PATA 70th Anniversary: Looking Back From the Eyes of Joseph A. McInerney
The PATA Life Membership Awards is given to nominated members who satisfied at least 8 requirements, including: being an active member of PATA for at least 10 years, being active at various levels of PATA, such as Chapter, Divisional and/or Board levels, has been cited for the quality of his / her contribution in tourism, professionally and within the individual’s community, and more. As a general rule, except for unusual situations, only one award is given in this category each year.
In PATA’s 70 years of history (as of May 2021), 120 members have been awarded this honour.
About Joseph A. McInerney
Joseph A. McInerney, CHA, is the president & CEO of McInerney Hospitality International LLC, an international hospitality consulting and management practice. He serves as an advisor or a board member to various companies and universities. He led a training project in the Republic of Georgia for the World Bank, and has written a book, “Change, Is “Now the Status Quo”. McInerney is the emeritus president and chief executive officer of American Hotel & Lodging Association, the largest trade association representing the U.S. lodging industry and a Life Member of the Pacific Asia Travel Association, the voice and the authority in Pacific Asia.
He has over 60 years of experience in the hospitality industry in both the for profit and not for profit sectors as president or CEO of ITT Sheraton’s Franchise Division, Hawthorn Suites, Forte Hotels in the Americas, the Pacific Asia Travel Association, and the American Hotel & Lodging Association. It has provided him with a global perspective and a greater understanding of the various business models as well as the cultural diversity sensitivities throughout the world.
Throughout his career, McInerney has been a change agent – growing brands, creating earning streams, increasing profits, enhancing brand image, and significantly improving employee morale at the companies and associations he managed.
A United States Army veteran, an honor graduate of Boston College, the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from DePaul University, and a Certified Hotel Administrator. Throughout his career McInerney has been recognized with many industry honors and awards.
Prior to assuming the PATA CEO position in October 1997, I had never attended a PATA event. I did read about them in The story of the Pacific Asia Travel Association. But it did not provide us with a complete understanding or a vivid account of the events pomp and circumstance.
At the time, I had spent thirty-six years in the hotel industry and attended conferences and events around the world. I soon learned that none were like a PATA Annual conference. All of the PATA conferences and events that I attended as CEO were very special and memorable to me.
The 1998 conference in Manila, “Inspiring Progress: Influencing Prosperity” was memorable in two ways. It was my first PATA Conference and the Philippines did an exceptional job in creating a spectacular event. Secondly, at the annual meeting, the PATA headquarters to Bangkok was approved.
The Nagoya 1999 conference “Bridge to the New Future” was well done in spite of being clouded with some issues. However, the Japan members created a magnificent program that addressed the 21st Century new business, environmental issues, and sustainable tourism.
The 2000 conference in Hong Kong is a credit to Amy Chan, the Conference Chair. The country originally scheduled for the conference had to withdraw. Hong Kong agreed to host the event on very short notice. Amy Chan’s leadership made the “The Future is Now” a major success.
The 50th Anniversary conference in Kuala Lumpur, “Proud Past – Promising Future” was a magnificent event. Every one of the sessions and social events were impressive and every detail was handled meticulously. The Malaysia members and the Government provided PATA with the catalyst to focus on the next 50 years.
When I was nominated for the position of CEO, the PATA board had to approve me. Mr. Alwin Zecha was the only board member who did not vote for me. He wanted to meet me before he voted.
We met on the Sunday evening before World Travel Mart in London at the Jurys Hotel in Queens gate. Since it was a nice evening we decided to go out for dinner. Unfortunately, we did not find any restaurants open, but there was a liquor store closing that had one cheese sandwich. We split the cheese sandwich and a coke. Alwin bought the dinner, but told me not to tell anyone as he had deep pockets but short arms.
Alwin and I did have issues from time to time, but that was business. He became one of my closest friends. After leaving PATA, we stayed in contact and met at every WTM or ITB event for dinner. It was a distinct honor for me to attend his 80th birthday in Bangkok.
Alwin was a most unique individual who loved PATA and I miss him.
One of the first things I did after being named chief executive officer was to consult with the officers and the Executive Committee on the desire to move PATA. It was determined that if it could be economically accomplished, the headquarters should be moved somewhere in Southeast Asia, based on the size and scope of membership in Pacific Asia.
The move would add prestige to the association by finally having the association’s senior management in the region’s epicenter, something that had been discussed for over 30 years. It would provide management with the opportunity to visit member countries and chapters easier and more frequently at considerable less cost. It also would provide management with the ability to learn first-hand on a regular basis the opportunities and challenges within the region and to communicate more effectively with members.
Letters were sent in January 1998 to the PATA Government members in the Philippines, Hong Kong SAR, Macao China, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, soliciting their interest in PATA’s headquarters moving to their principal city. Singapore was not included as it was the site of the PATA Travel Mart and the general consensus was that the headquarters needed to be in another location.
Each city was visited and a 14-item weighted survey on all aspects of the city was completed on each location. The surveys and city visit results were presented to the Executive Committee, and the move of the operational headquarters to Bangkok, Thailand, was approved by the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors, and the Meeting of the Members at the Manila 47th Annual Conference in April 1998.
Little did Life Member General Chalermchai Charuvastr know when he suggested that the association should move to Asia at a 1963 PATA board meeting, that the move would take 35 years and the office would be in his Bangkok office building.
Lt Gen. Chalermchai Charuvastr (first row) at 17th Annual Conference in Taipei, Chinese Taipei, 1968.
What I like most about PATA is that it is a multipurpose, multicultural, and most unique trade association. As a public and private partnership, it provides members with the opportunity to deal with all sectors and levels within the travel and tourism industry – governments, carriers, industry, educators, suppliers, etc.…
PATA members have the ability to grow their network throughout the region and around the world through the association and the Chapters. Members have the ability to address issues and opportunities in a non-threatening environment.
PATA through its volunteerism, events, educational development, sustainability platforms, and industry research has been and will continue to be the voice and the authority in Pacific Asia.
Story Time! An interesting moment in 1998, PATA Bangkok Office Opening :
In September 1998, when the Bangkok office opened, I met with the attorneys who were handling the association's documentation to operate in Thailand. They told me to take a very low profile as it would take some time for us to be legal in the country.
That Friday evening my wife and I attended a Central Hotels function. The Prime Minister made a few remarks and then our host told me that the Prime Minister had heard that PATA had moved the headquarters to Bangkok and was interested in the details. He and I went to the corner of the room and I explained the process and our rational for moving the headquarters.
The next morning a picture someone took and a small article were in the newspaper. I called our attorney and asked him if this was a low enough profile. The good news is we were eventually approved to do business in Thailand without any issues.
2001: PATA Travel Mart, Singapore.
Opening Speech by then PATA President & CEO, Joseph A. McInerney.
