PATA Micronesia Chapter meeting in Guam

TUMON, Guam—Members of the Pacific Asia Travel Association Micronesia Chapter gathered for the organization’s third and final tri-annual chapter meeting of the year in Guam from Dec, 1 to 3, 2016.

The PATA Micronesia Chapter featured Alicia L.G. Limtiaco, U.S. Attorney for the districts of Guam and the Northern Marianas Islands, who addressed the issue of “human trafficking” at the general membership meeting on Dec. 2 at the Guam Museum. The “Kids From Chuuk” with band Micro Nation, also had a special performance during the welcome reception at the newly opened Terraza at Dos Amantes, Puntan Dos Amantes (Two Lovers Point). The popular teen group recently won “Best Original Song” at the 2016 Island Music Awards on Guam for their single I’m Gone and was also featured in a short film at the 2016 Guam International Film Festival, which won the prestigious “Best of Festival” award.

“We were very excited that U.S. Attorney Limtiaco and the talented group Kids from Chuuk joined us for the final PATA Micronesia Tri-annual Chapter Meeting of 2016. It was a great time to share and inform all our partners of the great things happening in our region of the world,” said Pilar Laguaña, PATA Micronesia chair. “PATA chapter members within the Pacific region also had opportunities to network with each other and share upcoming events and activities for 2017.”

Additionally, the PATA chapter held their board of directors elections for 2017-2018. Results of the elections included five board of directors/officers to the following positions: chair Pilar Laguaña, Guam Visitors Bureau director of Global Marketing (incumbent); vice chair Bermance Aldis, Federated States of Micronesia Visitors board (incumbent); treasurer Judy Torres, deputy managing director of the Marianas Visitors Authority (incumbent); two new members, secretary Faustina Rehuher-Marugg, Palau Visitors Authority board member, and alternate board of director Paula Monk, United Airlines director of Sales, Guam and Micronesia.

The newly elected board members also assigned the chairmanship of each of the chapter’s standing committees to include education, marketing, membership, and a newly established committee called the Culture, Heritage, and Environmental Committee.

The tri-annual chapter meeting concluded with Guam sharing its “Visit Guam 2017: Year of Love” campaign, as well as the rest of its signature events and launch of the 2016 Shop Guam e-Festival. Shop Guam started on Dec. 1 and will run through Feb. 4, 2017, with offers and discounts from hundreds of local participating vendors. (PATA)