Outdoor Industry Leaders Call on Congress to Make Investing in Public Lands and Protecting Natural Resources a Priority in Climate Legislation
March 17, 2010
Seventy-five outdoor businesses, the Outdoor Industry Association, Outdoor Alliance and the National Parks Conservation Association have signed on to a letter calling on Congress to protect public lands from climate change impacts. The letter, which will be delivered to Congressional offices this week, is below. Healthy lands and waters help generate $730 billion in economic activity in the United States, which generates $88 billion in state and federal tax revenue. Statement by: Amy Kleiner-Roberts, Vice-president of Governmental Affairs, Outdoor Industry Association: “The active outdoor recreation industry is among the first to experience the impacts of climate change on our public lands. From declining snowpacks to droughts that cause forests to die, climate change can degrade and limit opportunities for outdoor recreation. We are asking Congress to pass climate legislation that includes funding for the restoration and adaptation of public lands. We ask that they be protected... Read More →
Industry Partner NewsBriggs & Riley Travelware Introduces BRX, a Luggage Collection for Adventure Travelers
March 17, 2010
Briggs & Riley Travelware Introduces BRX, a Luggage Collection for Adventure Travelers International High End Brand Sees Big Opportunity in Adventure Travel Hauppauge, N.Y. — Briggs & Riley Travelware, the favored brand of business and leisure travelers, is pleased to announce the launch of BRX, a high-performance luggage collection for the adventure traveler. Through a combination of technical materials and advanced engineering, the new BRX collection provides a lightweight solution with extreme performance capabilities in a refined, modern aesthetic. The 7-piece collection is made up of wheeled carry-ons, large uprights, duffles and a backpack. It will be available in earthy Slate, Ocean and Amber colors and is priced from $40-$320. BRX sports a 10-20% weight reduction compared to top selling similar bags. Briggs & Riley’s proprietary material management system employs multiple fabrics to reinforce areas of abrasion and stress while reducing weight in non-critical... Read More →
Member Press Releases New & DifferentNew Torngat Safari puts Labrador in reach
March 17, 2010
Labrador – The once inaccessible peaks of northern Labrador are now within reach. Cruise North Expeditions, in partnership with Parks Canada and the Nunatsiavut (Northern Labrador) Government, is offering an exciting and unique wildlife Safari deep into the Torngat Mountains National Park. This strikingly beautiful, rugged mountain range is brimming with wildlife including the fastest growing population of polar bears, along with black bears, caribou and a variety of whales. This National Park is also an Inuit homeland where legend holds the spirit world overlaps our own. Before now this remote region was inaccessible to visitors. All this has changed with the launch of the Torngat Safari — multi-night safari-style packaged tours led by Inuit guides. Days are filled with polar bear and whale watching, fishing for char in sparkling mountain streams, and helicopter rides through breathtaking river valleys. When the sun sets, visitors relax in the cozy Safari-style tent camp, dining... Read More →
Trade EventsTRAVDEX, the travel technology trade show of 2010
March 16, 2010
The travel marketplace is highly fragmented, with adventure travel suppliers and providers operating independently all over the world. In contrast, travel planning and sharing is completely digital. This makes technology-based products essential to the adventure travel industry. The Problem? Evaluating and then buying travel technology is time consuming and costly. In today’s economy adventure travel companies need every advantage they can find. Attending TRAVDEX is one of those advantages. TRAVDEX, produced by PhoCusWright, is a comprehensive global trade show for travel technology buyers and sellers. TRAVDEX is the only trade show that gives access to travel innovation and technology solutions all under one roof. TRAVDEX, May 5 – 7 at the Cobb Galleria in Atlanta Georgia, is centered around pre-scheduled appointments and gives you access to travel innovations, networking opportunities and the chance to negotiate the best deal for your company. Register now for $199, valid until March... Read More →
Partner News Trade EventsOpenTravel 2010 Advisory Forum, April 26-28
March 16, 2010
Editor’s Note: The Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), in cooperation with the OpenTravel Alliance, will be hosting a meeting of ATTA’s new Distribution Working Group on Wednesday, April 28 at 4:00 PM (Pacific Time). The ATTA Distribution Working Group, which meets monthly via Web conference, is focused on identifying, discussing and resolving key obstacles to the electronic distribution of adventure and experiential travel product. All OpenTravel Advisory Forum attendees are welcome to join this discussion among ATTA members and adventure travel industry content providers. Are you looking for business or technology solutions for your distribution challenges? Are you interested in finding out more about non-proprietary interoperability and the OpenTravel Alliance? The 2010 OpenTravel North American Advisory Forum is now open for registration. Merchandising, Partnering and Product Alignment for a New Decade Hear experts speak about the what’s going on now in electronic... Read More →
ATTA Press ReleasesNearly 70% of Operators Expect to Grow in 2010 According to ATTA’s Feb. 2010 Survey
March 16, 2010
Cover from the ATTA Industry Snapshot February 2010 For the February 2010 Adventure Travel Trade Association survey, data is derived from tour operators only. This Snapshot is the largest data set the ATTA has gathered yet for this type of survey, with more than 300 companies reporting. North American organizations represented nearly 40% of respondents, with Europe and South America representing just under 20% each. The February 2010 Snapshot is reported as a whole and then segmented into regions. The ATTA’s report includes regional breakouts for North America, South America and Europe for readers to see those results separately. Due to insufficient data representing Asia (including the Middle East), Oceania and Africa, these regions were not reported separately. As participation in ATTA tour operator surveys climbs, the ATTA anticipates introducing additional regional reports. Survey Excerpts & Observations ATTA Industry Snapshot surveys are made available exclusively to ATTA Members.... Read More →
Member Press ReleasesProfessional Birdwatchers Land in Guyana Once Again
March 16, 2010
Toucan photograph taken in Guyana by Bill Thompson, III GEORGETOWN, GUYANA – Hopping back into the truck – covered with a fine red dust from the Iwokrama roadway – Steve Banner is positively giddy. The Iwokrama Forest towers above him on both sides and he is sweating generously. The sweat is partially due to the jarring difference between England’s late-winter chill and Guyana’s tropical heat, but it is also a result of running up and down a jungle road with seven other grown adults carrying 35 pounds of cameras, scopes, and binoculars on their backs. “This is amazing, “ Mr. Banner exclaims. “You can stop randomly and pick up a half-dozen new [bird] species without even trying.” The group is not part of some rainforest endurance race, but is the seventh tourism product familiarization (fam) trip organized by the Guyana Sustainable Tourism Initiative (GSTI), a joint project of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the United States Agency for International Development... Read More →
New & DifferentStrengthen Your Adventure Travel Line Up with A Personalized Pre-Departure Fitness Program
March 16, 2010
You’ve crafted the dream itinerary. The destination rocks. Your guides are awesome. But is there still an essential ingredient missing in your adventure formula? You may view tour planning and guest fitness as separate issues, not part of an integrated system. Both are important, of course, but does a fitness program need to be part of your adventure formula? Through his company, Fit for Trips, professional trainer and adventure enthusiast, Marcus Shapiro, provides comprehensive but simple trip-specific fitness programs. He spoke recently with ATTA about why it is important for adventure travel tour operators to advocate for physical preparedness. ATTA: First and foremost, why is addressing guest fitness important? Marcus Shapiro: Travelers truly are interested in pre-departure fitness programs according to proprietary market research conducted by Fit for Trips. The survey, issued in February of 2008 involved paddling, biking and hiking enthusiasts (adventure travel partner clients at... Read More →
Member Press ReleasesREI Adventures Teams with Conservation Volunteers International Program to Launch Volunteer Expeditions
March 15, 2010
Travelers to Help Restore Internationally Treasured Destinations; Patagonia and Machu Picchu Expeditions Scheduled Beginning Spring 2010 Seattle, WA – REI Adventures, a leader in worldwide guided active adventure programs, today announced its collaboration with Conservation Volunteers International Program, a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving iconic destinations and cultural sites around the world, to offer Volunteer Expeditions that blend adventure, service, cultural appreciation and unforgettable experiences for travelers. “Collaborating with Conservation VIP is a natural fit for REI Adventures as we share the commitment to take care of the outdoors for the enjoyment of all outdoor enthusiasts,” said Cynthia Dunbar, REI Adventures manager. “Offering Volunteer Expeditions aligns with REI’s core purpose of stewardship, and provides an option for people to travel while making a difference in restoring and protecting these amazing destinations.” The first of two itineraries... Read More →
Partner News Spotlight: DestinationsScotland Week (April 3-10) Steps Up Adventure Tourism Visibility Ahead of the 2010 Adventure Travel World Summit
March 15, 2010
If you’ve not heard of Scotland Week, then possibly you know of Tartan Day? It’s April 6th each year – marking Scotland’s Declaration of Independence in 1307. And, since 1998, Tartan Day has been recognized by the U.S. Senate as an official celebration of the contribution of American-Scots to U.S. culture and life. Over the past 10 years we’ve seen Scotland-focused activity around Tartan Day grow into a week-long program to promote Scotland in North America. Ahead of this year’s Adventure Travel World Summit slated for October 4-7, increased promotional activity between the U.S., Scotland and the ATTA is helping to draw attention to a destination that is staking its claim to adventure tourism. Week of March 15th – Adventure Tourism Stakeholders Workshop For the week of March 15-19, the ATTA’s President Shannon Stowell is visiting the site of the 2010 Adventure Travel World Summit (ATWS) in Aviemore, Scotland, to address a broad cross-section of tourism stakeholders... Read More →
