(Tuesday, December 11, 2012 – Tumon, Guam) The Guam Visitors Bureau is hosting the 2012 Pacific Asia Travel Association’s (PATA) Micronesia Annual Chapter Meeting this week wherein members of the chapter will elect new officers. Several guests and Chapter delegates from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau arrived on Guam over the weekend to take part in this annual event. Also attending the meetings is PATA International’s Regional Director, Mr. Chris Flynn from Sydney, Australia who paid a courtesy visit to Governor Calvo yesterday morning.

“We’re always looking toward innovative ways to expand and enhance tourism on Guam,” said Governor Eddie Baza Calvo. “It’s a blessing to have the support of Mr. Flynn and PATA behind a regional tourism partnership with Guam and the Micronesian islands. It’s a partnership that’s lasted, and it continues to promote our sunny skies, our blue ocean, and the warmth and hospitality of the people in the region.”

“Governor Calvo is a very gracious host and we were delighted to have met him,” Flynn said. “We discussed the mission and organization of PATA and conveyed to him that we are partners in ensuring responsible growth of tourism on Guam and throughout the Micronesian region.”

Chris Flynn has 30 years of experience in international and domestic tourism having held senior appointments within the airline, deluxe hotel, and high profile entertainment industries. While on Guam, he will be conducting a free training seminar sponsored by GVB, PATA Micronesia Chapter and the Guam Small Business Development Center on “PATAmPower,” an interactive tool that aggregates travel and tourism information in the Asia Pacific region, on Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at the Outrigger Resort Guam.

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is an international, non-profit membership organization founded in Honolulu in 1951 to contribute to the growth, value and quality of travel and tourism to and within the Pacific-Asia area. Today, PATA is a global organization, covering over one third of the globe and represented through dozens of regional and satellite chapters. GVB General Manager Joann G. Camacho is a member of PATA International’s Board of Directors.

“We are excited to welcome Regional Director Flynn and representatives of PATA Micronesia to Guam,” said GVB General Manager Joann Camacho. “PATA remains an important partner in our efforts to market Guam and the Micronesian region. Our islands collectively show the uniqueness of our peoples and PATA helps us to show that to the rest of the world.”

PATA Micronesia Committee meetings were held today at GVB and will continue with its General Membership meeting, tomorrow, December 12, 2012 at the Outrigger Resort, FortSan Rafael Room beginning at 9:00AM.

To register for the PATAmPower training, please contact Elaine Pangelinan at GVB by calling 648-1505 or email [email protected] for more information.

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