Close to a thousand buyers, sellers and media representatives from 60 countries and regions witnessed the successful conclusion to the PATA Travel Mart 2010 (PTM 2010) held in Macau. As Asia Pacific's most important and influential travel contracting and networking show, PTM 2010 took place at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel, with an exhibition area of 3,402 sq. meter housing 380 booths. This year, the travel mart welcomed 530-sellers from 295 organizations of 38-source markets, 303-buyers from 269 organizations of 53-source markets as well as 152 media delegates from 13 countries and regions. 28 organizations in Macau joined the travel mart. The 3-day travel mart provided a platform for buyers and sellers to network and to seek business opportunities. The first two days were for trade members and the organizer invited local higher education institutes and tourism industry associations from Hong Kong to visit the mart on the third day. Highlights of PTM 2010 featured the welcome dinner reception hosted by Macau SAR Government, PATA Gold Awards luncheon and presentation ceremony, dinner reception hosted by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India (the next PTM host), the show preview of The House of Dancing Water, tours to Macau's world heritage sites and workshops. In addition, PATA also cooperated with the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) and Hong Kong Polytechnic University to organize a full-day seminar, "Human Resources Challenges in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry: Promoting Industry and Academic Collaboration". Immediately following PTM 2010, the PATA Executive Board and PATA Board Meeting was held from September 17 to 19 at the Grand Hyatt Macau. A dinner was held on September 18 at the Macau Tower to welcome the board members, and PATA CEO Gregory Duffell took a first-hand experience of the Macau Tower's Bunjy Jump. PATA Chairman Hiran Cooray, PATA CEO Gregory Duffell, PATA Vice Chairman Joao Manuel Costa Antunes and other board members participated in the meeting. The program included Board Meeting sessions and meetings of different committees. The PATA Executive Board and Board of Directors lead the operation of the association and organize the annual meetings and activities. PATA Founded in 1951, PATA is a non-profit membership association dedicated to building responsible development of the Asia Pacific travel and tourism industry. MGTO has been a member of PATA for over half a century since 1958. PATA has currently 800 full members and over 7,000 chapter members around the globe. PATA's membership boasts more than 100 government, state and city tourism bodies, over 50 airlines and cruise lines, and hundreds of travel industry companies. PATA www.PATA.org
