PATA Canada Is Back!

with Anne Fairlie

A
well-attended re-launch of PATA Canada was held April 22
^nd in
Markham for the revival of the Canadian branch of this worldwide organization.

PATA
International was founded in 1951 and has endured and grown in value because of
its networking opportunities. Even more so these days with the world's instant
connectivity, PATA is the best conduit for the travel trade in the Pacific area
to grow their business. PATA's mandate is to act as a catalyst for the
responsible development of travel to, within and from this region. In addition
PATA
members strive to enhance the
sustainable growth, value and quality of travel and tourism to, from and within
the Asia/Pacific region.

As a facet of this promise to their
members, PATA aims to enhance opportunities for local communities at all levels
in order to share the benefits of tourism amongst all stakeholders and to be an
effective method for engaging the tourism workforce in local and global tourism
related issues beyond the every-day tasks of employment. As one of the
essential elements of PATA Next Gen, Human Capital Development serves as a
linkage between academia to industry for students and young professionals.

Rocky Lo of
Air Canada is the new Canadian chapter President. He reminded the audience that
membership provides access to all 43 chapters' members over the world. So if
you are looking for a car rental company in Chiang Mai or a hiking company in
Chile or a horseback riding company in the Rockies or a company specialising in
hutong tours in Beijing – the door is open. The other major benefit of
membership is access to the annual PATA Mart being held in September this year
in Bangalore. Free airfare will be provided for retail agents.

Barbara
Dirnberger, National Sales Manager at Discover the World is the new Executive
Director of PATA Canada and proclaimed this to be a national chapter with trade
shows coming up in various cities across the country. PATA Canada will also be
utilizing technology to engage people from across the country in their
meetings.

Another
unique feature of their events is that people from all over Canada will be
given access to an online feed so they can watch and hear all the speeches.

PATA Canada
is on a membership drive. Membership for retail agents is free. Check out these
links for more information.

http://www.patacanada.com/

http://www.pata.org/

Diane Molzan, Goway; Thomas George, Tour East;
Shanaz Pithwala, Skylink; Bruce Hodge, Goway; Sidarth, Tourism India; Anil,
Tourism India and Shirley Rourke and Aubrey Schmidt, Goway