Q1 2010 Adventure Travel Industry Snapshot
February 15, 2010
GIVE 10 MINUTES OF YOUR TIME AND GET THE SURVEY RESULTS FREE Providing ATTA Members regularly with fresh research is a key objective of the ATTA. To help accomplish this, adventure travel tour operators are requested to complete this survey by Friday, February 19th. This Industry Snapshot is a quarterly check-in on the state of tour operators in the adventure travel industry. The ATTA will then compile the data in aggregate and report the results to ATTA Members and to all tour operators that complete the survey. If your organization does not conduct tours, please do not take this survey as it will skew the data. All survey responses are anonymous. SURVEY CLOSED Read More →
Member Press ReleasesExOfficio Chooses Adventure Travel Media Source to Expand their PR Reach
February 12, 2010
WELLINGTON, Colo. — ExOfficio has hired Colorado-based Adventure Travel Media Source (ATMS) to seek out new lines of communication for their popular lines of outdoor clothing and gear. “ATMS have proven themselves in the outdoor industry as an extraordinary asset to expanding the reach of communications. We turned to ATMS because of their unparalleled passion and powerful voice in the industry,” says Jaelithe Milich, ExOfficio Marketing Communications Specialist. ExOfficio is an outdoor and travel clothing company. They’ve been providing clothing solutions for outdoor & travel enthusiasts since 1987. They are dedicated to making clothing as adventurous as their customers. At ExOfficio, high performance apparel is an obsession. From built-in UV protection to bug repellent apparel, they lead the industry in innovation for the adventure traveler. Whether it’s a trip to the coffee shop or an adventure around the globe, ExOfficio has got you covered. Corporate offices are located... Read More →
The First Coastal Tourism Innovators Symposium Receives High Praise from Participants
February 12, 2010
The first-ever Symposium for Innovators in Coastal Tourism Development, held January 20-22 at Stanford University, exceeded expectations of both participants and organizers. The Symposium, organized by the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST) and cosponsored by the Center for Global Business and the Economy (CGBE) of the Stanford Business School, was attended by 85 innovators from the private and public sectors who are incorporating social and environmental best practices into coastal resort and vacation home developments. The full proceedings of this noteworthy event are available online at www.responsibletravel.org. “We successfully met our goal of bringing together pioneers in coastal tourism who are creating sustainable alternative models to the gated, all-inclusive beach resorts that today dot coastlines throughout the Americas and the Caribbean,” says Dr. William H. Durham who is CREST Co-Director and Bing Professor of Human Biology in the Anthropology Department at Stanford. Keynote... Read More →
Trade EventsThe Africa Travel Association’s Third Annual U.S.-Africa Seminar on Tourism
February 12, 2010
WHEN: The event begins with an evening networking reception highlighting The Gambia in West Africa as a travel destination on Thursday, March 4th, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The full day of workshops on Destination Africa begins on Friday, March 5th, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. WHERE: The location of The Gambia reception will be announced shortly. The seminar takes place in conjunction with the Washington DC Travel & Adventure Show (formerly Adventures in Travel Expo) at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., USA. WHAT: As part of its continuing effort to increase tourism from the U.S. to Africa, the Africa Travel Association (ATA), a global travel industry trade association, will organize the Third Annual U.S.-Africa Seminar on Tourism. Co-sponsored again by the Travel & Adventure Show, this unique networking and learning event will open with a discussion on “Tourism Policy Choices for Africa” by Ambassador Johnny Carson, Assistant Secretary at the Bureau of African... Read More →
ATTA Member ProfilesAfrican Safari Company
February 11, 2010
Founded in 1998, the African Safari Company specializes in photo safaris to all of Africa’s top wildlife destinations, and is recommended by National Geographic. Custom itineraries are tailored to your specific requirements and designed by the owner/operator, Mike Nesbitt. A native of South Africa, Mike has been involved in the travel industry for over 30 years and revisits destinations in southern, and east Africa every year. Our partners in host countries are carefully chosen for their expertise, excellent guides, competitive pricing and are generally the oldest and biggest outfitters in the country, with many years of experience in handling North American clients. Phone messages and emails are replied to promptly, 7 days a week. No automated phone system or waiting on hold, you get to talk to an expert right away. Destinations ● Botswana ● Kenya ● Namibia ● Rwanda ● South Africa ● Tanzania ● Uganda ● Zambia And tours to Egypt, Morocco, Mozambique and the islands of... Read More →
Member Press ReleasesReport on the Flooding in Peru by Apumayo
February 11, 2010
As all of you must already know, the southern Andean region of Peru has been affected by unusual heavy rains which started on January the 23rd and ended on January the 28th, returning to its normal amounts. These rains caused an extraordinary increment of water carried by the Vilcanota River, almost 1,100 m3/second, when maximum registered was 850 m3/second, an unlikely record. The cities affected where Andahuaylas, Ayacucho, Puno and overall Cusco, where most of the tourist areas, where closed for a few days. At this time, weather has return to its normal, all areas including all attractions in Cusco and the Sacred Valley have normal access, but access to Machu Picchu is limited only by helicopter (Note: Commercial helicopter flights to Machu Picchu will not be allowed until noticed by the government), as huge landslides have damaged 6.15km of the railroad to Machu Picchu. In order to re-establish communication with Machu Picchu town by using the railroad, Ferrocarril Transandino S.A.... Read More →
Member Press ReleasesGlobal Vision International
February 11, 2010
The number of individuals across the world who dedicate their time to volunteer is immeasurable. Many of these individuals do so because they want to make a difference… According to the volunteering database, Do-it, the highest motivation for volunteering is to help other people, and one only has to look at the recent events in Haiti to see that there is no shortage of willing individuals who put others before themselves. The 2007-08 Citizenship Survey, undertaken by Communities and Local Government, found that 27 percent of people in England participated in formal volunteering at least once a month. In the USA, the figure is remarkably similar. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported last month that approximately 26.8 percent of the population – some 63.4 million people – volunteered through or for an organization between September 2008 and September 2009. Much of the time, since the notion of voluntary work is that it is unpaid, people’s best efforts can go unrecognized... Read More →
By the NumberscomScore’s, “The 2009 U.S. Digital Year in Review”, Summarizes 2009 Digital Marketing Trends, Offers Implications for 2010
February 11, 2010
RESTON, VA – comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today released The comScore 2009 U.S. Digital Year in Review. The complimentary report recaps key trends in U.S. digital media landscape, including e-commerce, search, online video, online advertising and mobile, with an emphasis on how digital marketers can capitalize on these trends in 2010. To download a copy of The comScore 2009 U.S. Digital Year in Review report, please visit: www.comscore.com/digital09 Despite Tough Economic Environment Digital Consumer Behavior Surged in 2009 2009 proved to be a critical year in digital marketing as the economic environment brought unprecedented challenges to the industry. After years of strong growth across the digital economy, the recession introduced softness to many digital business sectors. But despite these economic headwinds, consumers’ use of digital media climbed to new heights in 2009 as the Internet continued to evolve as an integral component of... Read More →
Nonprofit Planeterra Mobilizes Community Relief Efforts in Wake of Flooding in Peru
February 9, 2010
Concerned Groups and Individuals Asked to Make Online Donations to Peru Flood Relief and If Traveling to Cusco Bring Essential Items, Clothing and Food TORONTO – Over 12,000 people have been uprooted and/or severely impacted by the late January rains and flooding in Peru’s Sacred Valley between Cusco and Machu Picchu. Planeterra has mobilized an onsite team to assess the situation and help with immediate needs of the local people. The nonprofit has established an online help site: Peru Flood Relief where the public can make charitable donations. One of the communities severely impacted by the flooding is Ccaccaccollo, home to Planeterra’s women’s weaving cooperative, a community travelers visit as part of the organization’s Project Peru voluntourism adventure. “Because indigenous communities such as Ccaccaccollo maintain a traditional way of life and are dedicated mainly to pastoral and agricultural activities, they are especially vulnerable to heavy rains and flooding,”... Read More →
Member Press Releases New & DifferentGap Adventures Launches Global Online Contest – “Create Your Own Adventure”
February 9, 2010
Toronto – To celebrate 20 innovative years providing life-changing travel experiences across the globe, Gap Adventures is launching the Create Your Own Adventure contest (www.createyourownadventure.com), the largest and most ambitious interactive competition in the company’s history. The global online contest invites everyone from once-a-year vacationers to seasoned globetrotters to submit an itinerary for the tour of their dreams, virtually anywhere in the world, virtually any way they want. The winning entry – determined through public online polling and input from a panel of world-renowned judges – will be featured in a Gap Adventures brochure in 2011. “Create Your Own Adventure is the biggest and most exciting contest we’ve ever staged,” said Gap Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip. “I’m thrilled that in celebration of our 20th anniversary, we’re inviting everyone from aspiring to avid travellers to build their dream itinerary... Read More →
