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.
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