Pacific Asia Travel Association announces the winners of the 2019 PATA Grand and Gold Awards

BANGKOK, THAILAND, 2019-Jul-18 — /Travel PR News/ — Winners of the 2019 PATA Grand and Gold Awards are announced today (July 15, 2019) by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).

These awards, generously supported and sponsored since 1995 by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), this year recognise the achievements of 27 separate organisations and individuals.

The 2019 PATA Gold Awards Dinner and Award Presentation takes place in Nur-Sultan (Astana), Kazakhstan on Thursday, September 19 during PATA Travel Mart 2019. The 33 Grand and Gold Awards will be presented to such organisations as Borneo Eco Tours, Malaysia; Cox & Kings Limited, India; Elephant Hills Co., Ltd, Thailand; Hotel ICON, Hong Kong SAR; IECD, ASSET-H&C, Thailand; Hong Kong Tourism Board, Hong Kong SAR; Macao Government Tourism Office; Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Macao, China; Ministry of Tourism, Government of India; Palau Visitors Authority; Sarawak Tourism, Malaysia; SriLankan Airlines Ltd; Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Chinese Taipei; The Travel World, Bangladesh; Tourism Authority of Thailand, and YANNA Ventures, Thailand.

This year’s awards attracted 197 entries from 78 organisations and individuals worldwide. The winners were selected by an independent judging committee.

Ms Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office said, “It is refreshing to see the talent displayed by the PATA Gold Awards 2019 winners, which I warmly congratulate. The outstanding initiatives of the winning organizations and individuals hold the power to generate positive change in tourism practices in the Asia Pacific. By helping PATA set up this stage to showcase some of the best projects in the region each year, we believe that we are influencing the tourism industry towards a more innovative and sustainable path, including back home in Macao, where tourism is a core industry of our city.”

“On behalf of PATA, I would like to extend our warmest congratulations to all the 2019 Grand and Gold Award winners, as well as all of this year’s participants for their submissions. I look forward to celebrating the accomplishment of this year’s winners who truly represent the values of the Association in working towards a more responsible travel and tourism industry in the Asia Pacific region,” added PATA CEO Dr. Mario Hardy. “In addition, I would also like to once again thank MGTO for their valuable support and cooperation towards this mission.”

The PATA Grand Awards are presented to outstanding entries in four principal categories: Marketing; Education and Training; Environment, and Heritage and Culture.

IECD (Institut Européen de Coopération et de Développement), ASSET-H&C, Thailand will receive the 2019 PATA Grand Award for Education and Training for its ‘Association of Southeast Asian Social Enterprises for Training in Hospitality and Catering (ASSET-H&C)’ initiative. ASSET-H&C is a regional network that brings together vocational training centres willing to work hand in hand to better fulfil their common social mission: bringing positive change in the lives of vulnerable youth and adults by teaching them tourism and hospitality skills that will allow them to successfully integrate into the job market and society. The network currently gathers 14 member-schools across Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

The 2019 PATA Grand Award for Environment award will be presented to Elephant Hills Co., Ltd, Thailand for Elephant Hills, Thailand’s First Luxury Tented Jungle Camps. Elephant Hills offers soft nature adventure tours in the beautiful Khao Sok National Park, with unique Elephant Experiences provided through responsible interactions with the endangered Asian elephants, where no riding is allowed and there are no chains involved. Various other projects include an Elephant Conservation Project, Children’s Project, and Wildlife Monitoring Project. They also organise a smaller project called CO2 offset which allows them to seek ways of reducing their carbon footprint.

The 2019 PATA Grand Award for Heritage and Culture Award will be awarded to Sahapedia, India for its ‘India Heritage Walks’. India Heritage Walks aims to make heritage and culture tourism more holistic and inclusive. The purpose is to generate interest amongst the travellers as well the local population to discover the city, its streets, its people and the stories of its colonies, ruins, mainstays and migrants. These efforts have also been especially directed towards those groups for whom engagement programmes in heritage tourism are commonly unavailable, such as children, persons with disabilities, and those from economically underprivileged backgrounds, for instance. Since its inception in November 2016, India Heritage Walks has spread to 60 cities across India. These heritage walks cover varied aspects of our cultural and natural heritage. Ranging from walks exploring markets, monuments and museums, to natural landscapes and regional cuisine, India Heritage Walks are curated thematically, making it an ideal resource for travellers and heritage enthusiasts as well.

The 2019 PATA Grand Award for Marketing Award will also be presented to the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) for its ‘Experience Macao Food Truck USA’ campaign. In order to promote its distinct and delicious cuisine, MGTO-USA decided to host a one-of-a-kind experience: the Experience Macao Food Truck. From May 29 – June 2, 2018, MGTO- USA provided Los Angeles residents a taste of Macao, both literally and figuratively. Through samples of savoury pork chop buns and sweet egg tarts, twice-daily lion dance performances, and information on Macao – centric travel packages, MGTO-USA was able to transport patrons to the destination, all without having them have to step on a plane. Promotion included paid media, earned PR placements, and private events for trade and media.

PATA GRAND AWARDS 2019

1. PATA Grand Award 2019
Education and Training
ASSET-H&C
IECD, ASSET-H&C, Thailand

2. PATA Grand Award 2019
Environment
Elephant Hills
Elephant Hills Co., Ltd, Thailand

3. PATA Grand Award 2019
Heritage and Culture
India Heritage Walks
Sahapedia, India

4. PATA Grand Award 2019
Marketing
Experience Macao Food Truck USA
Macao Government Tourism Office, Macao, China

PATA GOLD AWARDS 2019

1. PATA Gold Award 2019
Marketing – Primary Government Destination
Find the Incredible You
Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, India

2. PATA Gold Award 2019
Marketing – Secondary Government Destination
Free Buzzard in Mt. Bagua
Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Chinese Taipei

3. PATA Gold Award 2019
Marketing – Carrier
Two Cities One Spirit
SriLankan Airlines Ltd, Sri Lanka

4. PATA Gold Award 2019
Marketing – Hospitality
Art of Winning Campaign
Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Macao, China

5. PATA Gold Award 2019
Marketing – Industry
Malaysia International Gastronomy Festival
AsiaReach Events Sdn. Bhd, Malaysia

6. PATA Gold Award 2019
Marketing – Young Travellers
Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance
Hong Kong Tourism Board, Hong Kong SAR

7. PATA Gold Award 2019
Marketing – Adventure Travel
Great Outdoors Hong Kong
Hong Kong Tourism Board, Hong Kong SAR

8. PATA Gold Award 2019
Environment – Corporate Environment Programme
Responsible Eco-Sustainable Water Park
Waterbom Bali, Indonesia

9. PATA Gold Award 2019
Environment – Ecotourim Project
Cardamom Tented Camp
YANNA Ventures, Thailand

10. PATA Gold Award 2019
Environment – Environmental Education Programme
The Purple Ray Flash
Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Chinese Taipei

11. PATA Gold Award 2019
Corporate Social Responsibility
Borneo Eco Tours: Sustainable Growth
Borneo Eco Tours, Malaysia

12. PATA Gold Award 2019
Women Empowerment Initiative
Ethnic Restaurant at Kumarakom
Kerala Tourism, India

13. PATA Gold Award 2019
Heritage and Culture – Heritage
Payuan Community Slate Houses
Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Chinese Taipei

14. PATA Gold Award 2019
Heritage and Culture – Culture
Guru Gedara Festival 2018
Cinnamon Hotel Management Limited, Sri Lanka

15. PATA Gold Award 2019
Community based Tourism
Airai State Cultural Tour
Palau Visitors Authority, Palau

16. PATA Gold Award 2019
Education and Training
We Love to Care
Hotel ICON, Hong Kong SAR

17. PATA Gold Award 2019
Marketing Media – Travel Advertisement Broadcast Media
Come Out and Play Campaign
Kerala Tourism, India

18. PATA Gold Award 2019
Marketing Media – Travel Advertisement Print Media
2019 Korea Tourism Calendar: Travel Korea by Theme
Korea Tourism Organization, Korea (ROK)

19. PATA Gold Award 2019
Marketing Media – Consumer Travel Brochure
Mice Chess Box
Cox & Kings Limited, India

20. PATA Gold Award 2019
Marketing Media – E-Newsletter
DiethelmCares
Diethelm Travel Group, Thailand

21. PATA Gold Award 2019
Marketing Media – Travel Poster
Khon – An Aesthetic Art of Drama
Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thailand

22. PATA Gold Award 2019
Marketing Media – Public Relations Campaign
Indy Guide – Insight Tourism on Central Asia and Mongolia
Indy Guide Ltd, Switzerland

23. PATA Gold Award 2019
Marketing – Social Media Campaign
Discover Hong Kong Facebook Page
Hong Kong Tourism Board, Hong Kong SAR

24. PATA Gold Award 2019
Marketing Media – Travel Video
Why Limit Yourself
Sarawak Tourism, Malaysia

25. PATA Gold Award 2019
Marketing Media – Web Site
www.keralatouirsm.org
Kerala Tourism, India

26. PATA Gold Award 2019
Travel Journalism – Destination Article
The Thailand you didn’t know you were missing
Kerry van der Jagt, Australia
The Sydney Morning Herald and online, November 7, 2018

27. PATA Gold Award 2019
Travel Journalism – Business Article
Magical Wand for Bangladesh Tourism
The Travel World, Bangladesh

28. PATA Gold Award 2019
Travel Journalism – Travel Photo
Ramayana Hanuman Dance, Indonesia by Sandy Wijaya
Agency Fish, Indonesia

29. PATA Gold Award 2019
Travel Journalism – Travel Guidebook
ebook on Thailand
Destination Asia, Thailand

JUDGING COMMITTEE FOR GOLD AWARDS 2019 

1. Ms Ann Moey, Regional Communications Manager, IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, Thailand
2. Ms Antje Martins, PhD Student, Associate Lecturer, University of Queensland, Business School, Tourism Discipline, Australia
3. Mr. Atthawet Prougestaporn, Acting Rector, Dusit Thani College, Thailand
4. Mr. David Fiedler, Founder, Singular Foundry, USA
5. Mr. Frankie Ho, President, International Business, iClick Interactive Asia Limited, Hong Kong SAR
6. Mr. Khem Lakai, CEO, Global Academy of Tourism & Hospitality Education (GATE), Nepal
7. Ms Melissa Burckhardt, Global Product Manager for Travel & Hospitality APAC, SGS Group Management Ltd., Thailand
8. Mr. Nobutaka Ishikure, Chairman, Goltz et ses amis, Japan
9. Ms Raya Bidshahri, Founder & CEO, Awecademy, Canada
10. Mr. Richard Cogswell, Commercial Director – APAC, WEX Asia Pte Ltd, Singapore
11. Mr. Rob Holmes, Founder & Chief Strategist, GLP Films, USA
12. Ms Stephanie A Wells, Chair, School of Tourism Management, Capilano University, Canada
13. Prof. Stephen Pratt, Head of School – School of Tourism School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, University of South Pacific, Fiji
14. Mr. Tony Smyth, Associate Director, iFREE GROUP (HK) LTD, Hong Kong SAR
15. Mr. Vadim Tylik, CEO, RMAA Group, Russia

About PATA

Founded in 1951, PATA is a not-for-profit membership association that acts as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region. The Association provides aligned advocacy, insightful research and innovative events to its more than 800 member organisations, including 95 government, state and city tourism bodies, 20 international airlines and airports, 102 hospitality organisations and 70 educational institutions, as well as over a hundred young tourism professional (YTP) members across the world. The PATA network also embraces the grassroots activism the PATA Chapters and Student Chapters, who organise numerous travel industry training programmes and business development events across the world. Thousands of travel professionals belong to the 35 local PATA Chapters worldwide, while hundreds of students are members of the 22 PATA Student Chapters globally. The PATAmPOWER platform delivers unrivalled data, forecasts and insights from the PATA Strategic Intelligence Centre to members’ desktops and mobile devices anywhere in the world. PATA’s Head Office has been in Bangkok since 1998. The Association also has official offices or representation in Beijing and London. Visit www.PATA.org.

Source: PATA

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