheon and Presentation at the PATA Travel Mart in Bangalore, India.”

    The PATA Grand Awards are presented to outstanding entries in four principal categories: Marketing; Education and Training; Environment; and Heritage & Culture.

    Taylor’s University, Malaysia will receive the 2015 PATA Grand Award for Education and Training for its ‘Tourism Academy at Community College Langkawi, Malaysia’ project. It is the first Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiated by the Government through the Ministry of Higher Education jointly with Taylor’s University to establish a Tourism Academy in Malaysia. The hotel industry, through this strategic partnership, has committed to support the learning and development of the students and eventually hire graduates at a more competitive remuneration package in recognition of the skills and learning that they attained directly with the hotel partners through the Tourism Academy. This initiative will support the vision of the government to make Langkawi among the top 10 tourism island destination with qualified manpower to support and complement the service sectors.

    The Environmental Award will be presented to Jetwing Hotels Ltd, Sri Lanka, for its “The Success of Self-reliance” project. After a decade from the devastating tsunami of 2004, Jetwing brings a truly one-with-nature concept to a more refined and elegant form with Jetwing Yala. Set within the immediate outskirts of the Yala National Park, Jetwing Yala boasts a tremendous commitment to sustainability and the environment, bringing a wildlife experience complemented with the finest in luxury and comfort. Designed by renowned architect Murad Ismail, Jetwing Yala has been created from the ground up to be as sustainable as possible with the intention of conserving energy and resources by reusing and recycling and by being part of the environment without inflicting harm upon nature.

    The Heritage and Culture Award will be awarded to Ratchada Niramit Co., Ltd, Thailand for its ‘Siam Niramit Journey to the Enchanted Kingdom of Siam’. Siam Niramit is a world-class performance that displays Thailand’s artistic and cultural heritage. This must-see show is performed on a gigantic stage, listed in the Guinness World Records, and features over 100 performers and more than 500 costumes. Enhanced special effects and the world’s most advanced sound, light and stage technology combine to make this a realistic, stimulating and inspiring experience. Siam Niramit aims not only to introduce Thai arts and culture to the world but also to make Thai people take pride in their culture and inspire them to love and preserve it.

    The Marketing Award will be presented to Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), Hong Kong SAR for its ‘Follow Me to Hong Kong’ campaign. Hong Kong Tourism Board invited world-renowned Russian ‘Instagram’ couple Murad Osmann and Natalia Zakharova to Hong Kong to enable them to capture romantic Hong Kong SAR images and then share them with their followers on social media. Using the ‘instagrammer’ as a personality, HKTB spins off their Hong Kong SAR travel story to print and online media in Russia, Hong Kong SAR and all over the world. In the online world, ‘meet the fans’ meetings and videos are organised to maximise Hong Kong SAR’s exposure as a travel destination via the couple’s personal experiences.

    PATA Grand Awards 2015

    Marketing
    Follow Me to Hong Kong
    Hong Kong Tourism Board, Hong Kong SAR

    Environment
    The Success of Self-reliance
    Jetwing Hotels Ltd, Sri Lanka

    Heritage – Culture
    Siam Niramit Journey to the Enchanted Kingdom of Siam
    Ratchada Niramit Co., Ltd, Thailand

    Education and Training
    Tourism Academy at Community College Langkawi, Malaysia
    Taylor’s University, Malaysia

    PATA Gold Awards 2015

    Marketing – Primary Government Destination
    My Time for Hong Kong
    Hong Kong Tourism Board, Hong Kong SAR

    Marketing – Secondary Government Destination
    Vivid Sydney
    Destination NSW, Australia

    Marketing – Carrier
    With Vietjet, Saigon is closer
    Vietjet Air, Vietnam

    Marketing – Hospitality
    RWS Moments Campaign
    Resorts World at Sentosa, Singapore

    Marketing – Industry
    Disney Paint the Night
    Hong Kong International Theme Park Limited, Hong Kong SAR

    Marketing – Adventure Travel
    Grab Your Dream
    Cox and Kings Limited, India

    Environment – Ecotourism Project
    Proactive Roles of Wendekreisen Travel Ltd.
    Wendekreisen, New Zealand

    Environment – Corporate Environment Programme
    PLANET 21: Reinventing Hotels, Sustainably
    Accor Asia-Pacific, Singapore

    Environmental Education Programme
    Be G.R.E.E.N. Beyond El Nido Resorts
    Ten Knots Development Corporation/El Nido Resorts, Philippines

    Corporate Social Responsibility
    A Journey of Sustainability
    Banyan Tree Marketing Group, Singapore

    Heritage – Culture – Heritage
    Muziris Heritage Project
    Kerala Tourism, India

    Heritage – Culture – Culture
    The Ultimate Travelling Camp, India

    Education and Training
    Thomas Cook Travel Quest
    Thomas Cook (India) Ltd., India

    Marketing Media – Travel Advertisement Broadcast Media
    Taste Taiwan
    Taiwan Tourism Bureau, USA

    Marketing Media – Travel Advertisement Print Media
    Korea Tourism Photo Contest Awards Winners 2014
    Korea Tourism Organization, Korea ROK

    Marketing Media – Consumer Travel Brochure
    The Ultimate Travelling Camp, India

    Marketing Media – E-Newsletter
    The Front Desk
    Jetwing Hotels Ltd, Sri Lanka

    Marketing Media – Travel Poster
    Visit Malaysia Year – Sarawak
    Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia

    Marketing Media – Public Relations Campaign
    PNG Pop Up Village
    Tourism Papua New Guinea, USA

    Marketing Media – Social Media
    I Hate Thailand
    Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Thailand

    Marketing Media – Mobile Travel Application
    My Hong Kong Guide
    Hong Kong Tourism Board, Hong Kong SAR

    Marketing – Promotional Travel Video
    Discover Thainess
    Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thailand

    Marketing Media – Web Site
    DiscoverHongKong.com Brand Rejuvenation
    Hong Kong Tourism Board, Hong Kong SAR

    Travel Journalism – Destination Article
    Transcendence, Travel +Leisure Southeast Asia, July 2014
    written by Holly McDonald, photographed by Lauryn Ishak
    Travel+Leisure Southeast Asia, Thailand

    Travel Journalism – Business Article
    Rock Star Economy, Travel Digest, June 2014
    written by Lorraine Thomson
    Travel Digest, New Zealand

    Travel Journalism – Travel Photograph
    Mount Bromo, East Java Indonesia
    By Yaman Ibrahim, Colours Garuda Indonesia Inflight Magazine, August 2014
    Agency Fish, Indonesia

    Travel Journalism – Travel Guidebook
    Best of the Best: Philippines Coffee Table Book
    Eastgate Publishing Corp., Philippines

    Source : PATA , July 16, 2015

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