During the opening ceremony of the 55th PATA Annual Conference honours were bestowed upon two PATA chapters and eight individuals who have made outstanding contributions to both the travel and tourism industry and the Association. PATA Sri Lanka Chapter was awarded the 2006 Sprit of PATA Award for
working diligently over the past 16 months to help re-establish the
destination in the aftermath of the December 26, 2004 tsunami.

The winner of the 2006 Award of Excellence, the PATA Nepal Chapter,
worked tirelessly to overcome adverse media reports about Nepal and to
ensure the continuation of vital tourism flows.

PATA Life Membership is the Association’s highest individual honour,
recognising significant leadership and invaluable dedication to PATA.
In 2006, PATA bestowed two Life Memberships.

An active advocate of the PATA mission in the Pacific since 1985, and
a firm believer in aviation’s place in the PATA family of members,
PATA Board of Directors and PATA Carrier Committee member Mr Dan
Burrus was the first to receive the honour.

The second to receive PATA Life Membership in 2006, Mr Doug Fyfe, has,
during the course of his career, used the opportunities presented by
frequent speaking engagements to promote the Asia Pacific as a region
of immense opportunity.

The 2006 inductee into the Gallery of Legends, Mr Walt Disney, is the
13th inductee into the Gallery and the first to represent the
attractions sector. The induction of Mr Disney into the PATA Gallery
of Legends coincides with the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World.

The 2006 PATA Face of the Future, Mr Shikher Prasai, at 28 years of
age, has already excelled in his career and demonstrated leadership
and active involvement as Honorary Secretary of the PATA Nepal
Chapter. PATA member IMEX will treat Mr Prasai to a three-night trip
to IMEX 2006 in Frankfurt, from May 30-June 1.

PATA Awards of Merit are reserved for individuals who have
consistently contributed to PATA and the PATA chapter network over an
extended period. Two PATA Awards of Merit were presented today.

The first PATA Award of Merit was presented to Mr Brian Cuthbertson,
who during decades of immense change diligently served PATA’s mission
through the PATA Hong Kong Chapter.

Mr David Paulon, who serves PATA as Secretary Treasurer, Chairman of
the PATA Foundation Board of Trustees and member of the Executive
Committee, received the second Award of Merit for his proactive
involvement over many years.

The PATA Chairman every year has the opportunity to honour someone who
deserves special recognition. Mr Nobutaka Ishikure bestowed the 2006
PATA Chairman’s Award upon Mr Kevin Murphy for “his always persuasive,
reasonable, logical, impartial and good advice”.

Each year, the PATA Honorary Life Membership is conferred upon the
Chairperson of the PATA Annual Conference Host Committee, who this
year is Ms Juthamas Siriwan, Governor of 55th PATA Annual Conference
host the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
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