PATA Grand and Gold Awards winners celebrated their achievements today (Sept 7) at the PATA Gold Awards lunch on the last day of PATA Travel Mart 2010 at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel. PATA presented 20 Gold Awards and four Grand Awards at the PATA Gold Awards Lunch and Award Presentation to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of the stakeholders in various tourism industry aspects.
This year, the awards recognized the achievements of 24 organizations and individuals. MGTO is sponsoring, for the 15th consecutive year, the PATA Gold Awards Lunch and Award Presentation. Four Grand Awards are given out to outstanding showcases in marketing, education and training, environment and heritage. This year, the four Grand Awards went to Tourism New Zealand in the marketing category; Banyan Tree Spa Academy in education and training; AlamKulKul Boutique Resort, Bali for environment, and Ministry of Tourism, Government of India in the heritage category respectively. Multiple awards went to Hong Kong Tourism Board, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and Tourism Authority of Thailand. MGTO Director João Manuel Costa Antunes expressed, “We would like to give a big round of applause to the winners of this year's PATA Gold Awards, who have shown excellence and dedication in each of their particular fields. In fact, their achievements are valuable contributions, not only to the travel-and-tourism industry, but also to areas of education and environment as well. The 2011 PATA Gold Awards will open for entries in October, and we strongly encourage our industry stakeholders to take this opportunity to present their outstanding work again.” He pointed out, “Whilst this is the final day of PATA Travel Mart 2010, as our experience tells us, the acquaintances made during PATA events go a long way, and we look forward to meeting many of you again in next year's PATA Travel Mart in Delhi.” The PATA Gold Awards are well-established awards for industry stakeholders that have made outstanding contributions to the development and promotion of travel and tourism across the Asia Pacific region in a responsible and sustainable manner,. The awards, setting industry standards for excellence and innovation, are open to all-comers and not restricted to PATA members. They recognize exceptional achievements in six broad categories: Marketing, Environment, Heritage and Culture, Education and Training, Marketing Media and Travel Journalism. In 2002, MGTO was granted a Grand Award for the first time in the Marketing category with the "Macau Welcomes You Passport Campaign" and in 2007 in the Heritage category with the "Macau World Heritage Year Campaign". In 2008, MGTO received the PATA Gold Award under the category: Travel Advertisement Print Media with “Experience Macau”. MGTO has been sponsoring the PATA Gold Awards lunch and Award Presentation since 1996.
