PATA and TripAdvisor offer million-dollar prize for destination challenge

ASIA – The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has joined forces with TripAdvisor to offer US$1m in advertising campaigns for two winning destinations in its PATA CEO Challenge. PATA is calling for emerging destinations to take part in the PATA CEO Challenge 2015. The prizes – advertising campaigns on TripAdvisor – are each worth up to US$500,000. The two winning entries will work with TripAdvisor to create digital marketing campaigns to showcase their destinations to TripAdvisor’s global audience. The winners will be presented the PATA CEO Challenge 2015 Top Destination Award during a ceremony at the PATA Aligned Advocacy Dinner in London this November, prior to World Travel Market 2015. Sarah Mathews, head of destination marketing APAC, TripAdvisor, said: “Our global team will work with the two winners to develop a great digital campaign. It is our aim to support each destination with our knowledge on how travellers are inspired, research and book online and therefore to help the destination to paint their digital story to our global audience.” Mario Hardy, CEO, PATA, (pictured) added: “The PATA CEO Challenge 2015 will not only help new destinations showcase their unique offerings but enable today’s travellers to explore new frontiers and discover new experiences.” PATA has also taken the initiative to support the bounce back campaign for Nepal’s Tourism Industry. PATA vice-chairman, Andrew Jones and Bert van Walbeek, an experienced crisis management expert, recently visited Nepal to take part in a recovery programme on 24 May, 2015 in the capital, Kathmandu. Sixty key personalities from the public and private sectors of Nepal got together to exchange ideas on tourism recovery initiatives in the aftermath of the 25 April earthquake. The ideas shared will be incorporated in the coming days in a tourism recovery plan.