PATA Unveils New Chair and Executive Board Line-Up at Korea Summit

At the PATA Annual Summit 2026 in Pohang, Korea, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) announced a refreshed leadership team.

New Leadership Line-Up
Chair: Henry Oh, Chairman of Global Tours Ltd.
- Korea’s first private travel agency leader and one of PATA’s earliest Asian members.
- Recognized with the Korean Government’s 20 Million Dollar Award and ITB Berlin’s Tourism Pioneer Award.
- Played a key role in international partnerships, including the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics.

Vice Chair: Ben Montgomery, Corporate Ambassador, Centara Hotels & Resorts.
- Vice President of the Thai Hotels Association, Board Member of ASEAN Hotel & Restaurant Association.
- Strong advocate for workforce development and creative tourism in Thailand.
- Former Regional Director – Greater Mekong at PATA HQ.

New Executive Board Members
- Jackson Pek – Chief Corporate & Legal Affairs Officer, Amadeus
- Maria Paz Alberto – President, Ark Travel Express, Inc.
- Siripakorn Cheawsamoot – Director-General, Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA)
- Shuichi Kameyama – Chief Consultant, JTB Tourism Research & Consulting Co.
- Continuing Member: Dr. Sharzede Salleh Askor, CEO of Sarawak Tourism Board

Why It Matters
This line-up reflects diverse expertise across aviation, hospitality, destination marketing, and travel technology, positioning PATA to strengthen collaboration, sustainability, and innovation across its 50+ country network.

Henry Oh summed up his vision:
> “As the new Chair, I am committed to strengthening collaboration within the Association, while building partnerships across the industry, so that PATA continues to serve as a guiding force for our members and network.”