NEW YORK, June 15, 2012 – The Africa Travel Association (ATA) announced the election of its new board of directors. The board was elected on May 21 at ATA's 37th annual World Congress in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
ATA government members elected Zimbabwe Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister, Walter Mzembi, as the new president of the travel trade association.
Minister Mzembi succeeds Honorable Fatou Mass Jobe-Njie, The Gambia Minister of Tourism and Culture, who served as ATA’s president from May 2010 to May 2012. During Minister Jobe-Njie’s tenure, ATA country membership grew significantly, along with high-level government participation and industry attendance at ATA’s annual tourism events in the United States, particularly the ATA Presidential Forum on Tourism in New York and the U.S.-Africa Tourism Seminar in Washington, D.C.
Other governments elected to the board include Central African Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
ATA members once again nominated Karen Hoffman, President of The Bradford Group, as First Vice President. Other ATA Executive Committee members include:
Honorable Khamis Kagasheki, Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, United Republic of Tanzania (Vice President)
Omar Carrera, Area Director, Sales & Marketing for East Africa, Starwood Hotels and Resorts (Vice President)
Mohammed Zaki, RZ Travels (Vice President)
Andrea Papitto, Vice President, Thinking Forward Media (Vice President)
Dr. Gaynelle Henderson-Bailey, Henderson Travel (Secretary)
Charlie Gatt, Publisher, Travel World News (Treasurer)
The full list of the new board of directors, comprising governments, airlines, hotels, wholesalers, tour operators, PR firms, media and individuals is as follows:
Governments
Central African Republic Honorable Sylvie Annick Mazoungou, Minister of Development of Tourism and Handicraft
Arab Republic of Egypt Honorable Mounir Abdel Nour, Minister of Tourism
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Honorable Amin Abdulkadir Bereket, Minister of Culture and Tourism
Republic of Ghana Honorable Akua Sena Dansua, Minister of Tourism
United Republic of Tanzania (Vice President) Honorable Khamis Kagasheki, Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism
Republic of Uganda Honorable Professor Ephraim Kamuntu, Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage
Republic of Zambia Honorable Given Lubinda, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism
Republic of Zimbabwe Honorable Eng. Walter Mzembi, Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry
Airlines
Arik Air Mr. Robert Brunner, US Country Manager
Delta Air Lines Mr. Chuck Imhof, Staff Vice President, New York Sales
Ethiopian Airlines Mr. Tewolde G. Mariam. Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
South African Airways Mr. Gregg Truman, Vice President, Marketing
Hotels/Suppliers/Corporate
Expedia Travel Mr. Diego J. Lofeudo, Senior Director of Market Management, EMAF, MEIO, GR & TK & CY, Expedia Travel
Garden Group of Hotels – Zambia Mr. Gaudenzio Rossi, General Manager
Starwood Hotels and Resorts (Vice President) Mr. Omar Carrera, Area Director, Sales & Marketing for East Africa
Southern Sun Tanzania Mr. Adam Fuller, General Manager
Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) Mr. Edward Kishe, Director General
Wholesalers / Tour Operators
Africa Tour-Rific (USA) Ms. Doris Wooten
Cameroon Travel Center Ms. Francoise Kameni Lele
Group IST Mr. Gilad Goren
Henderson Travel Services (USA) Dr. Gaynelle Henderson-Bailey (Secretary)
Khanondo Safari & Tours (Zimbabwe) Mr. Forward Mutero
Passport Health Ms. Tammy Broghammer
Production Travel & Tours (USA) Mr. Ronald Mracky
West Africa Tours (Mali & Senegal) Mrs. Mariama Ludovic de Lys
Allied
The Bradford Group (First Vice President) Ms. Karen Hoffman, President
Thinking Forward Media (Vice President) Ms. Andrea Papitto, Vice President
Travel World News (Treasurer) Mr. Charlie Gatt Jr., Publisher
Associates
Mr. Mohammed Zaki RZ Travels (Vice President)
Mr. Ogo Sow Ogo Sow Communications
Mr. Lehlohonolo Moagi 4U2 Advertising Multi-Media Inc.
Ms. Adele Black Affluent Hospitality Group
About the Africa Travel Association (ATA)
The Africa Travel Association (ATA) is the leading global trade association promoting travel and tourism to Africa and strengthening intra-Africa partnerships. Established in 1975, ATA serves both the public and private sectors of the international travel and tourism industry. ATA membership comprises African governments, their tourism ministers, tourism bureaus and boards, airlines, cruise lines, hotels, resorts, front-line travel sellers and providers, tour operators and travel agents, and affiliate industries. ATA partners with the African Union Commission (AU) to promote the sustainable development of tourism to and across Africa. ATA’s annual events bring together industry leaders to shape Africa’s tourism agenda. For more information about ATA, visit www.AfricaTravelAssociation.org.
