PATA Honours Tourism Leaders and Professionals at PATA Annual Summit 2026

At the PATA Annual Summit 2026 in Pohang, Korea, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) honoured five outstanding leaders for their contributions to the Asia-Pacific travel and tourism industry.

Life Membership (highest individual honour):
SanJeet – Director, DDP Publications Pvt. Ltd.
- Over 25 years with PATA, instrumental in bringing PATA Travel Mart 2023 to New Delhi.
- Founder of India Travel Awards, India Cargo Awards, and Arabian Travel Awards.

Suman Pandey – Group Chairman, Explore Himalaya Travel & Adventure.
- Nepal’s leading tourism entrepreneur, pioneer of skydiving in Nepal (2009), and organizer of the World’s Highest Cabinet Meeting at Kalapathar.
- Key driver of Nepal’s Himalayan Travel Mart and grassroots initiatives like Development through Tourism.

Awards of Merit:
Ben Montgomery – Corporate Ambassador, Centara Hotels & Resorts.
- Vice President of Thai Hotels Association, Board Member of ASEAN Hotel & Restaurant Association.
- Advocates workforce development and creative tourism in Thailand.

Judy Torres – Deputy Managing Director, Marianas Visitors Authority.
- 30+ years in tourism administration, destination marketing, and recovery initiatives in the Northern Mariana Islands.
- Strong advocate for sustainable tourism and community-focused development.

Chairman’s Award:
- Kornchalee Tantimongkonsakul – Corporate Affairs, PATA.
- Recognized for exceptional behind-the-scenes support, professionalism, and dedication to PATA’s governance and member engagement.

Why It Matters
These honours highlight the diverse leadership shaping Asia-Pacific tourism—from grassroots initiatives in Nepal to sustainable destination development in the Marianas, and workforce innovation in Thailand. Together, they reflect PATA’s mission of advancing responsible, collaborative, and resilient tourism across the region.