PATA names 2011 ‘Face of the Future’ finalists

Bangkok: Following an online vote by members, PATA announced the five finalists for the 2011 ‘Face of the Future’ competition.

The successful individuals are: Deepak Tamang, Managing Director, Raven Tours and Treks, Bhutan; DK Singh, founder and President, Heritage Group of Institutions, India; Tavalea Nilon of Samoa; Hsu Htet Hlaing, Managing Director, Unique Asia Travels & Tours Co. Ltd, Myanmar and Sitpasu Thongsuk, owner of Fair House Villas and Spa, Thailand.

Each year ‘Face of the Future’ spotlights individuals, 35-years old or younger, who have worked to change or advance travel-and-tourism in the Asia Pacific region. Nominations for the 2011 competition were of a particularly high standard and the online vote – the first year PATA has asked its members to participate in the judging process – led to a closely-fought first round.

The next stage of the competition requires the finalists to submit a video – up to three minutes in length – in which they discuss their ideas about the future. Specifically, they have been asked to outline three challenges they believe they may face as a travel-and-tourism leader in the future, and how they plan to prepare for, or manage, these challenges.

Videos must be completed by 31 December 2010, after which they will be linked to www.pata60.org for viewing. The winner and two runners-up will be announced by 1 March 2011, after a vote by PATA Executive Board members in February.

The winner and runners-up of the ‘Face of the Future’ 2011 will be honoured at a special awards ceremony at the 60th Anniversary and Conference, April 9-12 in Beijing. They will also have the opportunity to participate in a plenary session alongside luminaries such as senior government officials and industry leaders from across the spectrum of PATA membership.