Meet the people behind the organisation.
ATTA® HQ
The African Travel & Tourism Association (ATTA®) is a member-driven trade association that promotes travel and tourism to Africa and Indian Ocean Islands from all corners of the world. Recognised as the Voice of African and Indian Ocean Islands Tourism, ATTA® serves and supports businesses in Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands representing buyers and suppliers of tourism product across 26 African and Indian Ocean countries.
With over 615 members, ATTA® acts as Pan-Africa and Indian Ocean Islands' largest network of tourism product covering not only accommodation, transport and travel specialists in Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands, but a formidable selection of tour operators, representation and PR companies worldwide promoting tourism to Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands.
Nigel Vere Nicoll FRGS
A founder member of The African Travel & Tourism Association (ATTA®) , Chief Executive for over 20 years, and President since 2018. An elected Fellow of The Royal Geographical Society since 1992.
As a former MD of Abercrombie & Kent's Hotel & Lodge Division in Kenya, CEO of Tour Operator, Wild Africa Safaris, Head of Marketing Mount Charlotte-Thistle Hotels UK, MD of Travel Agency Universal Travel and Proprietor of two hotels in Scotland, he has extensive experience in hotel management, tour operating & marketing in UK and Africa.
Nigel has been an advisor on tourism and crisis management to Foreign & Commonwealth Office Consular Stakeholder Panel, the FCO Travel Advice Review Group (TARG), and the United Nations WTO Tourism Emergency Response network (TERN). As African tourism advisor to the Brenthurst Foundation, established by the Oppenheimer family to fund development in Africa, he was appointed International Tourism advisor to the President of Malawi from 2011-2014.
President from 2018 | CEO 2000 - 2017 | Board Member Since 1996
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +44 207 937 4408
- Website:
- www.atta.travel
Jon Danks
Jon Danks joined ATTA® as CEO in 2023. Well known to the Africa media, buyer, agent, and operator audiences, Jon enjoyed over 40 years’ experience of travelling the continent of Africa before joining ATTA®.
Throughout his career Jon held numerous senior leadership positions at multinational membership organisations such as the RAC and The Times Educational Supplement. He also held several key roles in aviation at British Airways, South African Airways and as Marketing Chairman (UK) for Star Alliance. He joined ATTA® directly from Avis where he held a senior role driving commercial performance.
A strategic thinker with vision and diplomacy, Jon also brought to ATTA® experience in public affairs, connected across the continent’s high commissions and tourism agencies and experienced in several volunteer non-Exec roles at Tale2Tail, Cache and The Childrens Workforce Development Council (CWDC).
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +44 20 7937 4408
- Website:
- www.atta.travel
- LinkedIn:
- https://linkedin.com/in/jon-danks-71a8917/
Chris Mears
Chris joined ATTA® as COO in January 2017 after previously spending 10 years living in Cape Town running the Cape Town office for long time ATTA® member Acacia Adventure Holidays.
Chris took over as CEO on 01 January 2018
Chris has spent all his career involved with African Tourism and has a deep seated passion for the continent having traveled extensively including overland from London to South Africa with extended periods of time in Tanzania.
Chris' experience covers all aspects from reservations, sales and marketing to operations and product development.
After running ATTA® as CEO from January 2018 to September 2020 Chris took over as Chief Executive of Experience Africa Events and takes over the responsibility for all of ATTA®'s events including trade shows, networking event and the flagship Experience Africa held in London in June
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +447710306286
- Twitter:
- @chrismears
- Website:
- www.atta.travel
- LinkedIn:
- https://linkedin.com/in/chris-mears-3062732/
Angela Dizon
I was born in Hungary and after finishing my studies I moved to the UK.
I have worked in hospitality most of the time and I have been working at ATTA® since 2015.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +44 207 937 4408
- Website:
- www.atta.travel
Blessing Bello
Blessing joined ATTA® as membership, Events and Marketing Executive in July 2023 just after completing her MSc in International Hospitality and Tourism Management from Bournemouth University.
Blessing worked as a PR Manager/Travel Guide for a Travel Agency in Nigeria where she developed a passion for African Tourism and brand marketing. Also, having worked as a volunteer for WISE (Women Initiative for Sustainable Environment) an NGO in Nigeria, she is passionate about promoting constructive environmental ideals, culture, and practices that will ensure environmental sustainability.
Blessing’s experience covers aspects of fostering brand awareness and driving business growth by creating compelling communication strategies, building strong relationships with stakeholders, and delivering exceptional event experiences.
As part of her commitment to ATTA®, Blessing is excited to leverage her skills in elevating the ATTA® brand by engaging members to achieve measurable marketing objectives and most importantly gain adequate skill for a successful career in Tourism.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +44(0)2079374408
- Website:
- www.atta.travel
Sanchi Ragde
Sanchi joined ATTA® as a Membership, Events & Marketing Executive in 2023.
Trained in destination marketing and PR and with experience in organizing and hosting events,, Sanchi is culturally aware and adaptable. With a devoted passion for travel and tourism, Sanchi has worked for India, UK, the Netherlands; and is now ready to bring her wealth of academic knowledge and research practices into play for tourism in Africa.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +44 (0)20 7937 4408
- Website:
- www.atta.travel
Melissa Foley
Melissa Foley has recently joined the ATTA® team to advise and support the ATTA for Action – A Conscious CommUNITY Collective initiative. Utilising over 20 years of corporate marketing experience, extensive world travel, and more than a decade of NGO consulting globally, she has a unique perspective on ethical travel. She has organically curated a diverse international network striving to benchmark meaningful social and environmental sustainability practices that are adaptable and relevant for the African tourism industry.
Creating All About Africa Consulting was inspired by a simple philosophy that everyone in the tourism supply chain shares a collective obligation and economic opportunity to protect our communities, natural resources, and cultural traditions.
Based in Cape Town, she represents a diverse portfolio sharing common values. Her true passion is facilitating the integration between various stakeholders to create lasting collaborations where transformational tourism can truly thrive.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +27613419623
- LinkedIn:
- https://linkedin.com/in/melissafoley1/
Advisory Board
The Advisory Board consists of elected and co-opted members of the association and is responsible for the conduct, future growth and strategic vision of ATTA. The Advisory Board not only represent the geographical spread of the membership but also the specialisms within the African and Indian Ocean Islands tourism trade.
Each advisor is allocated a portfolio and each member will have an advisor as a point of contact
Alice Mwaura
Alice Joined the Kenyan Tourism Industry as a customer service agent in 1996, moving to Horizons Travel and Safaris in 2000 as a cost accountant promoted to head the accounts department. In 2006 Alice moved to Base Camp Travel and Explorer as a Chief Accountant in leaving in 2009 to join The Safari And Conservation Company as an Administrative Manager and in 2013 taking on the role of Touring Manager in which she continues today.
ATTA Portfolio Responsibility: Sustainability
ATTA Portfolio Responsibility Chairperson: Hayley Walls
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +254 721 626 680
- Website:
- scckenya.com/
Andrew Kitema
As a Tourism industry expert across the travel, tourism & hospitality sectors and with roots firmly embedded in Tourism industry, I am Immensely passionate of Tourism.With the positions I have previously held as a destination planner with Private safaris, Pollmans tours and safaris as well as African Eagle EA ltd, my biggest profit has always been Client Satisfaction. As Managing Owner of a leading DMC in Kenya, I am proud to represent a team of 20 of some of the most dedicated travel providers the nature & wildlife experience has. As we undergo the current once in our lifetime shocker, it’s another chapter in our Tourism Book which will teach us how to deal with the worst of the worst scenerios. From where I sit my role would be to happily share the East Africa approach to restarting the Travel Computer all over again.
ATTA Portfolio Responsibility: Membership
Membership Portfolio Chairperson: Nick Aslin
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +254 733 572 575
- Website:
- www.africanadventure.co.ke/
Ash Sofat
Somewhere in my genes is this passion to travel around Africa, which was probably ignited by the fact that I was born and brought up in Kenya. My father established Somak nearly fifty years ago and I found it only natural to establish and develop a division of Somak that provides bespoke holidays to Africa. Furthermore, I am lucky to be working with people who share the same passion for Africa as I do - we understand the many operational challenges that exist, we know which areas to go to, we understand the geography and culture of the region. Apart from going on Safari, I play golf (badly) and enjoy watching sport (usually live); I am a regular spectator at Lord's.
ATTA Portfolio Responsibility: Events & Meetings
ATTA Portfolio Responsibility Chairperson: James Haigh
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +44 208 423 3000
- Website:
- www.somak.com/
Chris Mears
Chris joined ATTA® as COO in January 2017 after previously spending 10 years living in Cape Town running the Cape Town office for long time ATTA® member Acacia Adventure Holidays.
Chris took over as CEO on 01 January 2018
Chris has spent all his career involved with African Tourism and has a deep seated passion for the continent having traveled extensively including overland from London to South Africa with extended periods of time in Tanzania.
Chris' experience covers all aspects from reservations, sales and marketing to operations and product development.
After running ATTA® as CEO from January 2018 to September 2020 Chris took over as Chief Executive of Experience Africa Events and takes over the responsibility for all of ATTA®'s events including trade shows, networking event and the flagship Experience Africa held in London in June
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +447710306286
- Twitter:
- @chrismears
- Website:
- www.atta.travel
- LinkedIn:
- https://linkedin.com/in/chris-mears-3062732/
David Reading
I suppose being born and brought up In South Africa, before moving to the UK was always a stepping stone towards me starting my career in sales and marketing representing some incredible lodges, DMC’s and hotels in Africa, Asia, and the Indian Ocean at Talking Stick Marketing and Communications.
My 5 years as a rep helped me solidify my knowledge of the UK market working with tour operators, agents, and tourism boards. Crossing over to the other side I joined a luxury tour operator where I was product manager for Africa and South America for two years gaining valuable insight into the sector we all reply on.
In 2018 I found myself on a one-way Emirates flight to Dubai to join the luxurious leading hotel brand Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts. I took up the position of UK and Ireland Leisure Sales Manager for all 9 hotels including the iconic Burj Al Arab.
Following my two years in Dubai, I was persuaded to come back to Talking Stick and run the business. I re-joined in May 2020 and expanded the business into the digital marketing sector with my wife Zoey doing all things Pay per click, social media, SEO, paid social, and email marketing.
ATTA Portfolio Responsibility Chairperson: Marketing & PR
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +44 1278 661592
- Website:
- talkingstickglobal.com/
Deepesh Gupta
They say, "Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life". I can happily go on record and state “the sector of Aviation as my happy place”.
I joined the exciting travel industry just over a decade ago as a Business Development Manager at Auric Air Services Ltd where today I am proudly serving in the position of Director of Sales.
Sales and Marketing has always been my passion and networking has always been my forte. After all, we are in the business of tourism where effective communication is as instrumental as the experience we strive to provide.
I am happy to be part of the team that has been instrumental in the growth of my company, Auric Air Services Ltd, and building it what it is today.
Over the last decade, through the deep and the shallow, the hard and the soft, the ups and the downs I have learnt a great deal and have come to somewhat understand the “Safari Aviation” sector in the East African Market.
I am pleased to share that Auric Air Services has been awarded as a Leading Domestic Safari Carrier by World Travel Awards for Seven years in a row: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022. I was proudly awarded with “Tanzania’s Top Chief Commercial Officer 2021 – Top 100 Executives List”
ATTA Portfolio Responsibility: Events & Meetings
Events & Meetings Portfolio Chair: James Haigh
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +255 784 749 769
- Website:
- www.auricair.com/
Haja Rasambainarivo
After travelling across all continents while working for a major Conservation NGO, I co-founded Asisten Travel, a Madagascar based DMC in 2009. We built a company which is now a leader in the Indian Ocean travel industry by specialising in high-end experiential travel in Madagascar and its neighbouring islands. We won several trophies at the World Travel Awards among them Madagascar's Leading DMC 2020, 2021. Asisten Travel now has an office in Antananarivo and Nosy Be Island.
My previous involvement on the board of major tourism associations & chambers of commerce in Madagascar has been instrumental to lobby for the cause of Madagascar operators. Until May 2021, I represented tourism industry employers at the sectorial committee of the Madagascar Professional Training Fund (FMFP), my role was to assist in the final evaluation of projects proposals and approve allocation of funds to capacity development projects in our industry.
It is an honour to join ATTA's Advisory Board and I look forward to working with our members in the Indian Ocean islands.
ATTA Portfolio Responsibility: Marketing & PR
Membership Portfolio Chairperson: David Reading
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +261 202 257 755
- Website:
- asisten-travel.com/
Hayley Walls
With over 20 years’ experience in the hospitality, travel and tourism sectors, Hayley Walls has a proven track record in travel and tourism marketing and sales strategy and operations, as well as hotel operations. A strong communicator, Hayley builds solid, long-term strategic relationships with stakeholders at all levels, across all market segments within the dynamic travel and tourism sectors.. Hayley joined the “Matetsi Victoria Falls Family” in August of 2018 and has found her passion and niche in the safari industry. Based out of Cape Town, Hayley says that contributing to a cause much greater than simply putting heads in beds in the form of conservation and community within Zimbabwe has changed the way she approaches many aspects of her life and the future trajectory of her career.
ATTA Portfolio Responsibility Chairperson: Sustainability
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +263 8677 004 779
- Website:
- matetsivictoriafalls.com/
James Haigh
Extensive knowledge of African countries ranging from Morocco to Cape Town and from the Seychelles to Sao Tome and Principe.
Years of experience on all sides of the African safari business combine with genuine relations with the most discerning and significant travel professionals world-wide, blended with intimate and personal knowledge of the most rewarding places to stay. I have been lucky to have worked with a number of significant brands and can honestly say that the most pleasure I have ever derived from work has been rejoining Lemala.
Specialties: Turning problems into solutions and managing complex situations. Presentations, agent sales and relationship building.
ATTA Portfolio Responsibility Chairperson: Events & Meetings
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +255 785 398 558
- Website:
- www.lemalacamps.com
John Corse
John Corse has just handed over the role of ATTA® Chair to Nick Aslin.
John is currently Managing Director of Serengeti Balloon Safaris, a Director of both Tanzania Association of Tours Operators (TATO) and Responsible Tourism Tanzania, as well as Chairman of Arusha Bicycle Centre, a social enterprise.
Born and brought up in Kenya, he found a natural love of the outdoors, spending most school holidays out and about in the many wilderness areas of the country, often on horseback or by camel. He was educated in the UK and gained a degree in Economics and Agricultural Economics at the University of Exeter. He served 6 years as a British Army office in the UK and further afield, earning a Commendation for Valuable Service whilst on active duty in Bosnia.
Returning to Tanzania in 1998 firstly as Manager of Sand Rivers in the Selous Game Reserve, then as General Manager of Tanzania Tea Packers. He is a founder member of the Aids Business Coalition of Tanzania. He served for 8 years as Managing Director of Nomad Tanzania. In 2015, he joined Fastjet Tanzania, an African low-cost air carrier, becoming General Manager. John has served four years on ATTA® boards as a director in 2015/16 and from 2019 representing Tanzania on the newly formed Global Advisory Board.
He is passionate about African travel, the environment that sustains it and the communities that are its stakeholders. He believes strongly in the principle that tourism transfers wealth to these fragile places and their people, protecting their future and helping to develop their countries. He is a bridge-builder, who likes to encourage a collaborative approach to complex problems.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +255 (0)27 254 8967
- Website:
- www.balloonsafaris.co.tz
Jon Danks
Jon Danks joined ATTA® as CEO in 2023. Well known to the Africa media, buyer, agent, and operator audiences, Jon enjoyed over 40 years’ experience of travelling the continent of Africa before joining ATTA®.
Throughout his career Jon held numerous senior leadership positions at multinational membership organisations such as the RAC and The Times Educational Supplement. He also held several key roles in aviation at British Airways, South African Airways and as Marketing Chairman (UK) for Star Alliance. He joined ATTA® directly from Avis where he held a senior role driving commercial performance.
A strategic thinker with vision and diplomacy, Jon also brought to ATTA® experience in public affairs, connected across the continent’s high commissions and tourism agencies and experienced in several volunteer non-Exec roles at Tale2Tail, Cache and The Childrens Workforce Development Council (CWDC).
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +44 20 7937 4408
- Website:
- www.atta.travel
- LinkedIn:
- https://linkedin.com/in/jon-danks-71a8917/
Jozef Verbruggen
I still get excited by the unknown, by new accommodations, by pushing your limits. With great regularity I travel to our destinations, to taste, experience and discover for myself. To travel is to look at what is around you, but also to discover yourself. And the more you discover, the more you want to know. Everyone prefers to travel in their own way. People, animals, landscapes, cultures; meeting and discovering. We are all different, which makes it so interesting to share the "adventure of a lifetime" with others.
Working history
I started my career in the music industry. I owned five record labels and a publishing company. Despite the successes - even as far away as the States and Japan - I became bored. I saw a digitalization-induced upheaval and wanted something different.
I had traveled quite a bit, but during my first trips to Africa, it felt like coming home. The smell of Africa is wonderful! The smell of authenticity, the smell of the rugged. I wanted to share that. I then – in 2001 - started Untamed Travelling, with passion and love for the unknown.
We at Untamed Travelling are travel designers, specialized in luxury travel experiences worldwide. To enable these unique experiences, we teamed up since day one with local partners who go out of their way to minimize and compensate our footprint and who invest in development and education on site.
We stand for high quality, extensive knowledge, personal service, small-scale accommodations, professional guidance and unique travel adventures in awe-inspiring surroundings. We design customized journeys to optimally realize the individual needs of each traveler. Just tell us what you wish for and we’ll make it happen. Where the world can’t find you…
We are very proud to be awarded ‘Best Dutch tour operator long haul journeys’ in 2015 and again in 2019. In 2020 we have been granted the award ‘Best Dutch tour operator adventure travels’. Previously we were elected by the Dutch and Belgian Travel Counsellors Network as ‘Best supplier’.
ATTA Portfolio Responsibility: Marketing & PR
Events & Meetings Portfolio Chair: David Reading
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +31 48 754 0367
- Website:
- www.untamedtravelling.com
Nick Aslin - Chairman
Nick Aslin has been elected Chair of ATTA® bringing a wealth of experience in tourism. He owns Zambian Groundhandlers.
Nick has been at the forefront of safari tourism in Zambia since the mid-90’s. He ran Norman Carr Safaris, one of the country’s premier safari operators from ’95 until 2009 when he established Zambian Ground Handlers, at the time this was the only destination management company specializing in Zambia.
Nick has a keen understanding of the correlation between the tourism industry and conservation. He has served on the Board of Trustees for Conservation South Luangwa for over 20 years and is currently vice-chairman to the Board of Wildlife Crime Prevention an NGO working to reduce illegal wildlife trade across Zambia and neighbouring countries in the region.
Nick has served on the Advisory Board of ATTA since 2017 and his two-year term as Chairman commenced in October 2022. On being appointed Chairman Nick commented: "I have long believed in the value that ATTA is able to offer to all elements of the African travel industry, it was an honour therefore to be asked to chair the Association. There is plenty of work to be done but I am looking forward to exciting times as trade recovers strongly from the trials of the pandemic.
ATTA Portfolio Responsibility Chairperson: Membership
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +260211262061
- Website:
- www.zgh.travel
Nigel Vere Nicoll FRGS
A founder member of The African Travel & Tourism Association (ATTA®) , Chief Executive for over 20 years, and President since 2018. An elected Fellow of The Royal Geographical Society since 1992.
As a former MD of Abercrombie & Kent's Hotel & Lodge Division in Kenya, CEO of Tour Operator, Wild Africa Safaris, Head of Marketing Mount Charlotte-Thistle Hotels UK, MD of Travel Agency Universal Travel and Proprietor of two hotels in Scotland, he has extensive experience in hotel management, tour operating & marketing in UK and Africa.
Nigel has been an advisor on tourism and crisis management to Foreign & Commonwealth Office Consular Stakeholder Panel, the FCO Travel Advice Review Group (TARG), and the United Nations WTO Tourism Emergency Response network (TERN). As African tourism advisor to the Brenthurst Foundation, established by the Oppenheimer family to fund development in Africa, he was appointed International Tourism advisor to the President of Malawi from 2011-2014.
President from 2018 | CEO 2000 - 2017 | Board Member Since 1996
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +44 207 937 4408
- Website:
- www.atta.travel
Robert Barber FRGS
Rob has been based in the gateway to the Okavango Delta, Maun, for almost two decades, but has been in and out of the bush his whole life. Having started Golden Africa eighteen years ago, he and his wife Charlotte now run the two arms of the business: a luxury roving tented camp and an inbound specialist journey curation service in Botswana.
Rob was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society in 2003, and has also in recent years worked extensively with the Government of Botswana, especially in its fight against the pandemic.
In 2019 Golden Africa was nominated for the Experience Africa awards at We Are Africa, and more recently Rob has been invited to work with various bodies in an advisory capacity regarding tourism policy development in Botswana.
ATTA Portfolio Responsibility: Membership
Events & Meetings Portfolio Chair: Nick Aslin
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +267 72 691 551
- Website:
- golden-africa.com/
Rupert Finch Hatton
Rupert has been involved in the African tourism industry his whole life and has a hands-on experience working in all aspects of the trade, from tour operator, to camp operator, to DMC. He has a unique perspective that combines decades living and working in East Africa, with a home in the UK, and strong networks throughout Europe and the US.
He has a talent for networking and forging relationships; he has also previously been on the ATTA board for 6 years and served as Chairman for 2 of those years, as well as directorships with two other African tourism businesses.
Rupert is a part of the Nomad Tanzania family and manages their European and North American sales.
ATTA Portfolio Responsibility: Sustainability
Events & Meetings Portfolio Chair: Hayley Walls
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +44 7464 546 462
- Website:
- www.nomad-tanzania.com/
Tom Moore
After graduating with a degree in International Tourism Management, I always knew that the tourism sector was the right industry for me. Now having worked in the travel industry for 10 years, starting as a sales specialist and working my way up to Head of the Africa & Indian Ocean programme, I really want Africa to be accessible to as many people as possible.
We have a big team of 45 specialists and have seen huge growth in the Africa & Indian Ocean sector since the pandemic, helping us get closer to achieving our goal of being the number one Tour Operator in the UK market.
My passion also lies in DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion), sitting on the steering group for Audley Travel I have a vision of making the travel industry more inclusive by helping create a more dynamic and diverse work force.
ATTA Portfolio Responsibility: Sustainability
Events & Meetings Portfolio Chair: Hayley Walls
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +44 7880 313 570
- Website:
- www.audleytravel.com
Management Board
The Management Board are Directors of ATTA® Limited and are responsible for the management and governance of the association.
Who is on the ATTA® Management Board?
Nick Aslin - Chairman
Nick Aslin has been elected Chair of ATTA® bringing a wealth of experience in tourism. He owns Zambian Groundhandlers.
Nick has been at the forefront of safari tourism in Zambia since the mid-90’s. He ran Norman Carr Safaris, one of the country’s premier safari operators from ’95 until 2009 when he established Zambian Ground Handlers, at the time this was the only destination management company specializing in Zambia.
Nick has a keen understanding of the correlation between the tourism industry and conservation. He has served on the Board of Trustees for Conservation South Luangwa for over 20 years and is currently vice-chairman to the Board of Wildlife Crime Prevention an NGO working to reduce illegal wildlife trade across Zambia and neighbouring countries in the region.
Nick has served on the Advisory Board of ATTA since 2017 and his two-year term as Chairman commenced in October 2022. On being appointed Chairman Nick commented: "I have long believed in the value that ATTA is able to offer to all elements of the African travel industry, it was an honour therefore to be asked to chair the Association. There is plenty of work to be done but I am looking forward to exciting times as trade recovers strongly from the trials of the pandemic.
ATTA Portfolio Responsibility Chairperson: Membership
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +260211262061
- Website:
- www.zgh.travel
Nigel Vere Nicoll FRGS
A founder member of The African Travel & Tourism Association (ATTA®) , Chief Executive for over 20 years, and President since 2018. An elected Fellow of The Royal Geographical Society since 1992.
As a former MD of Abercrombie & Kent's Hotel & Lodge Division in Kenya, CEO of Tour Operator, Wild Africa Safaris, Head of Marketing Mount Charlotte-Thistle Hotels UK, MD of Travel Agency Universal Travel and Proprietor of two hotels in Scotland, he has extensive experience in hotel management, tour operating & marketing in UK and Africa.
Nigel has been an advisor on tourism and crisis management to Foreign & Commonwealth Office Consular Stakeholder Panel, the FCO Travel Advice Review Group (TARG), and the United Nations WTO Tourism Emergency Response network (TERN). As African tourism advisor to the Brenthurst Foundation, established by the Oppenheimer family to fund development in Africa, he was appointed International Tourism advisor to the President of Malawi from 2011-2014.
President from 2018 | CEO 2000 - 2017 | Board Member Since 1996
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +44 207 937 4408
- Website:
- www.atta.travel
Jon Danks
Jon Danks joined ATTA® as CEO in 2023. Well known to the Africa media, buyer, agent, and operator audiences, Jon enjoyed over 40 years’ experience of travelling the continent of Africa before joining ATTA®.
Throughout his career Jon held numerous senior leadership positions at multinational membership organisations such as the RAC and The Times Educational Supplement. He also held several key roles in aviation at British Airways, South African Airways and as Marketing Chairman (UK) for Star Alliance. He joined ATTA® directly from Avis where he held a senior role driving commercial performance.
A strategic thinker with vision and diplomacy, Jon also brought to ATTA® experience in public affairs, connected across the continent’s high commissions and tourism agencies and experienced in several volunteer non-Exec roles at Tale2Tail, Cache and The Childrens Workforce Development Council (CWDC).
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +44 20 7937 4408
- Website:
- www.atta.travel
- LinkedIn:
- https://linkedin.com/in/jon-danks-71a8917/
Chris Mears
Chris joined ATTA® as COO in January 2017 after previously spending 10 years living in Cape Town running the Cape Town office for long time ATTA® member Acacia Adventure Holidays.
Chris took over as CEO on 01 January 2018
Chris has spent all his career involved with African Tourism and has a deep seated passion for the continent having traveled extensively including overland from London to South Africa with extended periods of time in Tanzania.
Chris' experience covers all aspects from reservations, sales and marketing to operations and product development.
After running ATTA® as CEO from January 2018 to September 2020 Chris took over as Chief Executive of Experience Africa Events and takes over the responsibility for all of ATTA®'s events including trade shows, networking event and the flagship Experience Africa held in London in June
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +447710306286
- Twitter:
- @chrismears
- Website:
- www.atta.travel
- LinkedIn:
- https://linkedin.com/in/chris-mears-3062732/
Claire Cooper - HR
Claire Cooper is Founder and Director of Coops & Co, an HR Consultancy, Looking After Me Limited, a health, wellbeing and lifestyle management consultancy as well as a Non-Executive Director for Singer Body and Paint. Claire’s expertise to the Management Board is board compliance and due diligence, sharing her wealth of knowledge acquired through working with a variety of fast growing SMEs.
Claire also volunteers her time as a Trustee for Just a Drop, a charity which supports communities around the world with access to sustainable safe water solutions, sanitation facilities and knowledge of safe hygiene practices.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +44 7811 111 200
- Website:
- www. coopsandco.uk
Fellows
Fellowship is awarded to a former Director or Advisor who has made an exceptional contribution to the association, during their term of office.
A Fellow, a life appointment, provides long term continuity in the wise governance of the association.
Ross Kennedy
Ross is a 4th generation Zimbabwean of farming and mining stock and entered the hotel Industry aged 17 as an apprentice in Harare in 1972. He qualified in Hotel Operations and Hospitality Management in the UK in 1976. After one year back in Zimbabwe as Food and Beverage Manager of a city centre 5-star hotel, he returned to the UK in 1977, where for 14 years, he built a small group of hotels, restaurants and pubs with his brother in the West Country – successfully buying, operating and selling 8 properties in that period.
Ross, who has been at the helm of hospitality group Africa Albida Tourism (AAT) since its very beginnings over a quarter of a century ago, is also a leading figure in Zimbabwe’s tourism industry, and began his career 50 years ago in November 1972.
The recipient of numerous accolades, including Tourism Entrepreneur of The Year 2008 for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Development, awarded by World Tourism Organisation / Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, Ross’s significant role in the growth and development of Zimbabwe’s travel and tourism sector was recognised in 2016 when he was awarded the Tourism Personality of the Year Award by the Zimbabwe Council for Tourism.
Ross is also a past chairman of African Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA). He was the first Africa-based chairman in the history of ATTA. He is an Honorary Fellow of ATTA, and a Fellow of the Institute of Travel &Tourism, as well as a member of the Institute of Hospitality.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +263 242 885 200
- Website:
- www.africaalbida.co.zw
Fiona Jeffery OBE
Fiona Jeffery OBE
Born in Scotland and a graduate of Edinburgh University, Fiona Jeffery has had a long and accomplished career working in the travel industry, responsible for World Travel Market (WTM) from 1986-2013 both as Managing Director and ultimately as Chairman.
She created and launched a responsible tourism drive across the industry globally, World Responsible Tourism Day in association with the UNWTO, which is now the largest responsible tourism gathering across the world. And launched the very first Ministerial Summit bringing the public and private sectors together to debate, discuss and shape the industry.
In 1998, as part of her sustainability drive, Fiona also founded and is Chair of the international water development charity Just a Drop, bringing sustainable safe water, sanitation and hygiene education to communities across Asia, Africa and Latin America, transforming lives. The organization supports 12 out of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals and to date has worked in 32 countries and changed the lives of over 1.9 million people.
Fiona, as a member of the UNWTO World Committee for Tourism Ethics successfully got agreement at the UN General Assembly to convert the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics into a legally binding Convention. A former Chair of WTTC’s Tourism for Tomorrow Programme and Chair of Africa Travel & Tourism Association she now sits on the Board of the Institute of Travel & Tourism and Chairs their Sustainability Committee. She also sits on the Advisory Board for School of Hospitality and Tourism at Surrey University and is a Senior Partner for Finn Partners Global Sustainable Tourism PR Practice and the Global Travel Resilience Network.
In 2012, Fiona was awarded an OBE by Her Majesty the Queen for services to travel and tourism, and in 2013 received the TTG Contribution to Industry Award and the World Tourism Award for her philanthropic vision in creating Just a Drop. She was recognized in the Directory of Social Change Influencer Awards in 2015 and was inducted into the Global Travel and Hospitality Industry Hall of Fame in 2020.
Anita Powell
Anita has an extensive knowledge of the luxury travel industry, and has built up strong relationships with key contacts at a senior level in both the media and trade during the eighteen years she has been working within African tourism.
In 2006 Anita founded Small World Marketing, a leading representation company which is proud to count some of Africa’s top hotels, lodges & airlines amongst its clients.
Anita was on the ATTA® board for 10 years including being Chair for 4 of those years.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +44 845 634 1460
- Website:
- www.smallworldmarketing.co.uk/
Mohanjeet Brar
Mohanjeet, is a 4th generation Kenyan and married with 2 kids who love going on safari. He is the Managing Director of Gamewatchers Safaris and Porini Camps, a leading tour operator and group of tented camps that are pioneers of the community conservancy concept, with a focus on protecting biodiversity & habitat in partnership with communities, for the last 30 years.
He is also co-founder of Earthacre a company connecting technology with communities for climate and biodiversity solutions. He has a Doctorate degree from the US and is a KPSGA (Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association) certified safari guide.
Mohanjeet has served in various capacities in supporting the conservation and tourism industry including as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ecotourism Kenya, Board Member of the Kenya Tourism Board, Board Member of Kenya Tourism Federation, Board Member of the East African Wildlife Society, Founding Trustee of the Kijabe Forest Trust, Vice Chair of the KEPSA Environment Sector Board, Board Member of the Maasai Mara Conservancies Association and is currently Board Member of the Kenya Association of Tour Operators, Board Member of African Wildlife Foundation Kenya Board, Board Member of Africa Conservation Centre, Board Member of Naboisho, Olare Motorogi, Ol Kinyei and Selenkay Conservancies.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +254 722 509 200
- Website:
- www.porini.com, www.earthacre.com
Global Representatives
Our interational representatives provide market insights and intelligence on their specifc country / region, and provide members with the opportunity to start working with and understanding the market further.
Andrea Landaeta
The devotion to experiential travel drove Andrea to embark on the most fascinating adventures and learn from the most encouraging experiences and this in turn provided her with the necessary knowledge, as well as great connections, to advise and introduce travel agents & tour operators with distinguished travel providers & tourism boards around the World.
With over 18 years experience in the travel industry, and valuable experience and research in over 60+ countries around the world, as well as her extensive knowledge in the Latin market with its distinct interests and expectations, is what moved and motivated Andrea in the creation of Sariri Terra.
Sariri Terra is a dedicated Travel Marketing and Consultancy firm based in Latin America representing a selection of some of the best tour operators (DMC's) and unique hotels & lodges, offering inspirational journeys across Africa and beyond.
Andrea was born in Chile, raised in Venezuela and educated in Switzerland and England. She has lived all over the world including the U.S., Asia (Cambodia & Indonesia), New Zealand and Australia and has worked for many years for tour operators in the UK where she was responsible for the sales and marketing teams, development and management of ground organizations in Central & South America, Asia and Africa.
She has also worked closely with Tourism Boards such as the Central American Tourism Board, Colombia(ProColombia) and Australia Tourism helping to grow awareness of these destinations in Europe & South America.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +58 4242 502 268
- Website:
- saririterra.com/
Kristyna Gottwaldova
Kristyna is an experienced destination marketing professional. She has been working on strategies on how to stimulate outbound Czech travel and has managed a wide variety of travel trade and PR projects for tourism boards such as Malta Tourism Authority, Dubai Tourism, Visit Iceland, Kenya Tourism Board, Madagascar Tourism Board, Maldives Tourism Board, as well as many other private sector tourism subjects.
With her strong relationships with travel trade and travel and lifestyle media she has organized many events for media, travel trade and consumers, as well as numerous media trips and influencer expeditions to client destination.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +420 732 817 493
- Website:
- travel-advance.com/
Lin Yu
Lin is one of the co-founders of Travel World China, a leading destination marketing and travel representation company in China. Founded in 2005, ever since TWC has been proactive in facilitating Chinese outbound tourism to worldwide destinations, promoting and representing foreign destinations, hotels and DMCs in the Chinese market, bridging connections and communication between the overseas and Chinese travel trade, media and policymakers.
Lin has lived and worked in China and UK, she is familiar and adaptive to both Eastern and Western culture and business etiquette. Being Atta’s China representative for a number of years, she is passionate about Africa and eager to provide assistance to Atta members with regards to Chinese travel market entry and development, using whole channel mix including digital marketing, PR & communication, events as well as sales strategy formation and execution.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +86 21 55380190
- Website:
- www.travelworldchina.com
Rob Gurr
Previous to starting Ynot Concepts in 2014, Rob worked in Adventure travel sales for 9 years before becoming the Trade Relations Manager at South African Tourism for 7 years where he was involved in many large scale trade and consumer projects including the FIFA and Rugby World Cups.
Rob has also visited and traveled every continent in the world extensively. Now Rob’s journey continues as the Managing Director of Ynot Concepts, specialising in Travel and Tourism Marketing focusing on conservation and sustainable tourism.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +61 488 770711
- Website:
- www.ynotconcepts.com