In 2020, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), in partnership with BBC World News, launched the Destination Insight Series to take a close look at various destinations around the Asia Pacific region and examine how they are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing towards recovery. The high-level fireside chat and panel discussion will provide a 360° local perspective of each destinations’ on-ground activities from operations, safety protocols and guidelines, to marketing, communications, and other promotional activities.
The first episode of 2021 will focus on Incredible India, a mosaic of multicultural experiences and natural landscapes from the snow-covered Himalayan heights to the tropical rain forests of the south. With a rich heritage and myriad attractions, the country is among the most popular tourist destinations in the world.
Speakers
Meenakshi Sharma, Director General (Tourism), Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India
Smt. Meenakshi Sharma is a 1988 batch Officer of Indian Audit & Account Service. She currently is the Director General (Tourism) in the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and has previously served as the Additional Director General (Tourism) and as the Director General (Professional Practices) in Comptroller and Auditor General of India. She did masters in International Business & System Analysis from Delhi School of Economics. Read more
Renu Basu, Senior Vice President – Global Sales and Marketing, The Indian Hotels Company Limited
Renu Basu is part of the Executive Team and leads Global Sales and Marketing at IHCL where her responsibilities include Sales, Marketing, Loyalty and Digital Marketing. A seasoned professional with over three decades of experience, she has been laser focused on ensuring IHCL is the single most iconic and profitable company in the hotel industry. Read more
Vikram Madhok, Managing Director, Abercrombie & Kent India Ltd.
Vikram completed his Management studies in the US, thereafter, working in the banking sector. He returned to India in 1985 to join the hospitality industry. He was associated with Taj and The Oberoi Group of Hotels for 13 years. He joined Abercrombie & Kent India in 1997 as Executive Director and was, subsequently, promoted to take over as Managing Director. A&K is a global travel company with 55 offices in over 30 countries. Read more
Vishal Bhatnagar, Sales Director - South Asia, BBC Global News India Private Limited
As Sales Director-South Asia at BBC Global News Limited, Vishal leads the branded content and advertising business for BBC GNL’s digital and broadcasts assets in South Asia. These include the multi-screen product offerings around BBC.com and the global TV channel BBC World News. Read more
Willy Boulter, Chief Commercial Officer, IndiGo
Willy Boulter is the Chief Commercial Officer of IndiGo and has been in the company for nearly 3 years. He has been in the airline business for over three decades and has specific functional experience in most areas of airline commercial activity. At IndiGo, he is responsible for CarGo, Corporate Communications, Customer Relations, Digital, International Sales, Loyalty, and Marketing. Read more
Rajan Datar, Presenter, BBC’s The Travel Show
Rajan is one of global TV’s most recognised and experienced faces. Rajan has been a travel presenter for the BBC since 1990 when he began co-presenting the ground-breaking BBC TV ‘Rough Guides’ which escaped traditional travel TV territory and became the first programme to embrace the independent traveller and experience the world from their perspective. Read more
Dr. Mario Hardy, Chief Executive Officer, PATA
Dr. Hardy was appointed CEO of PATA in November 2014 and is also the past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PATA Foundation, a nonprofit organisation with a focus on the protection of the environment, the conservation of culture and heritage, and support for education. He has 30 years of experience in specialised aviation businesses focusing on data analytics and technology, coupled with several corporate leadership capacities. Read more
Host
Paul Pruangkarn, Director - Communications & External Affairs, PATA
Paul oversees day-to-day operations of all communications and serves as the senior spokesperson for the Association. Paul works to enhance PATA’s public image through various media outlets and maintains the Association’s media partnerships with such organisations as BBC World News, National Geographic Traveller (UK), Skift, TTG Asia… Read more