Lizam Dorji, CEO of MICE Bhutan, has been named the Grand Winner of the 2026 PATA Face of the Future Award, becoming the first Bhutanese tourism professional to receive the prestigious recognition.
The Pacific Asia Travel Association announced the award on 18 August 2026, recognising Lizam's leadership, innovation and commitment to creating a more meaningful and sustainable future for tourism.
The recognition marks an important milestone not only for Lizam, but also for Bhutan's growing presence within the international MICE and tourism industry.
Established in 2002, the PATA Face of the Future Award recognises outstanding young tourism professionals across the Asia Pacific region who demonstrate leadership, initiative and a commitment to sustainable tourism development.
PATA describes the award as its most prestigious honour for emerging leaders in travel and tourism. The 2026 competition attracted a record number of applications.
As Grand Winner, Lizam will also serve on the PATA Board for one year beginning in 2027, representing the youth community and contributing the perspectives of the next generation of tourism professionals.
Before returning to Bhutan, Lizam spent more than five years building her hospitality and MICE experience in Thailand with Royal Cliff Hotels Group and the Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall.
Her experience included international conferences, United Nations events, corporate meetings and large conventions involving up to 4,000 participants.
She returned to Bhutan with a vision of applying that international experience to the Kingdom's developing MICE sector.
Today, as CEO of MICE Bhutan, Lizam is helping position Bhutan as a destination for meetings, incentives, conferences, executive retreats and corporate journeys that go beyond conventional business events.
On August 18, Lizam also moderated a panel discussion titled “Building Impactful Partnerships Across Borders,” bringing together industry leaders to discuss how tourism boards, airlines, convention bureaux, hospitality groups and travel businesses can work together to open new visitor markets, strengthen regional connectivity and create commercial opportunities.
The panel featured Dmitry Smolnikov, Deputy CEO of the Center for Strategic Research (CSR), Discover Russia; Megat Ardian Wira Mohd Aminuddin, CEO of AirBorneo; Dileep Mudadeniya, Senior Vice President, Global Alliances & Partnerships and Head of Corporate Affairs at John Keells Holdings PLC; and Lujaina Al Maskari, Head of Conferences Division at the Oman Convention Bureau.
For Lizam, developing MICE tourism in Bhutan is not simply about attracting larger numbers of business travellers.
The opportunity lies in creating events that connect delegates with Bhutan's culture, communities, environment and values.
A corporate programme might combine professional meetings with traditional Bhutanese archery. A leadership retreat can incorporate meditation, nature and cultural encounters. An incentive journey can introduce delegates to communities and experiences that create a deeper understanding of the destination.
This approach reflects a broader ambition for MICE Bhutan: to demonstrate that business events can create meaningful value for both visitors and the places that host them.
Lizam's work also extends beyond corporate events.
MICE Bhutan’s initiatives include a partnership with Bhutan's Youth Development Fund to plant 2,664 flowering trees with guests across Bhutan over three years, as well as collaboration with the Department of Culture to support the revitalisation of three nationally significant museums.
These initiatives reflect her belief that tourism can contribute to communities and cultural preservation while creating memorable experiences for visitors.
Alongside Lizam as the Grand Winner, PATA recognised four other young tourism professionals in specific categories.
Abdulla Iyaan Ahmed of the Maldives received Special Recognition for Student Excellence. Thailand’s Orawan Dinsor was recognised for Strategic Management, while Alevtina Borodulina received recognition for Leadership. Mongolia’s Uyanga Galbadrakh was recognised for Sustainability Initiatives.
The PATA Face of the Future recognition gives Bhutan another opportunity to contribute to conversations about the future of tourism across Asia Pacific.
For MICE Bhutan, it reinforces a vision centred on professional event delivery, meaningful experiences and responsible tourism development.
Tourism can go beyond commerce and become a platform for cultural exchange, stronger communities and positive change.
