The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2013 PATA Gold Awards. Proudly supported and sponsored by the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO), for the last 18 years, this year’s awards recognise the achievements of 22 separate organisations and individuals.
PATA will present 26 Grand and Gold Awards, with awards going to Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority, Rottnest Island Authority, Korea Tourism Organization and Travel+Leisure magazine to name a few. The awards ceremony will take place at the Jinjiang Hotel, on Sunday, September 15 during the PATA Board and Committee meetings, just prior to the PATA Travel Mart on September 16-17.
Ms Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director, MGTO said, “Our hearty congratulations go out to all PATA Gold Awards 2013 winners. The list of PATA Gold Awards 2013 winners fully reveals the great dynamism of the Asia Pacific travel and tourism industry. The innovation and excellence brought by the winners will inspire the rest of the region to do more and better through this meaningful PATA awards programme.”
“The award winners have demonstrated a high degree of creativity and excellence,” said Mr. Martin J. Craigs, CEO PATA. “We would like to extend our warmest congratulations and we are delighted to recognise these achievements at the PATA Gold Awards Luncheon in Chengdu. All winners will be invited to be our guest at the PATA Travel Mart.”
The PATA Grand Awards are presented to outstanding entries in four principal categories: Marketing; Education and Training; Environment; and Heritage and Culture.
The Central Plaza Hotel will receive the 2013 PATA Grand Award for Education and Training for its “4 Cs: Centara Career Creation for Children” campaign. The programme has provided career development opportunities to underprivileged students through a five-month training programme intended to enhance their knowledge and skills in hospitality services. The initiative aims to expand the workforce base, targeting Thai juveniles who have the potential to become new workers within the hospitality industry.
The Environmental award will be presented to Jetwing Hotels, Sri Lanka for its “A Heartfelt Commitment” project. Highlights of the project include a central chilling system powered sustainably by a biomass boiler for running the entire air conditioning system of the hotel. Other initiatives include 100% illumination through energy saving LED lighting, solar panels powering room lighting, hot water generated through biomass boilers, and all waste water being treated via a waste water treatment plant and being re-used within the hotel gardens.
The Heritage and Culture award will be awarded to Sampran Riverside in Thailand for its “Sampran Riverside – an eco-cultural destination.” After 50 years of showcasing traditional aspects of Thai life for tourists, Sampram Riverside has embarked on a new venture: organic agriculture. Sampran Riveside has enhanced the use of traditional Thai farming culture throughout its property and the local community. It now promotes the use of Thai food, herbs, and traditional medicine without chemicals. Organic agriculture products produced at the property and by local farmers are available for tourists at the project’s Sookjai Market and Sookjai Organic Development Centre.
The Marketing award is presented to the Tourism Authority of Thailand for its “Discover the Other You” digital marketing campaign. This campaign aimed to inspire travellers to discover their inner desires and develop new perspectives on their own lives, while creating an unforgettable experience.
Open to both PATA and non-PATA members, this year’s Awards attracted a total of 165 entries from 60 travel and tourism organisations.
