The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is pleased to announce the launch of the new PATA Hong Kong Chapter on July 27, 2012 at the Hotel ICON, in Kowloon, Hong Kong on the eve of its Executive Board meeting.

Eng João Manuel Costa Antunes, PATA Chairman said: “The PATA family is very glad to see the re-opening of the Hong Kong Chapter. Hong Kong is one of the most dynamic cities in the world and a mature tourism destination with tremendous potential to contribute in a more structured way to the Association and its goal of building a responsible development of the Asia Pacific travel and tourism. It is the dedication and engagement of local chapter members that makes PATA a living organisation and ensures its continuity as we move towards the next generation.”

The Hong Kong Chapter is chaired by Mrs Linda Song, Executive Director, Plaza Premium Lounge Management Ltd. Song is one of three Hong Kong based PATA Executive Board members. The others are Mr Anthony Lau, Executive Director, Hong Kong Tourism Board; and Prof Kaye Chon, Dean, School of Hotel and Tourism Management, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Mr Martin J Craigs, PATA CEO, said “Our Executive Board of 12 from 8 different Asia Pacific countries will convene this Saturday very appropriately in Hong Kong’s leading learning centre for tourism. PATA’s unique role is to represent both the private and public sides of the travel and tourism sector (770 organisations from over 50 countries at present). Private enterprise members as large and influential as VISA, Cathay Pacific and Marriott plus dozens of NTOs count on PATA’s aligned advocacy, grass roots SMEs depend on PATAmPOWER research and Travel Mart events to build their business.”

“I am also delighted to welcome the revitalised Hong Kong PATA Chapter back into the family circle. This is an important time for Hong Kong tourism as it seeks to strike the right balance and ensure tourism remains an overwhelming force for good as in the rest of the Asia Pacific region,” he added.

The PATA Hong Kong Chapter will meld a diverse range of travel and tourism segments. These include aviation, hospitality, tourism, media, academia, and government. Activities of the Chapter include seminars, network luncheons with guest speakers and industry conferences.

Mrs Linda Song, the Executive Director of Plaza Premium Lounge and the new PATA Hong Kong Chapter Chair said: “Knowledge sharing is important in elevating the quality of our local tourism service industries whilst preserving cultural heritage in an environmentally sensitive way. Our coalition of travel and tourism specialists is ideally placed to support balanced and value adding progress on vital tourism infrastructure such as the third runway at CLK.”

The PATA Chapter concept was formally adopted in 1957; its purpose remains its tools to communicate change. The PATA Next Gen concept aims to continue to bring people together face to face whilst also intelligently using social media and new communications technology. There are currently 41 Chapters and six Student Chapters across America, Europe and Asia Pacific.