PATA and TOP25 Restaurants Enter Partnership to Improve Travellers Experience
Gyeongju, Korea (ROK), May 14, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with TOP25 Restaurants, an artificial intelligence-powered travel ranking system that provides travel guidance on a variety of attractions.
Signed by Noor Ahmad Hamid, CEO of PATA, and Bernard Metzger, Founder and Chairman of TOP25 Restaurants, the agreement was witnessed by over 300 travel and tourism professionals at the PATA Annual Summit 2026.
Following the signing, PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid said, “We believe that when travellers have access to clear, reliable, and comprehensive information, they are better equipped to make informed decisions and enjoy experiences of a higher calibre. This is why we are keen to support the work of TOP25 World, which plays an important role in enhancing visitor satisfaction.”
He added, “Additionally, I would like to sincerely thank TOP25 Restaurants for the opportunity to collaborate, and hope that this will open up new avenues for future joint projects.”
Bernard Metzger, Founder and Chairman of TOP25 Restaurants, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with PATA in advancing the role of gastronomy tourism as a strategic driver of destination attractiveness, cultural identity, and visitor engagement across the Asia Pacific region. As we look into the possibility of integrating TOP25 Restaurants Awards into PATA events, we aim to create meaningful international visibility for destinations, chefs, restaurants, and culinary ecosystems while contributing added value to the overall event experience.”
He added: “Today, destinations increasingly compete not only through heritage and attractions, but also through their culinary identity and food experiences. By recognising and promoting restaurant excellence through our internationally visible awards platforms, we help destinations strengthen their positioning as gastronomy tourism destinations and generate enhanced media, digital, and social media exposure.”
This partnership is also expected to benefit Destination Management Organisations and tourism boards across the Asia Pacific region by improving destination visibility and providing exposure for the local gastronomy and food industry.
Under the MoU, PATA and TOP25 Restaurants will collaborate on mutual event promotion and participation. In addition, each organisation will prioritise representatives from the other organisation for speaking engagements at its events, where appropriate.
