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Mira Berman
(former) Executive
Director ATA |
During her 16 year
tenure as Executive Director of ATA, Mira’s leadership
steered the association towards global prominence as the
world’s pre-eminent organization promoting travel to
Africa. A few of the many achievements spearheaded by
Mira were: the creation of the award-winning Africa
Travel Magazine and website; strategic relationships
with organizations including the World Bank; Corporate
Council on Africa (CCA); the Southern Africa Development
Council (SADC); Regional Tourism Organization of
Southern Africa (RETOSA); Africa Wildlife Foundation;
and International Institute for Peace through Tourism
(IIPT); and the corporate sponsorship and support of
prominent corporations such as American Express, Revlon,
and AT&T. |
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Among Mira’s proudest achievements have been overseeing
the signing of a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
between ATA and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)
forging an Asia – Africa Bridge of Tourism, Friendship
and Collaboration; and helping to shape the initial
concept of (the late) Bermuda Minister Hon. David
Allen’s vision for an Africa Diaspora Heritage Trail (ADHT).
The ATA
– PATA MOU was recognized for its extraordinary vision
in 2005 at World Travel Market in London, where ATA and
PATA received the World Tourism Award, co-sponsored by
American Express Company (AMEX), Corinthia Hotels
International (CHI), International Herald Tribune (IHT)
and Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE).
Mira Berman’s numerous awards throughout her career -
including “Advertising Woman of the Year” - give
testimony to her many contributions to the worlds of
marketing, advertising, public relations, and fund
raising in areas ranging from fashion – to foods and
wines – to airlines – and universities. Her work in
travel and tourism included the creation of award
winning commercials for tourism in Israel, Cuba, South
America, and Scandinavia.
Following a keynote address at an ATA Conference in
Morocco, Mira began a love affair with Africa that would
continue for some 25 years. Through her leadership at
the Bradford Group, which she founded, Mira Berman
opened the Gambia’s first tourist office in America, and
as well represented Kenya, Zambia and Morocco and the
Tanzania Tourist Board.
Mira was also invited to serve on the National
Advertising Review Board, and was appointed to the
faculty of the New School for Social Research, teaching
Master Degree level courses on Tourism and Travel
Administration and Fundraising Management.
In presenting the award, IIPT Founder and President,
Louis D’Amore said “It is my great honor to have known
and worked with Mira for the past 15 years, and to
present this first IIPT Lifetime Achievement Award to
Mira Berman – who devoted the prime years of her
illustrious career to promoting the magnificent lands,
cultures and peoples of Africa to the world, and
building an organization that will continue nurturing
the growth of sustainable tourism development on the
African continent.”
Karen Hoffman, Senior Vice President, Bradford Group,
received the award on behalf of Mira Berman, who was not
able to be present.
About International Institute for Peace through Tourism
(IIPT)
IIPT is dedicated to fostering and facilitating tourism
initiatives which contribute to international
understanding and cooperation, an improved quality of
environment, the preservation of heritage, and poverty
reduction, and through these initiatives, help bring
about a more peaceful and sustainable world.
IIPT’s mission is to mobilize travel and tourism, the
world’s largest industry, as the world’s first ‘Global
Peace Industry,’ an industry that promotes and supports
the belief that ‘Every traveler is potentially an
Ambassador for Peace.’
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