Key
People in South African Tourism
and ATA 26th International Congress
Cape Town, May 20-25,
2001
Hani
Yamani, CEO Air Harbour Technologies
Hani
A.Z. Yamani, Chairman, Air Harbour Technologies, an
international company with headquarters in Jeddah, Saudi
Arabia, served as Chairperson of the 26th International
Congress of the Africa Travel Association (ATA). Air
Harbour Technologies, a leader in sustainable tourism
development, is extensively involved in the travel and
tourism sector in Africa, with offices in Namibia,
Zimbabwe, Ghana, Nigeria, Angola, Mozambique and South
Africa. Air Harbour Technologies' projects include
airports, hotels and infrastructure in West, North, East
and Southern Africa.
Chairman of Air Harbour
Technologies, Mr. Yamani personally contributes 20% of
income to The Hope Foundation, a charity created by him
in 1993. Centers for Disabled People around the world are
among the many institutions that benefit from the
generosity of this Foundation. Mira
Berman, ATA Executive Director, stated that "ATA is very
honored have Mr. Yamani Chair this year's congress in
South Africa. It is especially appropriate because of his
leadership in the field of sustainable tourism
development on the Continent, and of his charity work
with the Disabled." Currently,
Mr. Yamani is Chairman of Air Harbour Technologies Hazy
Investments Ltd, Integron Design Ltd., Tiffany Hotels
Ltd., Daniels International (Saudi Arabia) and Swiss
World Investment Group S.A. He has been an advisor to
many reputable multi-national companies. Mr. Yamani is a
member of the World Travel & Tourism Council and the
Young Presidents Organization. Mr. Yamani was educated in
Switzerland and received his education from Oxford
University and the Wharton School of Business at the
University of Pennsylvania. He received training at
Citibank in New York City and Geneva, and at MKS Finance
in Geneva.
Lorig
Yekhpairian, American Express
Lorig Yekhpairian, CTC,
Vice President, Travel Worldwide Coordination and
Industry Relations, was keynote speaker at the Africa
Travel Association's 26th International Congress
Mira Berman was very pleased to have such a well
respected travel industry leader as Lorig Yekhpairian
address the association's first ever congress in South
Africa. And it is especially appropriate for this
congress, because American Express has played and
continues to play, a strong role in the development of
both SATH and IIPT."
Ms. Yekhpairian, who has been with
American Express (AMEX) for 34 years, also has the
responsibility of leading and managing the AMEX US
representatives network. She has held a number of
positions in the Card Division, as well as worked with a
wide spectrum of worldwide travel companies in the
airline, cruise, hotel, tour operator and travel agency
sectors, to develop and implement cooperative marketing
campaigns with the American Express Card.
She has been actively involved in
leading industry associations including ASTA, ARTA, USTOA
and CLIA. She is a member of the Board of Directors of
the Travel Industry of America (TIA), National Tour
Foundation (NTF) and the Academy of Travel & Tourism.
She also sits on the marketing committee for the American
Society of Travel Agents (ASTA). Ms. Yekhpairian
graduated with an Engineering Degree from the University
of Sofia, Bulgaria and did her postgraduate studies at
the City College of New York.