PATA announces Grand and Gold award winners

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) last week announced the winners of the 2012 PATA Gold Awards.

The awards have long been proudly supported and sponsored by the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO). This year, the awards recognise the achievements of 21 separate organisations and individuals.

Some 27 PATA Grand and Gold Awards are being presented this year, with multiple awards going to Hong Kong Tourism Board as well as the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and Tourism Malaysia.

The awards ceremony will take place on Saturday, 21 April 2012 at The Royale Chulan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia during the PATA Annual Conference, which takes place 20-22 April.   

PATA Grand Awards are presented to outstanding entries in four principal categories: Marketing; Education and Training; Environment; and Heritage and Culture. This year, the Grand Awards go to the Lao National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality, for Education and Training; Tourism Authority of Thailand for Environment; Heritance Tea Factory, Sri Lanka for Heritage and Culture; and Tourism New Zealand for Marketing.

MGTO Director Joao Manuel Costa Antunes said: “Our applause goes to all the winners for their remarkable achievements. We are proud to commend their excellence as a sponsor to the PATA Gold Awards again this year.  It is no easy task for the judges to determine the winners, given the number and quality of the entries, and the 27 PATA Grand and Gold Awards are testimonies to the efforts of these NTOs, organizations and individuals who have done their best in the sustainable development and promotion of the travel and tourism industry.”



PATA Grand Awards 2012

1. Education and Training

Passport to Success

Lao National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality, Laos

2. Environment

7 Green Concepts

Tourism Authority of Thailand

3. Heritage and Culture

Heritance Tea Factory, Sri Lanka

4. Marketing

Rugby World Cup 2011 Marketing Campaign

Tourism New Zealand



PATA Gold Awards 2012

1. Marketing – Primary Government Destination (PG)

A Million Experiences to Share

Tourism Malaysia

2. Marketing – Secondary Government Destination (SG)

The White Rann

Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited, India

3. Marketing – Allied Partner (AP)

www.germany.travel: Multilingual website for Destination Germany

German National Tourist Board

4. Marketing – Industry (IN)

Hong Kong Disneyland 5th Anniversary Integrated Travel Trade Marketing Campaign

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Hong Kong SAR

5. Environment – Ecotourism Project (EC)

Organic Agriculture Project, Sukhothai Airport

Tourism Authority of Thailand

6. Environment – Corporate Environmental Programme (CO)

Jetwing SEA – A Greener Vision

Jetwing Hotels, Sri Lanka

7. Environment – Educational Programme (ED)

Frangipani Langkawi Waste Water System

The Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa Malaysia, Malaysia

8. Heritage and Culture – Heritage (HE)

Ban Na Ton Chan Community

Tourism Authority of Thailand

9. Heritage and Culture – Culture (CU)

Ramayana Prambanan Ballet: Preserved the Tradition Javanese Culture

PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Indonesia

10. Education and Training (ET)

Banyan Tree Spa Academy

Banyan Tree Spa, Thailand

11. Marketing Media – Consumer Travel Brochure (BR)

Luxury Escapades

Cox & Kings, India

12. Marketing Media – Travel Advertisement Broadcast Media (AD-B)

Touch Korea – Power Spot

Korea Tourism Organization, Korea ROK

13. Marketing Media – Travel Advertisement Print Media (AD-P)

Hong Kong – Asia’s World City Destination Image Print Ad Campaign

Hong Kong Tourism Board, Hong Kong SAR

14. Marketing Media – Travel Poster (PO)

Poster Orang Utan, Diving, Mt Kinabalu, Homestay & Siti Khadijah Marke

Malaysia Tourism Board (Tourism Malaysia)

15. Marketing Media – Promotional Travel Video (VI)

Hong Kong – Asia’s World City Brand Video

Hong Kong Tourism Board, Hong Kong SAR

16. Marketing Media – Public Relations Campaign (PR)

Madame Tussauds Stamps Out the Competition

Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, Hong Kong SAR

17. Marketing Media – CD-Rom (CD)

Naturally Nepal

Nepal Tourism Board

18. Marketing Media – Website (WS)

2011 Hong Kong Summer Spectacular Mini site

Hong Kong Tourism Board

19. Marketing Media – E-Newsletter (EN)

Art of Travel

Sita, India

20. Travel Journalism – Destination Article (TJ-D)

Can this be Paradise? October 2011 by Peter Jon Lindberg

Travel + Leisure, USA

21. Travel Journalism – Industry Business Article (TJ-I)

Bhutan Rolls out the Welcome Mat, October 2011 by Arnie Weissmann

Travel Weekly - USA

22. Travel Journalism – Travel Photograph (TJ-P)

Coron Island After Sunset, Mabuhay Magazine, November 2011 by George Tapan

Eastgate Publishing Corporation, Philippines

23. Travel Journalism – Travel Guidebook (TJ-G)

The Great Outdoor Series

Hong Kong Tourism Board, Hong Kong SAR