MACAU – PATA Grand and Gold Awards winners celebrated their achievements at the PATA Gold Awards luncheon on the last day of PATA Travel Mart (PTM) 2010 at the Venetian Macao Resort Hotel. Sponsored by the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO), the award presentation attracted over 1,000 travel trade professionals, including buyers, sellers and media persons. This year, the awards recognised the achievements of 24-separate organisations and individuals. The four Grand Awards went to Tourism New Zealand in the marketing category; Banyan Tree Spa Academy in education and training; AlamKulKul Boutique Resort, Bali for environment, and Ministry of Tourism, Government of India in the heritage category respectively. Multiple awards go to Hong Kong Tourism Board, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and Tourism Authority of Thailand. MGTO has sponsored the PATA Gold Awards for the past 15-years. “We would like to give a big round of applause to the winners of this year's PATA Gold Awards, who have shown excellence and dedication in each of their particular fields,” Joao Manuel Costa Antunes, director, MGTO, said. “In fact, their achievements are valuable contributions, not only to the travel-and-tourism industry, but also to areas of education and environment as well. The 2011 PATA Gold Awards will open for entries in October, and we strongly encourage our industry stakeholders to take this opportunity to present their outstanding work again.” The PATA Gold Awards 2011 (
www.PATA.org/goldawards) is now accepting submissions.