BANGKOK – PATA has established an independent committee to vet applications from buyers seeking subsided registration and attendance at the association’s 2010 Travel Mart in Macau SAR on September 14-17.
The committee comprises representatives from Asian Trails, Diethelm Travel, Accor Asia Pacific, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Hotel Equatorial Group, Guam Visitors Bureau, and Tour East.
PATA, in a statement, said committee members were, “all well-established seller companies and organisations familiar with the main purpose and benefits of the PATA Travel Mart”.
Previously, applications from buyers have been scrutinised by the host destination in conjunction with sponsoring airlines.
“The new committee reflects a balanced geographic and industry mix and is now working closely with PATA on the vetting process of all applications,” the statement continued.
“It’s our way of maintaining the essential and important quality control. We must be sure, for the benefit of all our sellers who invest considerable time and money to exhibit at PTM, that all registered buyers have passed a fair, yet rigorous, vetting process,†says PATA’s Sheila Leong.
Earlier this week, ITB Asia – which takes place in Singapore October 20-22 – announced new filtering techniques to ensure that only high quality buyers would enter the pre-scheduled appointment system to meet exhibitors.
