Suman Pandey
President, Explore Himalaya Travel & Adventure;
Secretary/ Treasurer, PATA
Suman Pandey is a well-known figure in Nepalese Tourism who has just retired as Chairman, PATA Nepal Chapter after serving five years. He is a member of PATA HQ since 1997 and served various associations in Nepal as Chairman-Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN); General Secretary - Airline Operators Association of Nepal (AOAN); Executive Member - Nepal Tourism Board (NTB); Executive Member - Nepal Tourism Year 2011; Executive Member - Nepal Mountaineering Association; Board Member Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management; Board Member - Nepal Mountaineering Academy and many more.
Started as General Manager to an Adventure Company, Mr. Pandey is in the Industry till date as President of his Company, Explore Himalaya Travel & Adventure, a well- known name for diverse and innovative operations. He is also the CEO of Fishtail Air, a Helicopter Company; Director of Summit Air, the best Fixed Wing operator catering for Tourists going to Mt. Everest Area; Director of the biggest Business Complex in Nepal, “ Chhaya Centre” that features 170 rooms Five Star Hotel being managed by Star Wood under “ Aloft” Brand; President of Himalaya Academy of Travel & Tourism, an academy imparting tourism related vocational trainings; and President of Himalayan Pre- Fab Pvt. Ltd, a company specializing on making eco – friendly prefabricated homes
His remarkable contributions in the Nepalese Tourism Industry have made him eligible for various titles & decorations including “ Suprasidha Gorkha Dakshin Bahu" from the King of Nepal in 2004, “Tourism Icon” by Nepal Association of Tourism Journalists in 2018, “Life Time Achievement Award” by Gantabya Nepal, a Tourism Publication in 2017, “Tourism Man of the year” by Gantabya Nepal, a Tourism Publication in 2010, “Life Time Achievement Award” for contribution in Tourism by “American Biographical Institute” Institute (ABI) based in the United States in Raleigh, North Carolina in 2008 and many more recognitions and felicitations to his credit. Mr. Pandey was instrumental in transforming PATA philosophies to Nepalese Tourism Industry significantly. PATA Students Chapter-Nepal, PATA Youth Forum-Nepal, 2015 Earthquake Crisis Management and Tourism Recovery Campaign under his leadership were some of the works that made PATA distinctly visible and well recognized in Nepal. The Historic “Himalayan Travel Mart 2017” that also featured “ International Travel Blogger’s Meet & Conference” and inaugurated by the President of Nepal where he felicitated three distinguished Personalities of PATA; Chairman Andrew Jones, CEO Mario Hardy and Dr. Bert Van Walbeek, the Crisis Management expert, was a noble initiation of him.
Beside his industry leadership, he is also quite a name for managing unique and challenging events. In 2009, Suman Pandey organized the Historic Cabinet Meeting of Nepal Government at Kalapatthar, the Everest Base Camp (17192ft) attended by 26 ministers of Nepal to discuss and pass a resolution in favor of global warming mitigation program that was covered by media world wide. Other events under his name are Himalayan Travel Mart 2017, Racing the Planet 2011, Bear Grylls GKN Everest Mission 2007, Mt. Everest Golden Jubilee Celebration 2002-2003 and many more.