MGTO Director, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, among the officiating guests of the opening ceremony
The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), together with local travel trade, is once again promoting the destination at the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Travel Mart 2025 held from 26 to 28 August in Bangkok, Thailand, as part of the work to increase international visitor source markets.
One of the highlights of the event, the PATA Gold Awards 2025 presentation ceremony and dinner, was held yesterday evening (27 August). MGTO’s “Experience Macao Limited Edition” campaign launched in collaboration with the six integrated resort enterprises received the top marketing award. Other campaigns conducted by MGTO and two travel trade operators to promote Macao through sustainability in hospitality, community tourism and IP economy were also awarded.
“Tourism +” showcase and networking at top international travel trade show
This year in its 48th edition, the PATA Travel Mart (PTM) is one of the major international travel trade shows organized annually in Asia Pacific, gathering on this edition over 1000 delegates from more than 50 countries and regions.
MGTO Director, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, joined by a group of representatives from 12 integrated resorts, travel agencies and Air Macau, travelled to Bangkok to participate in the PATA Travel Mart 2025. Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes also featured among the officiating guests of the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the event held yesterday morning (27 August), together with PATA Chair Peter Semone, the Counsellor for Cultural Affairs of the Ambassy of the People’s Republic of China in Thailand, Yang Xiaolong, PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid, the Deputy Director of the Americas, the Middle East and Africa Region of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Khanittha Phanworawat, among others.
Booth with AI-powered photo taking point and café
The Macao promotional booth at the trade show, showcases the destination’s diverse “tourism +” offerings, including hospitality, gastronomy, culture, and others. It features an AI-powered photo booth set against iconic attractions, along with a café to provide a taste of the city’s delicacies. The booth serves also as a platform for MGTO and the travel trade to network with counterparts from around the world.
“Experience Macao Limited Edition” campaign receives PATA Grand Award
The PATA Gold Awards were delivered to the winners in person by MGTO Director, the PATA Chair, and the PATA CEO during a dinner and award presentation at PTM. Following the announcement of this year’s winners in mid-July, a total of two Grand Awards and 26 Gold Awards were presented at the occasion in different areas of marketing, sustainability and social responsibility in tourism. MGTO and two Macao integrated resort enterprises were among the winners, receiving awards in different marketing categories.
This year’s PATA Grand Award in Marketing went to MGTO for the “Experience Macao Limited Edition” International Promotional Campaign launched in August 2024 in collaboration with the six integrated resort enterprises. The campaign unfolded a series of promotional initiatives and gave out an array of prizes through an online interactive game. Thirty celebrities and KOLs from Southeast and Northeast Asia, the Middle East and English-speaking regions also joined the promotion through posts on their social media accounts, and a Korean-pop girl group produced a special single and music video. The overall count of impressions of the online campaign amounted to 5.16 billion, with 28,000 prizes given out, while MGTO’s official accounts on Facebook and Instagram gained 650,000 additional followers.
Macao’s sustainability in hospitality, community tourism, and IP economy campaigns also awarded
MGTO was also awarded a PATA Gold Award in the category of Best Sustainable and Inclusive Marketing Campaign for the “A New Standard of Excellence” media campaign launched with Fortune. Through a series of documentary-style videos, interviews and editorial content directed to a targeted audience, the campaign explored how Macao’s top-tier integrated resorts navigate the intersection of luxury, environmental responsibility, and social inclusivity. The results exceeded expectations, with the overall campaign reaching 15.1 million impressions and sweeping up multiple awards in various categories in other competitions.
In addition, Melco Resorts and Entertainment received a PATA Gold Award in the category of Best Marketing Campaign – Hospitality for the “SANRIO CHARACTERS Studio City Carnival,” which aimed to attract visitors’ engagement via activities revolving around the popular Sanrio characters. Meanwhile, Sands China’s publication of “In Search of Its Roots: An Illustrated History of Rua das Estalagens,” as part of its community revitalization programme in the area was recognized with a PATA Gold Award for Best Printed Marketing Campaign (Industry).
The winners were selected by an international jury from a total of over 100 entries submitted by 45 travel and tourism organisations and individuals. The PATA Gold Awards aim to set standards for excellence and innovation in the tourism industry across Asia Pacific. MGTO has sponsored the awards initiative for three decades, contributing to inspiring a vibrant and sustainable development of the tourism industry in the region, with Macao tourism stakeholders’ initiatives also recognized with several awards over the years. The full list of winners and details about the initiatives awarded this year are available at: https://www.pata.org/pata-gold-awards-2025.
Engagement with PATA to raise the city’s international profile
During this edition of PTM, MGTO Director also attended the Board Meeting and other internal meetings of the association. For decades, MGTO has been engaging in PATA-organized events and initiatives, given the significant platform the association provides for Macao to connect with the global tourism industry and raise the city’s profile internationally.
