PATA hails 2002 Gold Awardees

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) will honor 21 travel and trade-related organizations and individuals with PATA 2002 Gold Awards come April 15 during the association’s weeklong annual summit in New Delhi, India.

A special luncheon will be held for the PATA honorees, which will be one of the most exciting highlights of the April 14-18 conference.

Four Grand Awards will be given to the “best of show” entries in various divisions such as marketing, education and training, environment and heritage, and culture.

India, this year’s event host country earned an accolade for its Department of Tourism and its government’s dedication to preserve its heritage by tapping a high-quality tourist spot in Kerala. The heritage zone embraces Fort Kochi and Mattancherry, two of India’s most raved about destinations due to conserving and preserving the heritage and environment of the areas. The huge effort yielded productivity and employment prospects.

This year’s Grand Award for Marketing was bagged by Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) for its upbeat “Macau Welcomes You” blitz. The teaser banners dynamic sales pitches that included a pink passport-like booklet for stamp collection to merit special discounts and other privileges. The come-on slugged a record-breaking influx for the special administrative region.

The Australian Tourist Commission pulled off the Grand Award for Education and Training for its Aussie Specialist On-Line Training Program. Made up of three-part 19 modules that include destination Australia, the program boasts of planning your own itinerary and a host of Australian product experience. Those who complete the course were provided with certificates.

The Banyan Tree and Angsana clinched the Grand Award for Corporate Environmental Program for its program “Creating Sustainable Development in Maldives.” Both Banyan Tree Maldives Vabbinfaru and Angsana Maldives Ihuru share resources when launching ecosensitive resort programs. Banyan Tree strongly supported community projects to make guests and staff aware of the underwater world’s fragility.

Aside from the four Grand Awards, 20 PATA Gold Awards will also be given for outstanding achievements in travel and tourism. Thai Airways International, The Leela Hotels & Resorts and the Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts were this year’s multi-awardees.

International experts in various categories chose the winning programs that were culled from over 300 Gold Award entries.

Other Gold Awardees include Ecotourism and Travel Related Project featuring the Snow Leopards of Mongolia by Kakorum Expeditions Mongolia; Travel Video of Malaysia via “Malaysia Truly Asia”; Singapore Tourism Board’s CD-ROM of Singapore Video Cdrama; Public Relations Campaign of the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau dubbed “May Day is Lei Day;” Lonely Planet Newspaper Destination Article by Don George titled “Ko Samui and the Paradise Principle;” National Geographic Traveler Magazine Destination Article by Anthony Weller titled “State of Enlightenment;” Travel Weekly East industry business article titled “US Attacks: The Aftermath “The Day Travel Changed;” and Travel Guidebook’s “Lonely Planet, Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya, 8th Edition.