…
The PATA Travel Mart 2010 is open for business – with almost 1,000 buyers, sellers and media attending this year`s event at the Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, Macau SAR.
PATA chairman Hiran Cooray presided over the official opening ceremony at the Venetian Macao~Resort~Hotel, supported by an impressive list of VIPs and distinguished guests. Also taking part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony were HE Dr Chui Sai-on, chief executive – Government of Macau SAR; Cheong U, secretary of Social Affairs and Culture – Government of Macau SAR; Joao Manuel Costa Antunes, director, Macau Government Tourist Office and Greg Duffell, CEO, PATA.
Said Cooray: “It gives me much pleasure to welcome all PTM delegates this year, to the colourful and culturally rich city of Macau, SAR. I am happy to see that we have a positive response from the industry for PTM2010. We can assure you of valuable industry gleanings that you will take back with you. We are also looking ahead to the coming year, which will be a grand celebration for PATA to celebrate our 60th years of glory and success. Highlights of the events will be PATA Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart, February 7-11, Pokhara, Nepal; PATA`s 60th Anniversary and Conference in April 9-12, Beijing, China and PATA Travel Mart 2011, September 6-9, 2010 in New Delhi, India. We have and as always, your participation and involvement will add infinite value.”
PATA Travel Mart is Asia Pacific’s most important and influential travel-and-tourism industry networking and contracting event. This year industry and media delegates (including 530-sellers from 295-organisations and 38-source markets; 303-buyers from 269-organisations and 53-source markets and 152-media delegates from 13-countries) are attending the event, which opened today. PTM2010 welcomes 31% of first-time buyers and 23% of first-time sellers.
Highlights of the programme will be the welcome dinner reception hosted by Macau SAR Government at Macau Fisherman’s Wharf, PATA Gold Awards luncheon and presentation sponsored by the Macau Government Tourist Office, dinner reception hosted by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and The House of Dancing Water, only at the City of Dreams. Directed by Franco Dragone US$250-million was spent on creating and producing this show; PTM delegates get to see a preview of the show, which will formally launch the next day.
The first educational session of the Mart, PTM2010 Seminar: HR Challenges in Tourism and Hospitality, Promoting Industry-Academia Collaboration, took place on September 14 at the Institute For Tourism Studies (IFT). Jointly organised by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) School of Hotel and Tourism Management and the Institute For Tourism Studies, the seminar attracted over 160 students and travel-and-tourism professionals. Other educational elements of the Mart will be on ‘Designing Dream Experiences` and ‘CSR for Travel and Tourism`.
Said Joao Manuel Costa Antunes, director of MGTO: “The Macau Government Tourist Office is delighted to have the opportunity to welcome close to 1000 delegates from around the world to our city for PTM2010. Being the first time for Macau to host Asia Pacific’s premier travel trade show, we believe PTM2010 will be a landmark on Macau’s road in the development of our MICE industry as well as a defining moment of our cooperation with PATA in contributing towards the progress of the tourism industry in the region. As host city of PTM2010, we will make sure that participants will not only benefit from the business and networking platform of the event, but will also have the chance to experience Macau’s business and leisure tourism facilities, feel the unique charm of ‘The Historic Centre of Macau’, listed as World Heritage by UNESCO, and see how Macau is transforming itself into a global centre of tourism and leisure.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
