PATA and GBTA Join Forces to Expand Corporate Travel, Buyer Engagement and Asia-Pacific Business Opportunities at PTM 2027

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The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has joined forces with the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) in a strategic collaboration aimed at expanding the corporate travel dimension of PATA Travel Mart 2027, which is scheduled to take place in Macao, China, from 20 to 22 September 2027.

The partnership was formally established through a Memorandum of Understanding signed on 18 August 2026 during the PTM Knowledge Forum, held as part of PATA Travel Mart 2026 in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. The agreement was signed by PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid and GBTA Senior Director – APAC Elle Ng-Darmawan.

Under the new arrangement, GBTA will take on the role of Strategic Corporate Travel Partner for PATA Travel Mart 2027. The association will bring its international community of corporate travel buyers, procurement specialists and travel managers into closer engagement with PATA’s established tourism and business marketplace across the Asia-Pacific region.

A major objective of the collaboration is to strengthen the corporate travel and business events segments of the 2027 travel mart. Both organisations will work together on programme development, corporate buyer engagement, professional knowledge sharing and focused business-to-business networking opportunities.

GBTA will also contribute to the planning and delivery of corporate travel-focused sessions within the PTM Knowledge Forum. By using its professional network and communication platforms, the organisation will encourage eligible and relevant corporate buyers to attend and participate in PATA Travel Mart 2027.

PATA, meanwhile, will support the involvement of qualified corporate buyers introduced through the partnership. Their participation will remain subject to PATA’s existing hosted buyer eligibility, qualification and approval requirements.

The agreement also covers coordinated marketing and promotional activities across the communication platforms of both organisations. This joint outreach is expected to give Asia-Pacific tourism businesses greater opportunities to connect with an expanded international network of corporate travel buyers, procurement leaders and key industry decision-makers.

Through the partnership, PATA Travel Mart 2027 is set to place stronger emphasis on the relationship between leisure tourism, corporate travel and business events, while creating new commercial connections between Asia-Pacific suppliers and the wider global business travel community.

“Corporate travel plays an important role in connecting destinations, businesses and communities across the Asia-Pacific region,” said Noor Ahmad Hamid, CEO, PATA. “Our partnership with GBTA will bring together complementary networks and expertise, creating new opportunities for meaningful business connections and knowledge exchange. We look forward to working together to further strengthen the corporate travel component of PATA Travel Mart 2027 in Macao.”

Elle Ng-Darmawan, Senior Director, APAC at GBTA said, “As the world’s largest and fastest growing region for business travel spending, APAC continues to play a critical role in driving global economic growth, trade and connectivity. GBTA’s recent 2026 Business Travel Index report underscores the scale and dynamism of the APAC market, which in turn makes collaboration across the travel ecosystem more essential than ever.

Our partnership with PATA creates a timely platform to connect travel managers, suppliers, destination leaders and other industry professionals in Macao. By combining our networks and expertise, we can unlock new opportunities, drive greater value for our members and ensure the region’s travel industry will continue to thrive.”

The collaboration aims to strengthen the commercial focus of PATA Travel Mart 2027 by giving corporate buyers wider access to tourism destinations, travel products and services across the Asia-Pacific. At the same time, participating suppliers will gain direct opportunities to connect with qualified buyers and influential decision-makers from the international business travel sector.

PATA Travel Mart 2027 is scheduled to be held in Macao, China, from 20 to 22 September 2027. The event will bring together tourism suppliers, buyers and key industry representatives from across Asia-Pacific and other global markets, creating a dedicated platform for commercial discussions, professional networking, partnership building and industry knowledge exchange.