Deeson confirmed as PATA chairman
BANGKOK: Shanghai-based hotel chief Brian Deeson has been appointed the new chairman of PATA following the PATA board of directors meeting and AGM in Vancouver.
Deeson takes over from Richard Beere, director, international marketing, Tourism Australia.
Janice Antonson, vice president, marketing, Nassau International Airport, has been appointed PATA Chair-elect.
Speaking at the AGM, Deeson, who is CEO, Greater China and senior vice president, Asia/Pacific for Accor Hospitality, highlighted global warming and the shortage of human resources as two of the biggest challenges facing the industry today.
“There is a huge gap emerging between the explosive growth in tourism infrastructure and the available pool of trained personnel,” he said. “And global warming is no longer a problem that can be left for tomorrow’s generation. We need to address it today.”
Deeson said he fully supported the change agenda adopted by PATA under the leadership of president & CEO, Peter de Jong. “It is crucial that we continue to evolve as an agile, knowledge-based association to remain a “must-join” proposition to today’s travel and tourism organisations,” he said.
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism
Qatar Airways offers reduced timetable to over 60 destinations
WTTC global tourism reached record economic impact of 11 trillion in 2025
Hands In, UATP join forces for airline multi-card payments
Suspension of all regional trains in Catalonia following two new rail accidents in Spain