Guevara and Boyce to Keynote PATA Annual Summit in Bangkok

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 at the 2013 PATA Annual Summit in Bangkok on 26 April 2013.

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, while package prices including the PATA Annual Summit, the PATA Youth Forum and Digital Innovation Asia, which take place the same week, are also available.

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