PATA Seeks to Streamline Through Reorganization

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has introduced a new organization structure designed to streamline the association’s wide range  of services to its global membership base.

The new Office of Strategy Management, headed by John Koldowski, embraces all functions performed within the PATA Strategic Intelligence Centre, such as market analysis and tourism forecasting, as well as a new Business Services operation.

The Office of Marketing Services, headed by Sheila Leong, consolidates all activities previously undertaken by the association’s events and membership departments as well as the new PATA website now under development. The website, scheduled to go live in the first quarter of 2010, provides a trading portal for members and non-members as well as  offering a much-improved online purchasing system. The OMS also provides new focus upon and improved liaison with the network of PATA Chapters  worldwide.

The Special Membership Services division gives new focus to developing opportunities for PATA growth, particularly among younger members of the travel and tourism community as well as in specific business sectors such as the newly created hospitality membership  category. PATA Regional Directors sit within this new division.

As part of the reorganization, Koldowski and Leong became chief executives of PATA. The reorganization dovetails with the launch of a three-year business plan at  the association’s recent Board of Directors meeting in Hangzhou, China.

PATA CEO Greg Duffell said, ”We’re determined to remain relevant to and engage with all our members. By creating a path of least resistance through the PATA matrix of members, boards and management, communication will now be improved significantly. This essential realignment also allows me to better leverage the enormous pool of talent, knowledge and experience that resides within the association.”