Bernard Metzger - Founder & Chairman

Bernard Metzger is a communication and data management specialist with over twenty five years of experience. His past experience includes consultant for the IFC - International Finance Corporation (World Bank Group), a directorship and senior management position in a world-renown travel guide publishing company, chairman of the Kenya Tourism Foundation and several pioneering realizations in online content and reservation systems development.

Bernard's association with hospitality and travel goes back to the early 1900's when his family setup hotels in Nice and Dieppe (France) to offer accomodation solutions to British travellers crossing the Channel in Dieppe and staying in the mild mediterranean climate of the French Riviera.

Bernard's grandfather was travelling on rail around Europe in the 1920's and in the 1950's and 60' his father was exploring, with a Traction Avant car, new destinations in Southern Europe. The thirst for travel, discovery and the tradition for the understanding of other cultures and people lives on.

Bernard grew up crisscrossing the globe between Switzerland and South Africa and he has lived in places as far fetched as Cochin, Bangkok or Nairobi.

A keen traveller and explorer Bernard has visited some 85 countries around the globe from Austria to Australia and from Botswana to Canada and Zanzibar. In India most of his adventures have been on the back of a motorbike and in Africa flying a ULM or driving 4WD vehicle.

He sailed on the largest and fastest sailing boats from Porto Cervo (Sardinia, Italy) to Newport (Rhode Island, USA) and Nassau (Bahamas) to Monte Carlo (Monaco) and from the Isle of Wight (UK) to Palma de Mallorca (Spain).

Bernard has lived in Thailand since 2004 and has conceptualized and started the Travelindex Network in 2003.

As a Swiss national he is well aware of the importance of neutrality and the respect of other cultures, traditions and religions and as tourism develops he is passionate about preserving the world's environment and diversity.

He has established the Travel & Tourism Foundation to advance human understanding and respect for "the other" which, he believes, is the only way to end violence and eradicate poverty in the World.

To contact Bernard directly click here