PATA APPOINTS NEW DIRECTOR-NORTHEAST ASIA

PATA has appointed Mr. Stephen Yong as Director-Northeast Asia, effective January 1, 2001.

Mr. Yong, a Singaporean, is based at PATA Operational Headquarters in Bangkok. He is responsible for liasing with PATA members and chapters in Northeast Asian countries such as China (PRC), Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Mongolia, Macau, Korea (ROK) and DPR Korea.

Mr. Yong speaks Mandarin, Malay and Thai as well as English, and was International Director of Marketing for Bangkok-based Travel Trade Report magazine from 1996 to 2000. Prior to that, Mr. Yong worked in the hotel sector in Singapore on the sales side.

PATA Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Joseph A. McInerney said: "Stephen has many contacts throughout Asia and has a reputation as a strong self-starter. He is already contacting PATA members in Northeast Asia to find out how PATA can serve them better regarding educational, training, marketing and environmental initiatives."

Mr. Yong will be attending the PATA Board of Directors meeting January 12-14 in Honolulu, Hawaii. His e-mail is stephen@pata.th.com.