The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Micronesia Chapter gathered for its 3rd Tri-Annual meeting in Palau from December 14-17, 2011. The meetings were held at the Palau International Coral Reef Center, and more than 30 members of the chapter attended the meetings.

Highlights of the chapter meeting included the establishment of the 2012 regional marketing calendar. As well, funding was allocated for the chapter’s collateral materials to include the PATA regional brochure reproduction, revisions to the regional e-guides, and outsourcing of the chapter’s website. Other issues discussed were specifications, updates, and regulations to the chapter’s membership requirements.

The PATA Education committee has taken the lead in archiving all PATA information and setting up a membership bank of all chapter members for training purposes.

Marcus Cepeda held a training session on restaurant etiquette and sequence of service as part of a joint training agreement with the Small Business Development Center and the PATA Micronesia chapter.

In addition, the Marketing Committee Chairperson, Pilar Laguaña, presented plans for chapter’s 2012 regional programs and promotions. Ideal Advertising agency presented phase one of the Micronesia initiative.

The chapter’s chairman, Grant Ismael, along with executive members had a breakfast meeting with Palau President His Excellency Johnson Toribiong to thank him for his continued support of the chapter’s mission, to include the PATA Branding Initiative at the recent Micronesia Chief Executives Meeting in Kosrae from December 11-12, 2011.

UOG Associate Professor and PATA member, Gerry Perez, shared a cruise line presentation on Micronesia, which he presented as a guest speaker during the Cruise Shipping Asia event in Singapore, November 16-18, 2011, with the Micronesia Cruise Association (MCA) members. PATA Micronesia chapter members are also members of MCA.

The next regional chapter meeting is tentatively scheduled to take place in late March 2012 in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).