Intercontinental news, Vol. 1, No. 5, September 1965

              INTERCONTINENTAL
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VOL. 1, NO. 5
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER, 1965
THE ASTA CONVENTION - HONG KONG
A Report by John Macomber, Director of Sales—US and Canada
The 35th World Travel Congress of the American Society of Travel Agents was held in Hong Kong, September 18th through 24th, 1965. Over 2,000 ASTA members attended. This was a first visit to the Orient for over 60 per cent of the delegates and they were most enthusiastic about Hong Kong’s tourist facilities.
The Mandarin housed many of the delegates from all over the world. T.A.P. “Tony” Ross and his staff did a superb job. High praise for The Mandarin was heard everywhere. Service was excellent—house boys on each floor jumped with quiet courtesy to your every wish; Jack Hudson, the concierge (the only member of the famous “Golden Key Club” in the Orient) and his team handled the many details with dispatch and unsurpassed efficiency.
Intercontinental Hotels Corporation maintained a hospitality center in The Mandarin Suite on the 24th floor of the hotel. Invitations to visit the suite between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Monday through Friday were sent to all ASTA delegates and over 375 accepted. Outside the entrance of The Mandarin Suite a large and attractive display presented photographs of Intercontinental hotels around the world. In addition, folders of all Intercontinental hotels were available in the suite.
The convention’s meetings were held in City Hall which is across the street from The Mandarin. The delegates had easy access to The Mandarin and were delighted with its spectacular decor and especially with the fantastic view of Hong Kong Harbor from The Mandarin Suite and Lookout Lounge.
A luncheon was given every day during the convention
At the close of the ASTA convention a birthday toast was drunk to Henry Beardsley in The Mandarin suite by (left to right) T. A. P. Ross, General Manager of The Mandarin; H. W. Lee, Chairman, The Mandarin; Henry Beardsley; and John C. Carrodus, General Manager of The Southern Cross.
Gathered in the beautiful Le Panache of the Phoenicia Intercontinental returning from the ASTA convention are (left to right) Mrs. William 0. Walker; John Macomber; Hans M. Hel-bling, Executive Vice President, Allied Travel, Inc., New York City; Paul L. Klein, President, Paul L. Klein Travel Service, Chicago; William 0. Walker, President, Walker Travel Agency, Ridgewood, New Jersey; and Ernst Etter, Intercontinental’s Vice President-Europe and Middle East, and General Manager of the Phoenicia.
by The Mandarin in the East Room for tour operators, travel agents, retailers and travel writers. Approximately 35 to 40 persons attended each luncheon. Tony Ross welcomed each group and Maggie Christensen, the Public Relations Director, delivered a slide presentation on The Mandarin. The program concluded with details on the PANAMAC reservations availability system and a word about Intercontinental hotels around the world.
Intercontinental’s sales team and General Managers covering ASTA attended committee sessions and participated in other important functions of the convention.
All in all, reports are that the 1965 Convention was one of the most exciting and successful to date. Intercontinental agrees.
Intercontinental Hotels Corporation was represented by the following executives: Henry W. Beardsley, Vice President-Sales; John Carrodus, General Manager, The Southern Cross; Leo de Franco, General Manager, Bali Beach Hotel; William Land, General Manager, Oberoi Intercontinental; George Milne, General Manager, Hotel Singapura Intercontinental; Kane Rufe, General Manager, Hotel Indonesia; John Macomber, Dir. of Sales-US and Canada; Sing Sheng, Dir. of Sales-Far East; Max Hampton, Dir. of Public Relations, NYC.