PATA Grand Awards 2009

Education & Training
Education and Employment Assistance Programme / Bintan Resorts, Singapore
With the aim of elevating the standard of education of the local students, the scheme provides scholarships and bursaries to students from the seven selected villages. This is an avenue for promising youths to continue and/or pursue higher education, to attain better employments opportunities and to focus upon the importance of an individual's contribution to the travel industry. As of 2008 more than 4,600 local students from various levels of institutions have benefited directly from the scheme.
Environment
Spice Village and the Community / Spice Village, Thekkady , India
Set in the Periyar forest region, in Kerala, India with its great biological and ethnographic cultural diversity, Spice Village creates an identity that blends in with the ambience of the region, while being distinctive. The environmentally-friendly practices include dry/wet waste management, efficient microbial composting, food waste composting and use of non-renewable resources and solar panels. Local community participation is the major focus in the programme.
Heritage & Culture
Temple Tree - A Resort of Many Cultures / BON TON Snd Bhd., Malaysia
Antique buildings of Chinese, Malay, Indian, Eurasian and Arab origin make up this 14 suite hotel. These predominantly timber villas range from 70 - 110 years old and were sourced from all over the Malaysian peninsular. They were first dismantled and then re-erected piece by piece on site in Langkawi. Many were derelict when found, but have now been preserved for future generations. These preserved houses are now used as a hotel to promote a truly Malaysian holiday experience.
Marketing
Visa Travel Happy / Visa Worldwide
Visa's new travel-focused advertising campaign in Asia Pacific aimed at capturing a very common love for travel celebrating the multi-cultural, multi-faceted face of travel with the singular card that makes it possible. Launched in Asia Pacific, the commercial recreates the dance made famous by internet celebrity Matt Harding in his self-made quirky video travel diaries.