PATA Takes A Look At The Future

Officials report that the annual PATA Global Insights Conference was a resounding success with close to 200 delegates hearing from high profile speakers representing major international brands such as Boeing, Microsoft and TripAdvisor.

With the theme, “R U Future Ready”’ and with the support of Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) and BBC World News, the event took place on Sept. 29 at the SKYCITY Grand Hotel in Auckland, New Zealand.

PATA CEO Dr. Mario Hardy said: “This year’s conference program focused primarily upon the need for the public and private sectors in the travel and tourism industry to prepare for the disruption and innovation that is currently taking place and will take place in the future. As a non-profit membership association, PATA continues to work with its partners and members for the responsible development of travel and tourism in the Asia Pacific region and this event highlights our commitment to this endeavour.””

The event examined the issues, threats, challenges and opportunities for New Zealand’’s tourism sector in line with the Tourism 2025 Plan and beyond, specifically looking at artificial intelligence, aviation, e-commerce, consumer travel trends, cybercrime, destination brand building and media.

Delegates heard from such speakers as Chris Monk, Head of Region (APAC) – Decoded; Jameson Wong, Director for Business Development – APAC, ForwardKeys.com; John Schubert, Managing Director – Marketing Asia Pacific and India, Boeing Commercial Airplanes; Maggie Wu, Chief World Explorer at www.flywithmaggie.com; Martin Snedden, former CEO – Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA); Russell Craig, National Technology Officer – Microsoft New Zealand; Sandra Chipchase, CEO – Destination NSW Australia and Executive Producer, Vivid Sydney; Sarah Mathews, Head of Destination Marketing APAC – TripAdvisor, and  Stu Stacy, Commercial Director – ADARA, as well as BBC World News International Correspondent Phil Mercer who moderated the conference panel sessions.

For more, go to http://www.PATA.org

Seen in the photo:
Martin Snedden, former CEO – Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA), delivers the opening address during the PATA Global Insights Conference 2017 in Auckland, New Zealand on Sept. 29.