Pata hosts first-ever training event featuring the Middle East

Last week's event was a huge success, providing frontline agents from London with the chance to meet and train with 10 top suppliers including hotels and tourist boards as they discovered and learnt about new products in both the Indian Ocean and Middle East, understanding how these destinations compliment one another to create exciting, luxury and honeymoon focused itineraries.

PATA agent member, Daryl Glean from Travel Counsellors said: “It was well worth attending the PATA event. I learnt so much from the suppliers that attended. I now feel very confident in selling both the Indian Ocean and Middle East to my future customers.”

11 suppliers, of which half represented the Middle East, was a fantastic turn out for the first dual destination event PATA has hosted to include this part of the region. In attendance was:

• Qatar Tourism
• Ajman Tourism
• NH Collection The Palm Dubai
• Dusit Hotels & Resorts (dusitD2 Naseem Resort Jabal Akhdar, Oman)
• Canopy Marketing (representing: Niyama Private Island Maldives & Raffles The Palm Dubai)
• LD Sales & Marketing (representing: Uga Sri Lanka, Gili Lankanfushi Maldives & Mautourco Mauritius)
• Baglioni Maldives
• Heritance AARAH, Maldives
• Angsana Velavaru, Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru & Dhawa Ihuru
• Alila Kothaifaru Maldives
• Crossroads Maldives

Betsie Barr, Marketing & Events Manager for PATA UK & Ireland commented: 

“The addition of the Middle East in our training calendar is really exciting, enabling agents to network, learn and build connections with key suppliers with two key areas of the PATA region that complement each other so well. Our agent events continue to be a big hit and we’re really pleased with the quality of agents who attended last week.”

Perhaps not immediately considered part of the PATA region, the addition of the Middle East to the Indian Ocean roadshow was really well received.

PATA’s newest member, Black Diamond, recently joined the association specifically to benefit from PATA’s events and networking opportunities on behalf of their client, Qatar Tourism.