REPORT – BALI – PATA TRAVEL MART: Collectively, and in each their own ways, the winners of the 24 Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Awards and four best-of-show Grand Awards in 2007 embody the very…
REPORT – BALI – PATA TRAVEL MART: Collectively, and in each their own ways, the winners of the 24 Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Awards and four best-of-show Grand Awards in 2007 embody the very best Asia Pacific travel and tourism has to offer; dreams, diversity, identity, and social and environmental conscience.
Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) Deputy Director Ms Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes and PATA President and CEO Mr Peter de Jong presented trophies to all the winners today (28 September) at PATA Travel Mart 2007.
Hosted by the MGTO for the 12th consecutive year, the 2007 PATA Gold Awards Luncheon took place at the Grand Hyatt Bali; the first time the PATA Gold Awards has featured on the PATA Travel Mart programme.
The four best-of-show PATA Grand Award winners were:
Jetwing`s Dream – Education and Training
Forced to bridge skills gaps and equip local young people for employment, the Jetwing Hotels` Youth Development Project provided hospitality and English language training free to school leavers from disadvantaged farming families in the Sigiriya area.
The aims of the We Dreamed a Dream. scheme were to solve the human resources shortage in Jetwing`s properties, especially Vil Uyana in Sigriya; pass on some of the benefits of tourism to the local community; and provide gainful employment to young people.
India`s Diversity — Marketing
Targeted at affluent travellers from the US, Europe, Asia, the Pacific and the Middle East, the Incredible India global campaign helped to drive strong double-digit growth in foreign visitor arrivals into India.
Leveraging India`s colour and cultural diversity in the campaign, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Governmenf of India made aggressive use of traditional above-the-line advertising as well as interactive new media, including several micro sites and 11 online contests.
Macau`s Identity – Heritage
The successful inscription The Historic Centre of Macau on the UNESCO World Heritage List prompted the Macau Government Tourist Office to launch 2006 Macau World Heritage Year, a campaign that positioned Macau as a destination offering travellers much more than entertainment and gaming.
The campaign successfully boosted the economic value of the city`s rich heritage by positioning and promoting its historic centre as a must-see attraction.
Six Senses` Conscience – Environment
Six Senses Resorts and Spa`s Social and Environment Conscience programme aims to enhance the social and environmental performance of Six Senses` managed properties.
The company hired a full time manager called Social and Environment Conscience to oversee the programme which includes environmental awareness and management, corporate partnerships and a Social and Environmental Responsibility Fund.
Twenty-four PATA Gold Awards were also presented to 21 winners, listed in full below.
PATA GOLD AWARD WINNERS 2007
- Marketing Campaign – Primary Government / Destination: Uniquely Singapore, Singapore Tourism Board, Singapore
- Marketing Campaign – Secondary Government / Destination: Great Tropical Drive, Tourism Tropical North Queensland and Townsville Enterprise, Australia
- Marketing Campaign – Carrier: Home Away from Home, Srilankan Airlines, Sri Lanka
- Marketing Campaign – Hospitality: Phuket Perfect, Delivering Asia Communications for C9 Hotelworks,
Thailand - Marketing Campaign – Industry: The Malaysia International Gourmet Festival 2006, AsiaReach Events,
Malaysia - Environment – Ecotourism Project: Chaaya Village Habarana, Chaaya Hotels & Resorts, Sri Lanka
- Environment – Corporate Environmental Programme: Responsible Travel, Intrepid Travel, Australia
- Environment – Environmental Education Programme: Soneva Nature Trip, Soneva Fushi, Maldives
- Heritage: Heritage Friendly Tourism Campaign, Heritage Watch, Cambodia
- Culture: Aranmula, Kerala Tourism, India
- Education and Training: LNTA-UNESCO Cultural Heritage Specialist Guide Programme, Lao PDR
- Marketing Media – Brochure: Kerala Tourism, India
- Marketing Media – Broadcast Media: Malaysia Truly Asia global TV commercial, Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia
- Marketing Media – Print Media: Malaysia Truly Asia media campaign, Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia
- Marketing Media – Poster: Ayudhaya Ancient Sites, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thailand
- Marketing Media – Video: Korea, Sparkling, Korea Tourism Organization, Korea (ROK)
- Marketing Media – Public Relations: Lord Howe Island spring campaign 2006, Tourism New South Wales,
Australia - Marketing Media – CD-Rom: Chaaya Hotels & Resorts, Sri Lanka
- Marketing Media – Website: www.malaysia.travel, Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia
- Marketing Media – E-Newsletter: Bali Update, Bali Discovery Tours, Indonesia
- Travel Journalism – Destination Article: Tea for Twenty Million, Simon Rowe, Discovery, Emphasis Media, Hong Kong SAR
- Travel Journalism – Industry Business Article: Myanmar Takes on Tourism, Fred Gebhart, Travel Professional, USA
- Travel Journalism – Travel Photograph: Old Manila, Lester V Ledesma, Smile (Cebu Pacific Air), Ink
Publishing, Singapore - Travel Journalism – Travel Guidebook: Lifestyle Destination Guide: NYC, Thai Airways International, Thailand
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
