JERRY PICOLLA JOINS THE QUESTBAY GROUP

Veteran travel and tourism industry identity, Gerald E. (Jerry) Picolla, has joined International Tourism Consultancy, The Questbay Group, as Specialist Advisor – International Marketing.

Founded in January, 2001 with its Head Office in Western Australia, The Questbay Group has brought together a number of the world’s most experienced industry specialists. The Group is supported by ten International Associates, three Specialist Advisors and two Group Affiliates from Asia; Australia; Europe and North America.

“The very welcome addition of Jerry Picolla to this very experienced international lineup, brings significant value to The Questbay Group at a strategically important time in its growth – and Jerry’s vast international marketing experience and specialist knowledge, adds tremendous value and scope to what the Group is able to offer its international clients,” said Graham C. Hornel, Group Chief Executive.

Prior to a distinguished 23 year career with the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) at its then San Francisco, California Head Office, Mr.Picolla was one of the founders of Transportation Consultants International (TCI), a successful public company in the USA, now owned by the Carlsen Travel Group. As a TCI Director, Jerry Picolla was President of Holiday Airlines; General Manager of CRS, Hotel Express and Vice President of major travel agency and tour operating company, Ask Mr. Foster.

In 1973, Mr. Picolla joined PATA as its first Director of Chapter Services and he went on to serve this industry body as Vice President Marketing and Chapters, VP – Americas and Europe and Senior VP Marketing. Widely recognised and highly respected for his innovation in both the establishment of the PATA Chapter Network and particularly for the creation and extremely successful management of PATA’s Travel Marts, for which he is now Senior Advisor, Jerry Picolla founded his own consultancy, Picolla International, in 1995.

A tourism management and marketing company based in California, Picolla International has provided added value services to a wide range of clients, including the Indonesia Tourism Promotion Board (ITPB); the Jakarta City Tourism Office; the Irkutsk/Baikal Intourist Company and the Nepal Tourist Promotion Board. Picolla International also manages a very successful annual trade show in Hawaii. In 1995, Mr.Picolla was awarded the PATA Chairman’s Award.

“A number of us involved in The Questbay Group have been privileged to work with Jerry Picolla in different capacities over the years and have witnessed his capabilities and many successes,” said Graham Hornel. “From a personal perspective, the opportunity to again be involved professionally with this outstanding industry specialist is very warmly welcomed – and I now look ahead with even greater confidence to this Group’s future achievements,” he added.