HIGH-POWERED SPEAKER LINEUP SLATED FOR 50TH PATA ANNUAL CONFERENCE

A dynamic roster of speakers will be featured at the 50th Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Annual Conference, April 8-12, 2001 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Right Honourable Dato' Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, Prime Minister of Malaysia, will preside over the official Conference opening on Monday, April 9. Following his address, more than 100 live performers will present a spectacular multimedia cultural show, welcoming all delegates to Malaysia -- Truly Asia.

Ambassador L.W. "Bill" Lane, Jr., an acclaimed editor and writer who attended the first PATA Conference, will deliver an anniversary address on the Association's Proud Past.

The opening keynote, "Exploring Pacific Asia's Promising Future," will feature a panel of prominent speakers: Tan Sri Ghazali Shafie, Senior Consultant to the United Nations Centre on Transnational Cooperation and former Foreign Minister of Malaysia; Mr. Seddik Belyamani, Executive Vice President of Boeing Commercial, USA; and Mr. Ed Fuller, President of Marriott International. The three speakers will share their success stories and views on the future of the region.

Ms. Foong Wai Fong, Founder and Director of Megatrends Asia, will round up the conference with a closing address titled "Pacific Asia's Promising Future -- The New Asian Way." Ms. Foong, a respected writer, columnist and speaker specialising in global business trends and entrepreneurship, is the author of the best-selling book, The New Asian Way.

Other educational opportunities abound over the two full conference days featuring a powerful lineup of 23 high-profile speakers from all sectors of the travel and tourism industry.

* Boeing Commercial, USA

* Marriott International

* Landor Associates

* The New Internet Computer Company

* Peter Burwash International

* Thailand Business Coalition on AIDS

* TIME Asia

* Tourism Industries, U.S. Department of State

* Business Enterprises for Sustainable Tourism

* UNAIDS

* Institute for Tourism Studies, Macau

* ECPAT Australia