AdventureLink Names Senior YAHOO! Executive Jeff Dossett as CEO
May 29, 2009
LOS ANGELES (May 29, 2009) – AdventureLink, Inc., the world’s largest online source for booking adventure travel, today named former Yahoo! Inc. Senior Vice President Jeff Dossett as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Dossett will be responsible for building global recognition for AdventureLink as the preeminent online marketplace for booking adventure travel. In February 2009, AdventureLink launched the world’s first online booking system for adventure travel developed in conjunction with its partner, VAX VacationAccess. The AdventureLink system opens up booking capability for adventure travel opportunities worldwide providing easy access and distribution to over 70,000 leisure travel agents across North America. Mr. Dossett joins AdventureLink from Yahoo! Inc. where he served as Senior Vice President, Audience Experiences, North America Region. Prior to joining Yahoo!, Mr. Dossett was the Executive Producer & General Manager of MSN in the United States. He also served... Read More →
ATTA Member ProfilesWiser World Travel, LLC
May 26, 2009
Wiser World Travel, LLC represents respected tour operators who not only meet travelers’ needs with superior tours and itineraries around the world, but who demonstrate commitment to responsible travel and sustainability. WWT is unique in acting as a travel liaison between travelers and tour operators who provide itineraries with sustainable components, who support local people and host communities, who give back. We do not promote any particular tour operator, tour, itinerary, or accommodation, and offer wide choice and diversity to individual travelers and groups. There is no charge to travelers for our service. Our orientation is very personal and customer focused. Why Wiser World Travel? Choice and diversity of tours around the globe, basic to luxury, from a consortium of respected tour operators who have a commitment to responsible tourism. Focus on ethical travel provided by network operators, striving to reduce negative impacts of tourism while creating long term benefits... Read More →
Member Press ReleasesThomson Safaris wins 2009 Tanzania Conservation Award
May 25, 2009
Honored for community-based initiatives at Enashiva Nature Refuge Arusha, Tanzania — The Tanzania Tourist Board has honored Thomson Safaris (www.thomsonsafaris.com) with the 2009 Tanzania Conservation Award. The award specifically recognizes the company’s efforts in establishing and supporting the Enashiva Nature Refuge, a community-based conservation project east of the Serengeti. On May 19, Enashiva’s project manager, Daniel Yamat, received the award on behalf of Thomson Safaris at a ceremony in Cairo, Egypt, which was attended by Tanzania’s minister of tourism, Shamsa Mwangunga, among other distinguished guests. “Thomson Safaris is humbled to receive this honor,” said Yamat. “We owe our deepest gratitude to the Tanzania Tourist Board, the government, and, most of all, the Maasai communities around Enashiva that have helped make conservation successful. The award really belongs to them.” Since conservation efforts began at Enashiva, wildlife... Read More →
Member Press ReleasesAdventure Travel Pioneer Richard Bangs Films “Quest for the Viking Spirit” Using the Most Authentic of Transports – A Hurtigruten Cruise Ship
May 22, 2009
New York, NY, May 2009 — For anyone who has ever thought of exploring Norway and its multitudes of grand fjords, quaint villages and historic sites – Richard Bangs’ recently released documentary, “Adventures with Purpose: Quest for the Viking Spirit,” offers a wonderful peek at the country’s incredible diversity, stunning scenery and historic culture. In a near perfect distillation of Norway’s Viking heritage, Richard Bangs, renowned as the father of modern adventure travel, delves deeply into the country’s historic roots, while choosing one of the most authentic of Norwegian modes of travel – aboard a ship. And not just any ship — but the vessels that have served the many towns and villages along Norway’s west coast for more than 100 years – a Hurtigruten ship. Bangs sets out to discover how Norway transitioned from a history that included terrifying raids and a somewhat violent predilection into its modern reputation as a... Read More →
Member Press Releases New & DifferentCruise West Offers Epic Year-Long Global Adventure
May 22, 2009
Ground-breaking Journey Will Visit 242 Ports, 59 Countries on 24 Voyages Seattle, WA – Marco Polo; Odysseus; Leif Eriksson; Christopher Columbus; James Cook; Ferdinand Magellan — history’s great sea explorers have inspired an epic global voyage destined to become the most memorable cruise of a lifetime. These legendary adventurers whose travels shaped much of the known and the new world set the theme for Cruise West’s Voyages of the Great Explorers — a 335-day circumnavigation of the world. Departing Singapore on March 6, 2010, Cruise West’s flagship, the 120-guest, all-suite Spirit of Oceanus will sail westward, following the sun, to return to Singapore on February 3, 2011. “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” St. Augustine’s words will come to life on the worldwide itinerary of the Voyages of the Great Explorers. Following the major routes inspired by history’s great ocean explorers, this new world voyage is a collection... Read More →
Member Press Releases Must Read/View Partner News Travel & Outdoor GearFirst Ascent Team Summits Everest, Including ATTA Advisory Board Emeritus Member Viesturs
May 22, 2009
Viesturs and Whittaker Return Eddie Bauer to the Top of the World SEATTLE, WA – On the morning of May 19, two legendary mountaineers on the First Ascent “Return to Everest” expedition reached the highest point on Earth. Ed Viesturs and Peter Whittaker stood on the summit with members of their production crew before descending to High Camp at 26,000 feet. Forced to spend an extra 24 hours in the “death zone” while waiting for high winds and whiteout conditions to improve, the team began their final summit push around 11:00 p.m. on the evening of May 18. Their successful summit comes 46 years and 18 days after Whittaker’s uncle, Jim, became the first American to do so, on May 1, 1963. The common thread between the two expeditions besides the Whittaker name: Eddie Bauer was the outfitter, then and now. First Ascent marks Eddie Bauer’s return to its heritage as America’s original expedition outfitter. The Return to Everest expedition includes... Read More →
New & DifferentFirst Paid Vaction Bill in U.S. History to be Introduced in Congress on May 21st
May 21, 2009
(May 2009) — TAKE BACK YOUR TIME is pleased to announce that Congressman Alan Grayson (D-FL) will introduce the Paid Vacation Act of 2009 at a news conference on the Cannon House Office Building Terrace in Washington DC at 11 a.m., Thursday, May 21, 2009. WHAT THE BILL DOES: * Requires one week of paid vacation for employees of companies with at least 100 employees. Three years after passage, the bill extends this requirement to companies with at least 50 employees, and requires two weeks for companies with 100 employees. * Covers workers after one year on the job. Part-timers must work 25 or more hours a week and 1250 hours per year to be covered. TAKE BACK YOUR TIME Executive Director John de Graaf and board members Bill Doherty and Joe Robinson will join Congressman Grayson and other speakers, including physician Arnold Pallay, economist John Schmitt, and simple living advocate Wanda Urbanska, at the news conference, which is open to the public. “We hope that if you live in... Read More →
Member Press ReleasesBoulder, Colorado, Based Intrepid Travel Ranked #1 “Best Places to Work”
May 21, 2009
Adventure Travel Company Encourages Employee Eco-Consciousness and Exploration Boulder, CO – Intrepid Travel (www.intrepidtravel.com) recently (ATN Editor’s Note: on April 9 2009, Intrepid Travel issued this news announcement, but it was not posted immediately – we regret the posting delay) topped the list in Outside magazine’s (www.outsideonline.com) second annual “Best Places to Work” list. Intrepid was ranked No. 1 out of 30 selected companies. The full list and related story is published in the May 2009 issue of Outside magazine. Intrepid’s Boulder office opened in November 2007 and modeled its employee practices after Intrepid’s head office in Melbourne, Australia. According to Tiffany Richards, President of Intrepid Travel’s Boulder office, “Our company philosophy is very much about promoting responsible travel, getting off the beaten path, helping to support positive change, and having fun along the way. It’s more than what we sell,... Read More →
ATTA Member ProfilesThe Other Iraq Tours
May 20, 2009
“The Other Iraq Tours” specializes in luxury and custom tours to Iraqi Kurdistan; Istanbul, Turkey; Vienna, Austria; and, Amman, Jordan. Tour companies around the world are always looking for new and exciting destinations to take their clients to. Many adventure travelers have been to the usual – sometimes exotic locations – but few have visited Iraqi Kurdistan – perhaps the most exciting new tour destination in the world. The Other Iraq Tours is currently the only locally based company that specializes in arranging tours to this region. Our four American partners and local staff have more than 35 years of combined experience in Kurdistan and have intimate knowledge of the region including it’s history, archeology, geography, politics and investment potential. Whatever your interest – we custom design tours to meet your need – want to climb a mountain – ski – raft – see the ancient history of Assyria, the Medes (ancestors of the Kurds), visit ancient Jewish... Read More →
Member Press ReleasesTravel Alert to Mexico No Longer in Effect
May 19, 2009
Mexico City, May 15, 2009 – The U.S. Department of State’s travel alert to Mexico due to the H1N1 influenza outbreak is no longer in effect. This announcement was made right after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lifted its travel warning against all nonessential travel to Mexico. The CDC announced that the “warning” was downgraded to a “Travel Health Precaution,” which is directed at those who are at high risk of complications due to any kind of influenza. Daniel Jernigan, Deputy Director of the CDC’s influenza division, says that there is no evidence that the Influenza A (H1N1) virus is becoming stronger. “Mexico’s government and tourism authorities are very satisfied with the decision taken by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and consequently, the U.S. Department of State, to lift the H1N1 influenza alert against nonessential travel to Mexico. Our main priority continues to be the safety of our citizens and visitors, and with... Read More →
