PATA Foundation to Host Gala Dinner at GTEF 2014

Macau (Macau SAR) – September 15, 2014 – The PATA Foundation, in conjunction with the Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF), will host the Inaugural PATA Foundation Gala Dinner on Tuesday, October 28, 2014 at the Galaxy Macau. Under the theme of “Today’s Vision, Tomorrow’s Action,” the event is billed as the Global Tourism Economy Forum 2014 Farewell Dinner, and will raise funds to support PATA Foundation projects in the Asia Pacific region.

The PATA Foundation is a natural extension of the Pacific Asia Travel Association’s dedication to the principles of conservation.

Peter Semone, Chairman of the PATA Foundation Board of Trustees, said, “This is a unique opportunity for individuals, companies and opinion leaders to meaningfully contribute to the sustainable growth of the Asia Pacific hospitality and tourism industry and at the same time make a difference in the lives of tens of thousands of underprivileged individuals.”

Over 300 distinguished guests are expected to attend the event, including government officials, celebrities, and the who’s who of the travel and tourism industry, all in support of the Foundation, its initiatives, and the people whose lives are positively impacted by the Foundation’s grants. Spectacular performances and auction pieces of travel-related and luxury lifestyle items will highlight the evening.

Attendees of the Gala Dinner will be able to see first-hand the many successful PATA Foundation initiatives that have been funded across Asia Pacific including the Sala Bai Hotel and Restaurant School in Siem Reap, Cambodia, and the Community Based Tourism Vietnam Project in the Sapa Region of Northern Vietnam.

There are various ways to get involved with this event. To purchase a seat or a table, contribute to an auction donation item, sponsor the event, or make a donation please contact PATA Sustainability & Social Responsibility Specialist, Ms Chi Lo, at SSR@PATA.org.

Since 1985, the PATA Foundation has strived to contribute to the sustainable and responsible long-term development of travel and tourism in Asia Pacific through the areas of environment, cultural heritage, education, and disaster relief when needed. Without overhead and administrative expenses, the Foundation has supported over 126 sustainable tourism projects, provided 123 scholarships and has positively impacted 35 countries in the Asia Pacific region through donations, grants and scholarships over US$1.2 million.

About the PATA Foundation
The PATA Foundation is a natural extension of PATA’s dedication to the principles of conservation, which are part of the Association’s charter. When the concept of a charitable foundation was first proposed at the 33rd PATA Annual Conference in 1984, there was unanimous member approval. The Foundation’s mission is to contribute to the sustainable and responsible development of travel and tourism in Asia Pacific through the protection of the environment, the conservation of heritage and support for education. Visit www.PATAfoundation.org.

About PATA
Founded in 1951, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a not-for profit association that is internationally acclaimed for acting 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 member organisations, comprising 90 government, state and city tourism bodies, nearly 30 international airlines, airports and cruise lines, 57 educational institutions, and hundreds of travel industry companies in Asia Pacific and beyond. Thousands of travel professionals belong to the 43 local PATA chapters worldwide. The chapters organise travel industry training and business development events. Their grassroots activism underpins PATA’s membership of the Global Travel Association Coalition (GTAC), which includes ACI, CLIA, IATA, ICAO, WEF, UNWTO and the WTTC. 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, Sydney, Dubai, London and New York. Visit www.PATA.org.

Media Contact:
PATA
Paul Pruangkarn
Manager – Communications
Bangkok, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 658 2000
E-mail: Communications@PATA.org
Online newsroom: www.PATA.org/Press