PATA Nepal Chapter supported a one-day Food and Beverage Festival, organized by the District Hotel Entrepreneurs & Tourism Association Sunsari at the Regional Stadium at Biratnagar Line in Itahari, Sunsari, held on 13th March 2021, which witnessed about 5,000 spectators from different parts of the province. The event was hosted and managed by Premier Hotel School, one of the esteemed educational member colleges of the PATA Nepal Chapter, located in Itahari, Nepal. 

On the eve before the event, Nepal Vocational Institutions Alliance (NVIA) organized a Welcome Dinner Reception and Felicitation Program at Nepalirika Hotel, Itahari, in honour of Chef Santosh Shah; whereby PATA Nepal Chapter CEO, Mr. Suresh Singh Budal shared insights on PATA's roles and priorities for sustainable development of tourism in the country.  

The event was inaugurated by the Honorable Chief Minister of Province 1, Mr. Sher Dhan Rai, who expressed his belief that the festival would ignite the new energy for tourism promotion and would be an ideal platform to promote the local cuisine and culture of their province. He congratulated the organizers and extended his special appreciation to Chef Santosh Shah for recognizing Nepal throughout the world through its diverse culture and rich cuisine from different corners of Nepal.  

The Nepali Celebrity Chef, Santosh Shah, was invited as the Special Guest to the event; while other guests, including Dr. Dhananjay Regmi-CEO of Nepal Tourism Board, Mr. Khem Raj Lakai-Treasurer of PATA Nepal Chapter, Mr. Achyut Guragain-President of NATTA, Mr. Suresh Singh Budal-CEO of PATA Nepal Chapter, and other local dignitaries were also present at the program. 

Mr. Sunil Bhusal, CEO of Premier Hotel School and Member of PATA Nepal Executive Committee, put welcome remarks on behalf of the organizing committee of F&B Fest, emphasizing the importance of the event to promote domestic tourism in the state and showcase the talents of professional human capitals, especially young tourism professionals and hospitality students, of eastern Nepal!

Mr. Khem Lakai, Treasurer-PATA Nepal Chapter, extended the gratitude on behalf of the PATA Nepal Chapter and appreciated the efforts in organizing the event.  He further assured to extend necessary collaboration and support for the tourism promotion and development tasks in province 1 through the resources and expertise at PATA Network and Relations at national, regional, and international levels.

Dr. Dhananjaya Regmi, CEO-Nepal Tourism Board, expressed his thanks to the organizing team and invited them to collaborate with the future initiatives and plans by NTB to promote domestic tourism in the country. 

Chef Santosh Shah expressed his heartfelt thanks, happiness, and honour to have such tourism-oriented events and activities outside the Kathmandu valley. He inspired the audience, especially hospitality students, to be successful with simplicity, continued efforts, a positive attitude, and Self-efficacy.  He put forward his expectation, faith, and belief in youths to make the country developed and proud. 

Above Ten, food stalls themed at various local and international cuisines were set-up by students of Premiere Hotel School to serve the F&B experience among the audience. The program emcee Nisha Pathak, National Artists including Sugam Pokhrel, Alina Chauhan, Samikchya Adhikari, Kiran Bhujel, Prakash Ojha, comedian Suman Koirala, and others entertained the audience of the festival. The visuals and posters put at the fairground included alluring sights and activities of the destinations in eastern Nepal aiming to inspire the general public to visit their destinations. 

Next day on 14th March, the PATA Nepal Chapter Secretariat team comprising of Mr. Suresh Singh Budal (CEO) and PATA Nepal Student Chapter chairperson Ms. Rejina Upreti, and Ms. Prahima Rana conducted an "Introductory Session about PATA" amongst above 60 students and Hospitality Education providers representing seven different colleges of province 1, from eastern Nepal. The seven participating colleges include Adarsha School of Hotel Management (Birtamode),  JCR hospitality and Technical College (Damak Jhapa), Sunshine School of Tourism & Hotel Management (Itahari), Skills Campus (Itahari), Whitehouse School of Hotel Management (Dharan & Itahari, RTRK hotel School (Itahari), Premier Hotel School (Itahari) willing to join PATA Nepal Chapter membership and  Human Capital Development initiatives and YTPs engagement programs.