The Pacific Asia Travel Association has honored leading tourism executives and industry professionals during the PATA Annual Summit 2026 in Korea, recognizing contributions to travel, hospitality and tourism development across the Asia Pacific region.
The awards ceremony took place on May 11 at the Lahan Hotel in Pohang during the PATA Executive Board & Board Member and PATA Awards Presentation Dinner. PATA presented Life Memberships, Awards of Merit and the Chairman’s Award to five tourism leaders and one long-serving association professional.
PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid congratulated the recipients and highlighted their role in shaping the organization and the wider tourism industry.
“I would like to congratulate all the recipients and express how proud we are of their immense contributions to PATA and the wider tourism industry. Each of these changemakers has helped shape the Association through their leadership, integrity, and commitment to advancing our community, playing an important role in PATA’s continued growth and relevance today,” said Noor Ahmad Hamid, CEO, PATA.
PATA granted Life Membership, the association’s highest individual honor, to SanJeet, Director, DDP Publications Private Limited, and Suman Pandey, Group Chairman, Explore Himalaya Travel & Adventure.
SanJeet has served on the PATA Executive Board and various committees for more than 18 years. He also played a key role in bringing PATA Travel Mart to New Delhi in 2023.
As Director of DDP Publications, he oversees 10 travel industry magazines, including two based in Dubai. He also founded the India Travel Awards, India Cargo Awards and Arabian Travel Awards.
Pandey was recognized for more than three decades of leadership in adventure travel, aviation, hospitality and tourism policy in Nepal. He currently chairs the Explore Himalaya Group and previously served in leadership roles with the Trekking Agents Association of Nepal, PATA Nepal Chapter and Nepal Tourism Board.
PATA also presented Awards of Merit to Ben Montgomery, Corporate Ambassador, Centara Hotels & Resorts, and Judy Torres, Deputy Managing Director, Marianas Visitors Authority.
Montgomery was recognized for her contributions to PATA and the tourism sector in Thailand and Southeast Asia. In addition to representing Centara Hotels & Resorts in industry organizations, she currently serves as Vice President of the Thai Hotels Association and as a board member of the ASEAN Hotel & Restaurant Association.
Torres has more than 30 years of experience in tourism administration, destination marketing and public relations in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. She has supported tourism recovery initiatives, airline partnerships and sustainable tourism development across the Marianas region.
Kornchalee Tantimongkonsakul, Corporate Affairs, PATA, received the PATA Chairman’s Award for her support of the association’s leadership and governance operations.
PATA said Tantimongkonsakul has spent many years supporting executive coordination, member engagement initiatives and broader Secretariat operations across the organization.
| Name | Award | Title / Organization |
|---|---|---|
| SanJeet | PATA Life Membership | Director, DDP Publications Private Limited |
| Suman Pandey | PATA Life Membership | Group Chairman, Explore Himalaya Travel & Adventure |
| Ben Montgomery | PATA Award of Merit | Corporate Ambassador, Centara Hotels & Resorts |
| Judy Torres | PATA Award of Merit | Deputy Managing Director, Marianas Visitors Authority |
| Kornchalee Tantimongkonsakul | PATA Chairman’s Award | Corporate Affairs, PATA |
The PATA Annual Summit 2026 brought together tourism leaders, destination representatives and travel industry stakeholders in Gyeongju and Pohang, Korea, to discuss tourism growth, regional cooperation and industry development across Asia Pacific.
Photo: PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid (left-most), Chairman of the Honours Committee Tunku Iskandar (middle), and Chair Peter Semone (right-most) with the PATA Honours Awards recipients during the PATA Executive Board & Board Meeting and PATA Awards Presentation.
(Left to right) SanJeet, Director, DDP Publications Private Limited, and Suman Pandey, Group Chairman, Explore Himalaya Travel & Adventure, who received PATA Life Membership; Ben Montgomery, Corporate Ambassador, Centara Hotels & Resorts, recipient of the PATA Award of Merit; and Kornchalee Tantimongkonsakul, Corporate Affairs, PATA, recipient of the Chairman’s Award.
Not pictured: Judy Torres, Deputy Managing Director, Marianas Visitors Authority.