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Palau hosts PATA Micronesia Chapter Tri-Annual Meeting
From left, Palau first lady Debbie Remengesau; Therese Cruz Arriola, FESTPAC 2016 chair and Guam Visitors Bureau board member; Palau President Tommy Remengesau Jr.; Pilar Laguaña, Guam Visitors Bureau marketing manager and PATA Micronesia Chapter chair; Judy Torres, Marianas Visitors Authority deputy managing director; Regina Nedlic, Guam Visitors Bureau marketing officer II; and Kadoi Ruluked, Palau Visitors Authority marketing manager. (PATA MICRONESIA CHAPTER)
GUAM—More than 60 Pacific Asia Travel Association Micronesia Chapter members from across the Micronesia region met on the beautiful Island of Palau to hold its Tri-Annual chapter meeting on Feb. 10 – 12, 2014.
The Education, Marketing and Membership committees of the chapter were able to deliver and approve each of their 2014 Business Plans during the two days of meeting. In addition, PATA Micronesia Chapter chair Pilar Laguaña delivered her 2013 Year End Chapter Review during the PATA General Membership in front of a packed room full of government and state officials, tourism industry partners and chapter members on Feb. 12.
Highlighting the general membership meeting also was the keynote speaker, FESTPAC 2016 chair Therese Cruz Arriola, who shared Guam’s progress and welcomed suggestions and recommendations from Palau in hosting the next Festival of the Pacific Arts in Guam from May 22 to June 4, 2016.
The chapter also conducted, under its Education Committee—co-sponsored by the Pacific Islands Small Business Development Center Network and the Palau Visitors Authority—a two-day training seminar for service industry workers who wanted to enhance their abilities to provide a memorable “fine dining” experience in their establishments. The free seminar by PROA Restaurant owner Chris Flores Bejado was well attended with over 27 attendees each day.
Other highlights from the PATA Tri-Annual Meeting included a courtesy visit to Palau President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr. and first lady Debbie Remengesau, and the recruitment of an additional 40 PATA members from Palau to increase the chapter’s membership to 129 members.
The chapter meetings concluded on Feb. 12 at the Sea Passion Hotel with a “local style dinner” featuring specialty dishes from all 16 states of Palau. Special thanks to the following sponsors: United, Sea Bird Cruise Palau, Sea Passion Hotel, Palau Tourism School of Hospitality and Excellence, Sam’s Tours, Alibamou Resorts, 16 states of Palau, West Plaza Downtown, Roll ’Em Productions, Budget Car Rental and Carp Island Resort.
The next PATA Micronesia Chapter Tri-Annual Meeting is scheduled to take place July 23-25, 2014 in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia. (PATA)
