The South Asian Travel Awards has selected a panel of international jury members for the evaluation of the nominated properties. The members of the panel will be travelling to multiple cities in the region and evaluating properties and services.

The Jury Members for SATA 2020 are:

Dr. Sachin Bansal

Dr. Sachin Bansal, earned the epithet of the rising sun in the heritage tourism industry with innovative leadership in his entrepreneurial journey towards creating the brand India City Walks, which is now a benchmark. As an enabler and a passionate explorer, his brand is decorated with three National Tourism Awards in consecutive years followed by the coveted Hall of Fame, spearheading multiple flagships. He has over two decades of experience as a tourist engager, creating niche experiences. As an entrepreneurial leader, his passion has steered him in unexplored directions like generating awareness on water as heritage, thereby creating a traction on a tremendous latent opportunity. As a destination branding specialist, he has enabled in co-creation and connecting smart cities through smart citizen initiatives. He is popularly known as a Chief Explorer, a Storywallah and a Heritage Hero.

Ms. Tamara Zeidan

Ms. Tamara is a business woman with over 15 years of business development experience. Most recently Ms. Tamara was the Vice President of Business Development for a business accelerator in Washington D.C. Prior to that, she worked at the Malala Fund where she managed various campaigns to raise funds for girls education. She has travelled all over the world representing various brands and entities. Her educational background is in business with a focus in marketing and branding. She currently serves on several boards globally. 

Mr. Abdulla Suood

With more than 20 years of experience in Sales & Marketing, having worked in Major Hotel Chains and establishing his own Travel Business, Mr. Suood stands firm in the Travel and Hospitality industry as a key voice. He also has been actively served in the Executive Board and as the Vice President of Maldives Association of Travel Agents & Tour Operators (MATATO), before being appointed as the President in the organization. Mr. Suood has worked in partnership with international organizations such as PATA in hosting the Maldives Travel Conference and Maldives Travel Awards annually for the hospitality industry. Mr. Suood is also among the co-founders of SME & Entrepreneurs Federation of Maldives (SEFM)

Ms. Sangeeta Rana

Ms. Sangeeta Rana is the Executive Director of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Bhutan. She has several years of experience in the hospitality and tourism industry. She is also the board member of various tourism and private sector development boards, such as TDB, CTA, BSTS, HRDB and many more. She is extremely enthusiastic and passionate about developing the tourism industry and working closely with all the tourism stakeholders around the world. She represents the exotic country, Bhutan, which believes in "Gross National Happiness".

Dr. Mahamood Shougee

Dr. Mahamood Shougee is the former Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation of the Maldives. He played a pivotal role in guiding the establishment of the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA).  Dr. Shougee holds a Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Arts in Economics, and a Master of Education from the University of Manitoba, and a PhD from the University of Toronto. He continues to work as a Consultant for Hotel and Resort chains, and as a Visiting Lecturer and Research Associate at Villa College (Maldives) and the Open University of Malaysia.

At the end of each year, stellar organisations and individuals from the Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Industry from all over the South Asian region turn their attention to the South Asian Travel Awards. Interest and anticipation build leading up to SATA, where thousands of stakeholders attend the glamorous three-day retreat and learn who will receive the highest honours in the regions Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Industry. SATA is the only tourism and hospitality recognition brand in the entire region. It has been endorsed by over a dozen regional and international organization for its accredited work to revive and uphold the tourism and hospitality in South Asia. Today, SATA sees the top brands in the region compete for the prestigious award.

With participants from six destinations (India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and the Maldives), SATA has grown immeasurably over the past four years. This year, SATA revealed 52 categories in addition to Visitors Choice Awards and Special Recognition Awards. SATA nominations for 2020 will proceed until the end of February, and the South Asian Travel Awards 2020 is scheduled to be held in the Maldives during the month of August.