Former
Secretary of Tourism, Mexico and G20 pioneer, Ms Gloria Guevara and
President of Boeing Southeast Asia and former US Ambassador to
Thailand, Mr Ralph ‘Skip' Boyce, will be keynote speakers of the
2013 PATA Annual Summit in Bangkok April 26.
With
other world tourism industry leaders such as Taleb Rifai, the
Secretary General of the UNWTO, the eminent speakers will emphasize
why a holistic, inclusive approach towards the “complete visitor
economy” is vital for root and branch socio-economic development.
Guevara
has a reputation for being forthright. For three consecutive years,
she was named one of the 50 most influential women in Mexico by
“Expansión” (CNNExpansión). In 2012 Mexico hosted several key
travel and tourism events, including T20 which assembled the
Ministers of Tourism of the top 20 economies. Mexico also hosted the
first regional WTTC conference with leaders from the private sector
and the UNWTO executive council. In 2012, due to proactive lobbying
by Guevara and Mexico, Travel and Tourism was included in the G20
leaders declaration in Los Cabos, Mexico.
Under
her leadership Mexico, a country where the visitor economy is 9% of
GDP, achieved new records for domestic travel and international
tourist arrivals.
Mr
Ralph L “Skip” Boyce, Vice President of Boeing International and
President of Boeing Southeast Asia, is responsible for strengthening
the company's presence across the region and supporting Boeing's
growth opportunities. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to Thailand
from January 2005 to December 2007 and as Ambassador to Indonesia
from October 2001 to October 2004. He speaks French, Persian and
Thai.
Mr
Martin J Craigs, PATA CEO said: “Guevara and Boyce both bring
massive first-hand insights and experience to the complete visitor
economy challenge. PATA is privileged to welcome them both. Many
travel industry professionals will listen keenly to the insider
expertise and they lessons they have learned along the way. It
promises to be a Summit of the highest quality that will enhance the
perception of the industry. Travel and tourism is coming in from the
cold.”
Other
speakers and moderators will share their vision on how together we
can better join up and create recognition for all aspects of the
highly interdependent travel, tourism and trade sectors.
Confirmed
speakers include: Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of the UNWTO,
Sorajak Kasemsuvan, President, Thai Airways International, Paul
Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports, UAE, Pansy Ho, Managing Director,
Shun Tak Holdings – Hong Kong SAR, Lothar R Pehl, SVP Operations
and Global Initiatives Starwood Hotels and Resorts Asia Pacific, Abid
Butt, CEO – Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, Singapore, Martin
Verdon Roe – Global VP, Display Sales, TripAdvisor, UK, Ross
Jackson, Head of Cross-Border Business APCEMEA, Visa Inc., Anita
Mendiratta, Managing Director – CACHET Consulting/ lead consultant
of the CNN T.A.S.K., Ian Aitken, Director, Enterprise and Small
Medium Business, Southeast Asia, Oceania & Taiwan, Samsung
Electronics, Aliana Ho, Vice President, Asia Pacific Regional Sales
and Travel Operations, The Walt Disney Company (Asia Pacific) Limited
and Monita Rajpal, CNN, TV anchor.
Breakout
sessions panellists and moderators include Andrew Jones, Guardian,
Sanctuary Resorts, Hong Kong SAR, Bert van Walbeek, Managing
Director, The Winning Edge, Thailand, Guy Chester, Global Sustainable
Tourism Council (GSTC), Australia, Paul Stevens, Director of
Operations, Accor Thailand, Arrut Navaraj, Managing Director, Sampran
Riverside, Thailand, Ben Montgomery, Director of Business Relations
Management, Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand, Dr. Edward P.
Dramberger, Principal, Destination Dr., International Hospitality
Consulting, New York, USA, Julie W. Munro, President and Founder,
Medical Travel Quality Alliance MTQUA, CEO, Axcess Health, USA, Prof
Dr Zadok S. Lempert, President, Panorama-Medica Group, Bangkok, Prof
Kaye Chon, Dean and Chair Professor School of Hotel and Tourism Mgmt,
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Peter Semone, Chief Technical
Advisor, LANITH Lao National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality,
Ralf Krewer, International Marketing Director, Bangkok Hospital,
Thailand, Kenneth Mays, Director of Marketing, Bumrungrad
International, Thailand and Olivier Jager, Co-Founder & CEO,
FowardKeys, Traveller Data Intelligence, France.
Registration
is now open. Fees for the 2013 PATA Annual Summit are US$699 per
person for PATA members, US$899 for Chapter members, and US$1,299 for
non-members. Special rates for Young Tourism Professionals and
students apply. Package prices including the PATA Annual Summit, the
PATA Youth Forum and Digital Innovation Asia, which take place the
same week, are also available.
For
further information, contact events@PATA.org or
visit http://www.pata.org/events/pata-annual-summit-2013-pas
