One Word
“It has been a year of reflection, learning, positive change, and innovation.“
What would be your “one word” to describe 2020? Mine would be “grounded”. Little did I know that a year ago I would be spending a full year grounded, not traveling, not seeing my family, and not shaking hands with friends and industry colleagues across the world. Little did I know that I would spend the year meeting people through a pinhole camera on my iPad and that “Zoom” would become a verb.
Our communications director, Paul Pruangkarn, asked me the other day how many Zoom calls and presentations did I do this year? I didn't count them all, but I believe it must have been close to the same amount that I have done during my entire two terms as PATA CEO and probably reached an audience of over 100,000 people.
I am certain that this year has been one of the most difficult and challenging for you as it has been for all of us at PATA. Like me, many of you have been affected by the pandemic in various ways, from the loss of family members and/or close friends, having to say goodbye to colleagues because of job cuts and workplace reductions, or some of you may even had to close the business that you built through a lifetime of hard labour.
However, there has been some positive developments. For PATA, it has been a year of reflection, learning, positive change, and innovation. We learned new digital skillsets and successfully organized a multitude of online events with an engaged audience that has been larger than we have ever experienced before. We have developed innovative concepts and ideas such as the PATA Dream to Travel Festival, the PATA e-Learning Platform, the PATA Crisis Resource Center (CRC), PATA Marketplace, our upcoming PATA Beyond event and so much more.
We are also seeing signs of hope for 2021 with the vaccine's arrival and more efficient and faster testing available. Furthermore, surveys conducted by several of our partners show signs that there is a great desire for people to travel. Even though we believe that the industry will experience a slow and gradual recovery of travel in 2021, and I cannot wait to travel and explore the world again.
In 2021, PATA will also celebrate its 70th Anniversary, implement its most significant change in governance since its inception, and appoint a new CEO. With a little over five months left with PATA, I am committed to dedicating every day left in office in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Association. My only regret is the unlikelihood that I will meet many of you in person before my term ends.
I know that many of you, like me, will be separated from your family members during this holiday season, but I hope we can all be reunited again soon. In the meantime, take comfort knowing that your friends and family are still just a video call away.
As an industry, we must continue to support each other, and stay focused and united in rebuilding a better and stronger tourism industry in 2021!
Happy Holidays, Happy New Year, and best wishes to all for a much, much better 2021!
Till next time,
Dr. Mario Hardy,
Chief Executive Officer
Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)
