PATA HAWAII MEET STARTS 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Board of Directors convened in the birthplace of PATA, Honolulu, Hawaii, from January 12-14, commencing an 18-month celebration of the Association’s 50th anniversary. Nearly 20 PATA Life Members attended the meeting, which attracted some 150 board and committee members, spouses and staff. Among the highlights of the meeting:

* January 13 was declared "PATA Day" by Hawaii Governor Benjamin Cayetano.

* PATA officers for 2001/2002 were nominated by the board; these names will be presented to the PATA Annual General Meeting in April for ratification. Nominees are: Mr. John Sandford of Jasons Publishing, PATA Chairman; Mr. Bo W. Long, Sea Cloud Cruises, Chairman-Elect; and Mr. Ram Kohli, Creative Travels, Secretary/Treasurer. If approved by the AGM, nominees will begin their one-year terms after the PATA Annual Conference in Kuala Lumpur, April 8-12, 2001.

* The January 2002 Board of Directors Meeting will be held in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.

Jeju Island, Korea (ROK), was selected to host the 53rd PATA Annual Conference in 2004. Upcoming Conference venues include Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2001), New Delhi, India (2002) and Bali, Indonesia (2003).

"PATA was delighted to hold its first board meeting of 2001 in Honolulu," said Mr. Joseph A. McInerney, PATA CEO. "It was a symbolic event for everyone, particularly for the members who have devoted many years of service to the Association. Hawaii’s hospitality made this meeting feel like a homecoming for PATA."