Chuck Gee honored by PATA

It was an honor for me to attend the Pacific Asia Travel Association’s “Gallery of Legends” induction ceremony for Chuck Gee, University of Hawaii Regent, and Dean Emiritus of the University of Hawaii School of Travel Industry Management.

Chuck’s accomplishments were celebrated at an exclusive invitation-only reception, and a plaque was presented in his honor to be displayed at the Gallery of Legends display at the Honolulu International Airport. Interestingly, Chuck’s plaque is next to Pete Wimberly’s plaque. Pete was honored as one of the founding members of PATA. You can read more about Chuck’s numerous accomplishments here.

PATA was founded in Hawaii in 1951

Chuck is a friend of WATG in a relationship that goes back decades. Chuck has involved WATG in many delegations with foreign governments’ tourism bureaus, most recently in 2012 with the Taiwan Tourism Bureau.

The photo below shows Chuck and a few WATG founders at dinner during a trip to Asia back in the 80s.

Congratulations Chuck!

PATA was founded in Hawaii in 1951, and has grown into the world’s most successful tourism trade association. Membership includes 87 national, provincial and city governments, 66 airlines and cruise lines, plus over 2000 independent companies in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. The PATA Gallery of Legends was established in 1993 to recognize pioneers and pacesetters who have led and made significant contributions to the development of tourism in the Asia Pacific region.

Many of the names on the Gallery wall are associated with Hawaii, for instance Juan Trippe who founded PanAm, Conrad Hilton with hotels throughout Asia and the Pacific, James Michener who wrote stories about Hawaii, the S. Pacific, Japan and other destinations, Joseph Sutter whose design of the 747 aircrafts made tourism feasible across the vast expanse of our region, and Pete Wimberly who founded WATG in Hawaii and pioneered hospitality architecture throughout the Pacific.