PATA CEO Challenge leads by example

BANGKOK – The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) yesterday signed a new agreement with EC3 Global, managers of the Green Globe brand, to help significantly reduce the carbon footprint of its landmark new event, the PATA CEO Challenge: Confronting Climate Change.

Green Globe is the leading international environmental benchmarking and certification programme for the travel and tourism industry.

On April 29 – 30 2008, travel and tourism industry leaders will gather here for the inaugural PATA CEO Challenge. It will be the first time that decision-makers from all sectors of Asia Pacific travel and tourism meet to discuss and agree to practical solutions to confront climate change.

International delegates to the event are also being encouraged to offset the carbon emissions generated by their flights to and from Bangkok. The event venue - the Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld - has joined Green Globe's accreditation programme.

Many industry leaders have already committed to attend the event including Cathay Pacific CEO Tony Tyler, Accor Asia Pacific Chairman David Baffsky and Banyan Tree Chairman r K P Ho.