BANGKOK: Shanghai-based hotel chief Brian Deeson has been appointed the new chairman of PATA following the PATA board of directors meeting and AGM in Vancouver.
Deeson takes over from Richard Beere, director, international marketing, Tourism Australia.
Janice Antonson, vice president, marketing, Nassau International Airport, has been appointed PATA Chair-elect.
Speaking at the AGM, Deeson, who is CEO, Greater China and senior vice president, Asia/Pacific for Accor Hospitality, highlighted global warming and the shortage of human resources as two of the biggest challenges facing the industry today.
“There is a huge gap emerging between the explosive growth in tourism infrastructure and the available pool of trained personnel,” he said. “And global warming is no longer a problem that can be left for tomorrow’s generation. We need to address it today.”
Deeson said he fully supported the change agenda adopted by PATA under the leadership of president & CEO, Peter de Jong. “It is crucial that we continue to evolve as an agile, knowledge-based association to remain a “must-join” proposition to today’s travel and tourism organisations,” he said.
