Nur-Sultan (Kazakhstan) – August 30, 2019 (travelindex.com) – Leading experts in tourism trends and insights will gather in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, from September 18-20 for the PTM Forums as part of the PATA Travel Mart 2019 (PTM 2019).

In addition to the two full days with over 10,000 pre-arranged appointments between global sellers and qualified international buyers, the event will begin on Wednesday, September 18, with two PTM forums that will address the power of technology and the evolution of content marketing.

“As we want to offer our PTM participants added value, the PTM Forums are the ideal opportunity to learn about the latest trends and insights in the travel and tourism industry,” said Dr. Mario Hardy, CEO of PATA. “I look forward to the high-caliber speakers and cordially invite all participants and industry representatives to take part in what is sure to be an insightful program.”

The Travolution Forum Asia, organized in partnership with the Travel Weekly Group, opens the day and focuses on the topics of "Business Innovations for Sustainable Development in the Asia-Pacific Travel Industry," "Addressing International Trends," "Digital Solutions to Combat Overtourism," and "Practical Data Analysis in the Context of Consumer Behavior." Speakers include representatives from ADARA, ADB Ventures, Aviata, iFree Group, Plug and Play, Sojern, Tiqets, and Transperfect.com. Confirmed speakers include: Ankur Thakuria, Regional Manager for South Asia at Tiqets; Graham Harper, Director of Sustainability and Social Responsibility at PATA; Jason Lusk, Consultant at ADB Ventures; Latasha Malik, Head of International Partnerships at Jacobs Media Group; Matthew Zatto, Vice President of Tourism – Asia-Pacific at ADARA; Nikolay Mazensev, CEO of Aviata.kz; Patricia Nordstrom, Corporate Partnerships at Plug and Play; and Peter Foster, CEO of Air Astana. Phillipa Nickolds, Director of Business Development, Transperfect.com; Russell Young, Managing Director – APAC, Sojern; Tony Smyth, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development & Communications, iFree Group; and Trevor Weltman, Chief of Staff, PATA.

In the afternoon of the Content Marketing Forum, hosted in partnership with UpThink, attendees can expect presentations from experts and content creators across various fields. They will share their success stories and discuss how current trends are shaping tomorrow's opportunities. Speakers include Evo Terra, Podcast Strategist at Simpler Media Productions; Janicke Hansen, President of the Professional Travel Bloggers Association (PTBA); Matt Gibson, CEO of UpThink; Dr. Paul Johnson, founder of A Luxury Travel Blog; and Zaire Rozmat, CEO of The Steppe. Additionally, a representative from the BBC will present on "The Digital Future of Travel Journalism."

The PATA Travel Mart (PTM), generously hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kazakh National Tourism Organization, is Asia-Pacific's international travel trade show. It offers unique networking and deal-making opportunities, supporting travel and tourism organizations in reaching decision-makers, acquiring new customers, expanding their networks, building new relationships, and strengthening existing business partnerships. Air Astana is the official airline of the event.

Buyers, sellers and registered media representatives of the PATA Travel Mart 2019 receive free access to the PTM forums, while the registration fee for non-participants of PTM 2019 is US$50 per forum.

Further information about the PATA Travel Mart 2019 can be found at www.PATA.org/PTM or by email at [email protected].

About PATA: Founded in 1951, PATA is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the responsible development of travel and tourism in, from, and within the Asia-Pacific region. The organization provides its more than 800 members with targeted advocacy, in-depth research, and innovative events.