Speaking after a board meeting in Vancouver, Canada, last month, Pata president and chief executive Peter de Jong announced it had formed a partnership with two organisations specialising in the hospitality-investment and aviation sectors to support the summit, scheduled for April 2008. "I am delighted to say that Burba Hotel Network [BHN] and the Centre for Asia-Pacific Aviation [Capa] have agreed to partner Pata on the summit," he said. BHN and Capa are recognised leaders in their fields, with a reputation of excellence in convening conferences that draw a broad cross-section of industry leaders and keynote speakers, plus an enviable track record for attracting chief executives to conferences, he added.

De Jong announced the venue of the inaugural summit would be Bangkok, noting that Pata had received bids from five Asia-Pacific destinations to host the event.

Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Phornsiri Manoharn, who attended the Pata board meeting, said it was delighted to be selected to host such an important event on the international tourism calendar.

"Thailand has hosted numerous Pata events in the past, and we are honoured to be entrusted by the association to host the first annual summit in 2008. We look forward to working together with Pata, BHN and Capa to ensure that the summit is a resounding success," she said.

De Jong said Pata was still reviewing the summit theme, but it would centre on a "crucial, strategic business issue that demands the immediate attention of travel and tourism decision-makers".