REPORT – 55th PATA CONFERENCE – THAILAND: The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) presented plaques to over 30 winners in the 2006 PATA Gold Awards programme at the 55th PATA Annual Conference. Twenty nine Gold Awards were…
REPORT – 55th PATA CONFERENCE – THAILAND: The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) presented plaques to over 30 winners in the 2006 PATA Gold Awards programme at the 55th PATA Annual Conference. Twenty nine Gold Awards were handed out during the 2006 PATA Gold Awards Luncheon hosted by the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO).
Earlier, during the opening session of the Conference, four PATA Grand Awards were presented for best-of-show entries submitted by The South China Morning Post, Singapore Airlines, Kerala Tourism and the Mount Lavinia Hotel in Sri Lanka.
The 2006 PATA Grand Award for Heritage was presented to The South China Morning Post, Hong Kong SAR for its Hong Kong`s Vibrant Rural Communities campaign. Published in The South China Morning Post, the series of articles vividly illustrates how the traditional villages of Hong Kong have adapted to the 21st century and the role they play in conserving Hong Kong`s heritage.
The Marketing award went Singapore Airlines for its Singapore Airlines Recovery Initiatives – Maldives, Sri Lanka and Bali. SIA successfully rallied the support of industry partners and tourism authorities in the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Bali. The airline garnered its global network and resources to promote a wide-ranging recovery programme. The promotion of the Maldives and Sri Lanka received enthusiastic response: more than 2,000 passengers purchased holiday packages.
The Environmental award went to Kerala Tourism, India for its Zero Waste Kovalam. The project aims to tackle the waste issue in the fishing village and beach destination of Kovalam by changing the way the community uses materials and resources. Zero Waste is an ethical, economical and efficient way of looking at material use, reducing the production of waste, and enhancing waste management procedures.
The Education and Training award went to Mount Lavinia Hotel, Sri Lanka for its Youth Trainee Programme. The programme aims to advance youth employment opportunities in the tourism industry.
In addition to the four Grand Awards, 29 PATA Gold Awards were presented to the winners listed in full below. Multiple Gold Awards went to Banyan Tree Holdings, Kerala Tourism, Tourism New Zealand and Sarawak Tourism Board.
The winning campaigns were selected from over 200 Gold Award entries by panels of international experts in each category. The awards were open to both PATA and non-PATA members, with the exception of the journalism awards, which were open to all published writers and photographers.
The PATA Gold Awards are generously sponsored by the Macau Government Tourist Office.
2006 PATA Grand and Gold Award Winners:Grand Awards
Education and Training: Youth Trainee Programme, Mount Lavinia Hotel, Sri Lanka
Environment: Zero Waste Kovalam, Kerala Tourism, India
Heritage: Hong Kong`s Living Villages, Mr Kevin Sinclair, The South China Morning Post, Hong Kong SAR
Marketing: Tourism Recovery Initiatives – Bali, Maldives and Sri Lanka Singapore Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Singapore
2006 PATA Grand and Gold Award Winners:Gold Awards
Government/Destination (National): Make Yourself 100% at Home, Tourism New Zealand, New Zealand
Government/Destination (State/City): Sydney in Winter 2005 Campaign, Tourism New South Wales, Australia
Carrier (International – Air): Singapore Airlines Boarding Pass Privileges Programme 2006, Singapore Airlines, Singapore
Airport (International): Munich Airport International, Germany
Industry – Business Hotel: Hilton Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Industry – Hotel and Resort: Maison Souvannaphoum Hotel by Colours of Angsana, Banyan Tree Holdings, Singapore
Industry – Payment Card Company: Promoting Asia Pacific Travel, Post-Tsunami, Visa International Asia Pacific, Singapore
Industry – Distribution Network: Re-Energising the Abacus Brand Campaign, Abacus International, Singapore
Tour Operator/Travel Agent: Okinawa India Holy Maha Bodhi Friendship Exchange Programme, Okinawa Tourist Service, Japan
Industry – Spa: Angsana Spa Kuala Lumpur, Banyan Tree Holdings, Singapore
Environmental – Ecotourism/Travel-Related: Kumbalangi Rural Tourism Project, Kerala Tourism, India
Environmental – Corporate Environmental: Shangri-La`s Tanjung Aru Resort- Environmental Management Programmes, Shangri-La`s Tanjung Aru Resort, Malaysia
Environmental Education Programme: The Mahout Adventure Club, Sri Lanka
Heritage and Culture – Heritage: Restoration and Re-use of Shigar Fort Palace, Shigar, District Skardu, Baltistan, Northern Areas of Pakistan, Aga Khan Cultural Service Pakistan
Heritage and Culture – Culture: Rainforest World Music Festival, Sarawak Tourism Board, Malaysia
Educational and Training – Educational Programme: Tourism New Zealand Online Trade Training Modules, Tourism New Zealand, New Zealand
Education & Training – Publication: Ayurveda – the Mantra of Niramaya, Kerala Tourism, India
Consumer Travel Brochure: Royal Orchid Holidays, THAI Airways International, Thailand
Travel Advertisement – Print Media: The Journal – Sabah, Sarawak, Langkawi, Tourism Malaysia
Travel Advertisement – Electronic Media: Butlerm Langham Hotels International, Hong Kong SAR
Travel Poster: Sarawak, Sarawak Tourism Board, Malaysia
Destination Article – Magazine: Jewel of India, Mr Tad Friend, Travel + Leisure, USA
Industry Business Article – Trade Publications: Development of Bangladesh Tourism in a Thrust Sector with No Thrust, Mr Raquib Siddiqi, The Bangladesh Monitor, Bangladesh
Industry Business Article – Consumer Publications: Niche Tourism – Small is Beautiful, Ms Kamal Gill, Today`s Traveller, India
Travel Photograph: Haircut in Beijing, Mr Macduff Everton, National Geographic Traveler, USA
Travel Guidebook: Aboriginal Australia: An Owners Manual, Mr Ian Crawshaw, Australia
Travel Video Award: Yokoso! Japan, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Japan
Public Relations Campaign: Tiger Airways – Promoting Corporate Citizenship and Community Relations, Fleishman-Hillard Singapore
CD-Rom: Naturally Nepal Interactive CD-ROM, Nepal Tourism Board
Website: Tourism Malaysia – Europe Website, Tourism Malaysia
E-Newsletter: Focus! Outrigger on the Lagoon, Fiji.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales. She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
