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 31 African and Indian Ocean countries.
With over 819 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
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/
Kgomotso Ramothea
Kgomotso Ramothea is the Chief Executive Officer for ATTA® since September 2024 where she is responsible for growth and management of ATTA® membership and execution of strategic partnerships for exclusive member benefit.
Kgomotso has 20 years working in marketing and communications in various fields. Her most recent experience was working as Acting Hub Head for South African Tourism in the United Kingdom where she directed the tourism board’s UK and Irish marketing strategy, implementing trade and media strategies to drive tourist arrivals from the UK and Ireland.
Originally from outside Pretoria in South Africa, Kgomotso moved to the UK 14 years ago, after harnessing her communications skills at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Forge Ahead and South African Agency for Science Advancement.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +442079374408
- Website:
- www.atta.travel
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.
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
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?
James Haigh - Chairman
James Haigh is the newly elected chair of ATTA, bringing with him 25 years of industry expertise to help further reinforce ATTA®’s commitment to meaningful, long-term relationships with our members and stakeholders.
James has a strong understanding of African cultures, customs, and languages, having traveled extensively throughout the continent. His experience in the safari business has enabled him to develop strong relationships with a variety of stakeholders, from tour operators and guides to lodges and camps. James possesses a keen eye for detail and can spot potential issues quickly, allowing him to provide solutions and create strategies to ensure smooth operations and successful outcomes. He has extensive experience in presenting to different audiences, as well as in managing agent sales and building lasting relationships.
ATTA Portfolio Responsibility Chairperson: Membership
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +255 785 398 558
- Website:
- www.lemalacamps.com
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
Nick Aslin
Nick has just handed over the role of ATTA® Chair to James Haigh.
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 served as Chairman of the board on a two-year term from October 2022 - September 2024.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +260211262061
- Website:
- www.zgh.travel
John Corse
John Corse served as ATTA® Chair from 2020-2022.
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
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