PATA elects new Executive Board

BANGKOK - The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is pleased to announce the election of Kevin B. Murphy, President & CEO, Asiawide Hospitality Solutions (AHS), Hong Kong SAR & Thailand, as Chairman of the PATA Executive Board. Mr Murphy replaces W. Scott Supernaw who served as Chairman of PATA since April 2013 and will remain on the Executive Board as PATA Immediate Past Chairman. On his appointment, Mr Murphy said, “I take up this responsibility at a time of continuing change, and at a time of continuing challenges. PATA is clearly alive but we need to ensure that PATA keeps its place as "the authority on travel and tourism in Asia Pacific” and, more importantly, continues to support its members both in the public and private sectors.” As President and CEO of AHS, Mr Murphy heads a team of highly experienced hospitality professionals that provide informed guidance and asset management to existing and new hotel owners and hospitality investors for their hotel real estate interests worldwide. AHS assists both international and Asian based owners with effective and strategic hospitality investment planning, acquisition, design and operations management and the securing of improved profitability within their existing owned hospitality portfolios in Asia and elsewhere. Active in industry and community affairs throughout a long successful career, completing senior operational and corporate responsibilities on 5 continents with several of the world's most successful and profitable hotel companies, he currently serves also as the Ambassador in Asia for members of the Institute of Hospitality, is also a member of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants & the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a past board member of the original Green Globe Asia Pacific. A member of PATA since 1984, Mr Murphy was awarded the PATA Order of Merit in 2003, the PATA Chairman’s Award in 2006 and in 2008, PATA Life Membership for his continued contributions in past roles to the association’s members and in the growth of responsible and sustainable tourism in the Asia Pacific region. “I urge long term members who have seen the value of their businesses grow by working with PATA to bring more of their own new generations to PATA - not just to these meeting tables but additionally also to the events and activities of the association elsewhere. PATA continues to provide opportunities for all of us, regardless of age, to see that united action, vigorous interaction & a new evolution of today's goals and needs, tied to today's solutions, are all possible. New methods are available to what has never been old, and will always be new to our industry - that it is only with the informed exchange of views & enhanced dialogue on issues, contact building, and united action that PATA can continue to make a positive impact on how together we build our businesses and destinations. PATA has, and can continue, to make a most positive difference but just as the actions we each need to take in our own personal endeavours, we cannot and shall not be complacent,” added Mr Murphy. In addition, PATA has elected four new members to its Executive Board including, Andrew Jones, Guardian, Sanctuary Resorts, Hong Kong SAR; Dato Haji Azizan Noordin, Deputy Director General (Planning), Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia; John Schubert, Managing Director - Marketing Asia Pacific and India, The Boeing Company, USA; and Philip Schaetz, Senior VP of Sales & Marketing, Dorsett Hospitality International, Hong Kong SAR. Long-time PATA member Mr Jones has been elected as the new Vice Chairman; while Basant Mishra, Executive Chairman, Temple Tiger Group of Companies, Nepal remains Secretary/Treasurer. Over the past 40 years, Mr Jones has worked in a number of senior management and corporate positions in prestigious hotels, resorts and management companies in London, Bermuda, Canada and several countries in Asia. In 1996, he founded and became Guardian of Sanctuary Resorts, a company that offers responsible and sustainable tourism experiences where people can balance their body, mind and spirit in an environmentally friendly space. Mr Jones is a leading proponent of Corporate Social Responsibility and Wellness in Tourism, and a knowledgeable Key Speaker, Moderator and Panellist on matters of Responsible and Sustainable Tourism at many Hotel, Environment and Social Enterprise Forums and Conferences, as well as Universities and Vocational Schools. Other Executive Board members include Henry Oh, Jr., President, Global Tour, Ltd., Korea (ROK); H.E. Ramon R. Jimenez Jr., Secretary of Tourism, Philippines Department of Tourism; Sarah Mathews, Destination Marketing Senior Sales Manager APAC, TripAdvisor, Hong Kong SAR; Setyono Djuandi Darmono, Chairman, President University, Indonesia; and Stephen Pearce, Vice President, Leisure Travel & Digital Marketing, Tourism Vancouver, Canada. Furthermore, Dr Helena Lo, Director of Pousada de Mong-Ha (the Educational Hotel of Institute for Tourism Studies Macau – IFT) and the 2015 PATA Face of the Future, joins the PATA Executive Board as a non-voting member and observer for a one-year term at the invitation of the PATA Chairman. The new Executive Board members were confirmed at the PATA Board Meeting on April 26, 2015 during the PATA Annual Summit 2015 in Leshan, Sichuan, China. sourced:traveldailynews.asia