About

I established ORIENTOURS in 1986, specializing in leisure and M.I.C.E. groups traveling to Asia & the Pacific, and inbound groups to USA from Turkey. As a pioneering figure in the Travel Industry worldwide, I continued to lead its operations, showing remarkable resilience and adaptability, despite several market challenges that have become the new normal. My success could be attributed to a business philosophy that places a premium on keeping my word. I'm a frequent buyer at the PATA Travel Marts. I'm an exhibitor at NY PATA Trade Shows and have donated door prizes. With my professional resources, I can contribute to our Chapter in the travel recovery with innovation and sponsored events.

I have been a member of PATA since I co-founded Remote Lands in 2006. I have founded and served as CEO of four technology and travel companies since 1989 in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, San Francisco and New York. After living in Hong Kong from 1987-94, I have traveled all over Asia, the world's most fascinating continent. I am an Asiaphile who is endlessly curious and continuously seek to understand every facet of Asian culture and lifestyles of Asia. I have devoted my life and career to this massive and complex continent. At Remote Lands we create unique itineraries with a particular interest in off-the-beaten-path Asia. I consider myself a global executive and would like to think that my international expertise would be valuable to NY PATA.

After attending school for travel and tourism, I spent 7 years with Liberty Travel as a travel consultant, owned a store front agency in Henderson, NV, and an internet-based agency in NJ. I also held BDM roles with Travel Counsellors and Hurtigruten before finding my home with Aurora Expeditions. At Aurora Expeditions, we offer the opportunity to experience Indonesia, and I have exhibited multiple times at NY PATA Trade Shows in the past. I am excited to contribute to our Chapter by being able to bring that same enthusiasm to continue to promote, support and grow the goals of NY PATA.

I have over 30 years of experience in the travel industry, being the founder of Panorama Travel - one of the most reputable and reliable tour operators in the US located in NYC. With my extensive airline relations experience, I also hold the position of Picasso Travel VP of Airline Relations. I have extensive experience serving on several executive boards including PATA New York Chapter where I served for two years. I can confidently state that I have a broad knowledge and expertise in most of the areas of national and international travel business.

Panorama Travel organizes and conducts a wide range of familiarization trips for travel agents on regular basis. I strongly believe that my out-of-box way of thinking, creative approach to business solutions and meticulous attention to details will be beneficial for PATA New York Chapter.

I started my Journey in the Travel Industry in 1985 with Pan American World Airways and gained experience in tour operations, wholesale, and corporate travel. I am an expert in Jewish Heritage Tours, and also in Air & Product Development. Also, I've been with Trafalgar Travel for 15-years as supervisor. I serve as president of the Sociedad Honduras New York Inc. As a PATA New York Chapter member and travel advisor, I've gained knowledge on many Asian destinations and discovered a new path of destinations in Asia-Pacific for my clients. I consider our Chapter my extended family. I have a passion for the PATA New York Chapter mission and ready to contribute to our Chapter by serving on the Committees and renewing travel trade relations in the post-pandemic era.

I have been a travel agent for over twenty years. I'm a host agency and consistently deal with travel supplier reps and a large number of independent travel advisors. I have been doing monthly travel seminars for over fifteen years with my own association called the' "Association of Home-Based Travel Agents". My professional contacts with the cruise industry that participates in my travel agency's monthly seminars, can be an asset to NY PATA in developing the Cruise category. I have the motivation and ability to enhance the success and growth of our Chapter. I am 100% into learning. I propose to do education, training, and trade shows, which I really enjoy doing.

Boris Miketic is the recipient of the presidential medal ”The Order of Croatian Weaver” presented to him by the first president of Croatia, Dr. Franjo Tudjman, for his efforts in promoting Croatia as a tourist destination. He is an avid traveler and has visited over 120 countries in five continents. Such extensive travel makes him a strong advocate for his customers seeking travel advice. He has also served on the Croatian Government's Advisory Council for Croats Abroad for 4 years. In addition to nurturing the tourism industry between Croatia and the United States, Mr. Miketic provides translation services on birth/death certification, divorce documents, power of attorney and advisement on the inheritance process in Croatia. He has also provided countless services to help Croatian Americans get citizenship in their homeland and has been a notary public in both Queens and New York Counties for 25 years. Boris Miketic was a host on the Croatian Radio Show in NYC in order to convey news and broadcast traditional Croatian music to the Croatian community living in the Tri-State area for over 20 years. Lastly, he helped raise over $40,000 of humanitarian aid to rebuild the Petrinja and Sisak Hospital after the 2020 Zagreb Earthquake, as part of the Croatia Fund in New York. Picture with the Ambassador of Croatia to Unites States, his excellency Mr. Pjer Šimunović. Much obliged to ACAP for the recent award.

Boris Miketic is a graduate in Law from the University of Zagreb and has an Economics degree from CUNY Queens College. He has been active in the Croatian tourism industry for over 30 years as President of Croatia Travel Agency, resulting in long-standing relationships with many Travel Industry Business Partners. Boris Miketic is an active member of the PATA New York Chapter executive board.

I started my travel media career in 1989 with OAG Travel Magazines. At Travel Agent magazine I helped create the Cruise/Tour Expo shows in 1995. I also wrote a bi- monthly column and was Advertising Director for Travel Agent International. I was Executive Publisher at Travel Trade Publications and Trade Shows. In February 2018, Steve Perillo, CEO of Perillo Tours and I launched Travel World VR. We are the leading producers for travel 360/VR videos and the leading distribution platform. I propose to educate and assist our members on VR production and viewing. I am offering a discount, and I will give free Travel World Virtual Reality headsets to view

As a business leader, I have the knowledge and expertise needed to help NY PATA make sound business choices.

VR videos on the Travel World VR app. It is no longer a luxury. 360/VR for tourism is the future of the travel industry.

Akbal Setia has more than 20 years’ experience in tourism development and promotion. He directly involves and speaks on tourism research, worldwide branding, destination marketing, communication, networking, advertising and entrepreneurship. He was the officer-in-charge of studies on hotel, worldwide brand research, site attractiveness index, domestic tourism profiling and airport helpdesk/facilitation for Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (Tourism Malaysia). He was the receiver of Top 100 Business-Style Award (Vietnam), Management Special Recognition Award (Tourism Malaysia), Excellence Service Award (Tourism Malaysia), Representative for the JICA’s Local Government Administration and Services Program (Japan) and currently serving PATA New York Chapter as Honorary Board Member (2022-2024) and University of California, Riverside Extension as Advisory Board for Design Thinking Program (2022).

Professional Experiences:

1. Vice President, Americas, Tourism Malaysia (Los Angeles, USA) (2020 – current)
2. Regional Director, Tourism Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur/Central Region) (2015 – 2020)
3. Divisional Deputy Director, International Promotion Division Southeast Asia (ASEAN) (Putrajaya) (2014 – 2015)
4. Acting Tourism Attaché, Embassy of Malaysia (Manila, The Philippines) (2014)
5. Tourism Attaché, Embassy of Malaysia (Hanoi, Vietnam) (2009 – 2013)
6. Special Officer, The Office of Tourism Minister, Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) (2009)
7. Deputy State Director, Tourism Malaysia (Sabah) (2007 – 2008)
8. Assistant Director, Research & Planning Division, Tourism Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) (2002 – 2007)