Iconic American Brand Eddie Bauer Celebrates 90th Anniversary
February 25, 2010
SEATTLE — Specialty retailer Eddie Bauer, The Original Outdoor Outfitter®, is turning 90. When Mr. Bauer first opened for business in 1920, his “Eddie Bauer’s Tennis Shop” was renting space in a gun shop in downtown Seattle. Within a year he had his own storefront and became renowned as an outfitter and innovator. While he built his business serving hunters and fishermen of the Pacific Northwest, he went on to become America’s premier expedition outfitter during the golden age of Himalayan mountaineering.
Today, Eddie Bauer has approximately 364 stores in the United States and Canada, catalog and online businesses. The company offers premium-quality clothing, accessories and gear for men and women that complement today’s modern outdoor lifestyle. In October 2009, the company launched its First Ascent brand of guide-built gear, signaling a return to the company’s mountaineering roots as an expedition outfitter.
“For the past 90 years, the Eddie Bauer name has meant a lot of things to a lot of people across North America,” said Neil Fiske, President and CEO of Eddie Bauer. “This year, we are happy to celebrate the rich history of the company and the man who not only brought quality, outdoors apparel and gear into people’s homes and closets, but also outfitted some of the world’s greatest adventurers.”
Eddie Bauer, himself, dropped out of school at 14 to go to work. But his lack of formal education didn’t prevent him from producing an impressive string of “firsts” that established his reputation and built his company into an American icon:
First Guarantee In 1922, Eddie put his “100% unconditional lifetime guarantee” into writing. This promise was virtually unheard in the day and became the cornerstone of the Eddie Bauer standard of excellence. Long after he retired, Eddie called his guarantee the greatest of his contributions.
First Labrador Retriever In 1930, Eddie brought the first black Labrador retriever into Washington State. An expert hunter, he became a passionate advocate for the breed. In 1960, he formed Wanapum Kennels to raise champion field trial Labs. In 1974, he was named Retriever Breeder of the Year.
First American Shuttlecocks In 1933, Eddie developed a new badminton shuttlecock and formed Bauer’s Shuttles, Inc., “America’s Oldest Established Shuttlecock Manufacturing Firm.” His first two patents were for his shuttlecock.
First Down Jacket In 1935, after suffering life-threatening hypothermia on a winter fishing trip, Eddie built a prototype down jacket, the “Blizzard Proof.” A year later, he introduced the “Skyliner,” which became the first down jacket patented in America (D119122; 1940).
First Down Flight Suit In 1942, Eddie was asked by the U.S. Army Air Forces to design a “cold weather buoyancy flight suit.” The two main criteria were that it had to keep a flier warm while sitting still for up to three hours in -70°F; and in case the plane was shot down over water, it had to keep a flier with 25 pounds of gear afloat for up to 24 hours. Eddie’s down-insulated B-9 Parka and A-8 Flight Pants passed every test, and saved many lives.
First Mountaineering Parka In 1953, Eddie built his first mountaineering parka, the “Kara Koram,” for the American team attempting the first ascent of K2 in Pakistan. For 30 years, the Kara Koram became the standard of excellence for American climbers.
First Ascent of Gasherbrum I In 1958, Eddie outfitted the American team that made the first ascent of Gasherbrum I in Pakistan. It’s the only one of the world’s fourteen 8000-meter peaks first summited by an American team. For the first time, Eddie built the 1958 parkas using ripstop nylon as the shell fabric. It substantially reduced the weight while retaining significant durability.
First Ascent of Masherbrum In 1960, Eddie outfitted the American team that made the first ascent of Masherbrum in Pakistan.
First American Ascent of Everest In 1963, Eddie outfitted the American Mt. Everest Expedition with down parkas and sweaters, climbing pants, mittens and sleeping bags. On May 1, Jim Whittaker became the first American to reach the summit. On May 22, Barry Bishop, Lute Jerstand, Willi Unsoeld and Tom Hornbein also topped out. Unsoeld and Hornbein did it via the previously unclimbed West Ridge.
First Ascent of Mt. Kennedy In 1965, Eddie outfitted the expedition that made the first ascent of Mt. Kennedy in Canada’s Yukon. At that time, it was the highest unclimbed peak in North America. The first man to the top was Senator Robert F. Kennedy, brother of slain American President John F. Kennedy, for whom the mountain was named.
First Ascent of Mt. Vinson In 1966, Eddie outfitted the American Antarctica Mountaineering Expedition. They made first ascents of six peaks in the Sentinel Range, including Mt. Vinson, highest peak on the continent.
First American Ascent of Dhaulagiri In 1973, Eddie Bauer outfitted the American team that first summited the world’s seventh highest peak. The summiteers climbed without bottled oxygen.
First American Ascent of Peak Lenin In 1974, Eddie Bauer outfitted the first American team invited to climb in the Soviet Pamirs. Led by Pete Schoening, the expedition summited Peak Lenin and Peak XIX.
First Ascent of Nanda Devi North Ridge In 1976, Eddie Bauer outfitted the first team to summit Nanda Devi in India via the North Ridge.
First Ascent of Great Trango Tower In 1977, Eddie Bauer outfitted John Roskelley when he was part of the 5-man team to make the first ascent of Great Trango Tower in Pakistan.
First American Ascent of Makalu In 1980, Eddie Bauer outfitted the first American team to summit the world’s fifth highest peak. They climbed without supplemental oxygen or Sherpa support.
First Ascent of Everest East Face In 1983, Eddie Bauer outfitted the first team to summit the East Face of Mt. Everest. No one has successfully done so since.
First Ascent Gear In 2009, in collaboration with a dream team of world-class mountain guides, Eddie Bauer launched its new line of mountaineering gear, First Ascent, from the top of Mt. Everest. The First Ascent guides developed the line from the ground up, leading the design process, then testing the gear under some of the harshest mountain conditions throughout the world. Nothing goes to market without their consent. The team is led by Peter Whittaker, son of acclaimed mountaineer Lou Whittaker and nephew of Jim Whittaker, who wore Eddie Bauer gear on his historic first American ascent of Everest. Also part of the team is Ed Viesturs, the first American to summit all fourteen 8000-meter peaks without bottled oxygen; Dave Hahn, who has summited Everest 11 times, more than any non-Sherpa; and three accomplished guides from Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. (RMI), the largest mountain guide service in the U.S.: Melissa Arnot, Seth Waterfall, and Chad Peele. Lou and Jim Whittaker have acted as advisers to the team.
In 2010, Eddie Bauer will be celebrating its landmark 90th anniversary with a special one-day event on February 27, and with product launches and other events throughout the year, including the launch of its First Ascent ski collection this fall. As with its First Ascent mountaineering line, Eddie Bauer is working with backcountry guides to build and test ski gear and apparel in some of the alpine’s toughest conditions. Check out the BornOutThere blog at http://blog.firstascent.com/ to follow ski guides and brothers, Reggie and Zach Crist, and extreme skier, Lynsey Dyer, as they travel the country in search of conditions to put the gear to the test.
To learn more, visit the interactive, multimedia timeline at www.eddiebauer.com/heritage.
About Eddie Bauer
Established in 1920 in Seattle, Eddie Bauer is a specialty retailer that sells sportswear, outerwear, gear and accessories for the active outdoor lifestyle. The Eddie Bauer brand is a nationally recognized brand that stands for high quality, innovation, style and customer service. Eddie Bauer products are available at approximately 364 stores throughout the United States and Canada, through catalog sales and online at eddiebauer.com.
Safe Harbor Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “intends,” “potential” and similar expressions. All of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on estimates and assumptions made by our management. These estimates and assumptions reflect our best judgment based on currently known factors. Although we believe such estimates and assumptions are reasonable, they are inherently uncertain and involve risks and uncertainties. In addition, management’s assumptions about future events may prove to be inaccurate. We caution you that the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are not guarantees of future events, and we cannot assure you that such statements will be realized. In all likelihood, actual results will differ from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including our inability to hire, retain and train key personnel; delays in enhancement of our disclosure controls and procedures; our inability to revitalize Eddie Bauer as a premium quality brand; changes in general economic conditions, consumer confidence and consumer spending patterns; risks associated with legal and regulatory matters; risks associated with rising energy costs; risks associated with reliance on information technology; challenges as a result of our involvement in our former parent’s bankruptcy process; the diversion of management’s attention from operations while establishing post-emergence infrastructure; our inability to improve profitability of our retail stores, catalogs and website operations; our inability to source our requirements from our current sourcing agents; a significant disruption in our back-end operations; the inability of our joint venture partners to operate our joint ventures effectively; our inability to protect our trademarks and other proprietary intellectual property rights; unseasonable or severe weather conditions; our inability to use our net operating losses to reduce taxes; and the other risks identified in our periodic reports filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements.
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
2010 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards Finalists Announced
February 8, 2010
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) announced the 12 finalists for the 2010 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. Under WTTC’s stewardship since 2003, the prestigious Awards recognise best practice in sustainable tourism in four different categories – Destination Stewardship, Conservation, Community Benefit and Global Tourism Business. Over 160 entries were received this year from over 45 countries.
The 12 finalists were selected by an international team of independent judges (ATN Editor’s note: In 2009, ATTA President Shannon Stowell was named to serve on the ‘finalist selection committee’ for the 2010 awards process - below the finalist list finalist one may view the selection committee, on-site evaluators, and winner selection committee) in each of the four award categories for having successfully demonstrated sustainable tourism practices, including the protection of natural and cultural heritage, social and economic benefits to local people, and environmentally friendly operations.
Destination Stewardship Award
- Botswana Tourism Board – www.botswanatourism.co.bw
- Country of Montenegro, Ministry of Tourism – www.montenegro.travel
- Mount Huangshan Scenic Site, China – www.chinahuangshan.gov.cn
Conservation Award
- Emirates Hotels & Resorts, UAE – www.emirateshotelsresorts.com
- Inkaterra Perú SAC – www.inkaterra.com
- Singita Grumeti Reserves, Tanzania – www.singita.com
Community Benefit Award
- Namibia’s Communal Conservancy Tourism Sector / NACSO -www.nacso.org.na
- Tourindia, India – www.tourindiakerala.com
- Whale Watch Kaikoura Ltd, New Zealand – www.whalewatch.co.nz
Global Tourism Business Award
- Accor, France & Global – www.accor.com
- Banyan Tree Holdings, Singapore & Global – www.banyantree.com
- Wilderness Safaris, South Africa & Global – www.wilderness-safaris.com
**Winners will be announced May 26, 2010.
The Judges
Under the direction of the Chairman of Judges, Costas Christ, a judging panel of 15-20 judges, representing diverse professional backgrounds related to Travel & Tourim, and from different regions of the world, carries out the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards judging process. Together these judges make up the finalist selection committee, on-site evaluators, and winner selection committee. All play a critical role in the success of the Awards.
Chairman of Judges
2010 winner selection committee
2010 finalist selection committee
2010 on-site evaluators
Other site visits have also been conducted by Tony Charters, Costas Christ, Marilú Hernández and Michael Singh.
ATTA Represented at PATA Adventure Travel & Responsible Tourism Conference in Nepal
February 4, 2010
Among the 170 delegates from 25 nations at the recent Pacific Asia Travel Association hosted Responsible Tourism Conference in Nepal, was the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), represented by industry vetern, Kathleen Dragon who is serving on the ATTA’s 2010 Adventure Travel World Summit Advisory Committee.
Ms. Dragon was reported saying in The Himalayan Times that, “the specialist sector was doing better than most in weathering the economic recession”, and additionally that adventure tourism is “a driver of economic development where it’s often needed most.”
Read the full article on The Himalayan Times.
ATTA Regional Meetings Across the United States Announced
February 3, 2010
Coming to a city near you, the ATTA’s regional meetings are open to all travel industry professionals, creating peer-to-peer networking among tour operators, destination marketing representatives, specialty and adventure travel agents, and consumer and travel trade media.
In each meeting, your ATTA host – Chris Chesak or Chris Doyle – having joined more than 500 executives at the association’s 2009 Adventure Travel World Summit in Quebec, Canada, will present an, “Adventure Travel Industry Briefing”, featuring current strengths and threats facing the industry, backed up by recent industry survey results, market size data and a synopsis of emerging trends. The meeting will then shift to lively group discussions on topics such as the economy, key market forces, marketing strategies and more.
Skip to:
Boulder, February 11 COMPLETED!
3:00 PM @ REI Boulder
1789 28th Street (map)
HOST: ATTA’s Chris Chesak
R.S.V.P. for the Boulder Regional Meeting: Click here.
Boston, February 19
10:50 AM – 12:20PM @ The Boston Globe Travel Show
Seaport World Trade Center, 200 Seaport Boulevard (directions)
HOST: ATTA’s Chris Doyle
Boston’s Regional Meeting will be held during the trade-only day of the 2010 Boston Globe Travel Industry Conference on February 19th. ATTA’s Chris Doyle will present an Adventure Travel Industry briefing, followed by Industry Dialog led by special guest, Russel Walters, ATTA Board Member and President of Maine-based Northern Outdoors.
Meeting participants will also gain access to the rest of the Travel Show at no charge.
For your free registration for the ATTA
Regional Meeting in Boston, go to registration for the Boston Globe Travel Show.
Use the code ATTA2010, select “Full Conference”,
and finally check the box next to the session “OPEN MEETING -
ADVENTURE TRAVEL TRADE ASSOCIATION- ROOM 3″.
Post-Boston Regional Meeting Networking
Ordinarily, the ATTA’s Regional Meetings are 2-3 hours. In the special case of the Boston Globe Travel Show, it is the first the time the ATTA has held a regional meeting within an adventure travel show, and we’re just 90 minutes to cover a lot of territory. Therefore, our regularly scheduled networking periods will occur later in the day at two optional sessions:
1) At 4:00PM, The Boston Globe Travel Show starts its Travel Industry Opening Reception right on the show floor, which opens at 3:30pm. This gives the travel industry folks, including those signed up, the opportunity to walk around and meet folks in a more casual atmosphere. Anyone registered can come. Full agenda here: www.bostonglobetravelshow.com/agenda.htm.
2) The second is an emerging series of “Adventure Drinks” – a new, loose series of informal, local networking events assembled by adventure travel industry professionals in markets across the U.S., this one hosted by DuVine Adventures. Here are the details:
Harpoon Brewery, Friday, February 19, 2010 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM – Join ATTA Member DuVine Adventures for a fun, DuVine Adventures Party Friday night out at Harpoon Brewery (map). Come and be part this unique opportunity to get private access to the Brewhouse Platform and sample some award winning Harpoon beer. Learn about the incredible award winning destinations DuVine has designed for 2010. Located inside the Marine Industrial Park, next door to the Bank of America Pavilion, and near both the World Trade Center Boston and the Black Falcon Ship Terminal. RSVP for this networking event to info@duvine.com by Feb. 5
| Sponsored by:
|
New York City, February 24
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM @ The Men’s Journal Board Room
1290 Avenue of the Americas, 2nd Floor (map)
HOST: ATTA’s Chris Chesak
R.S.V.P. for the New York City Regional Meeting: Click here.
| Sponsored by:
And in partnership with the Institute at the Golden Gate, where our ATTA Regional Meeting will be held. |
San Francisco, March 12
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM @ The Institute at the Golden GateCavallo Point Lodge
546 Seitler Road (directions)
HOST: ATTA’s Chris Doyle
AGENDA
Welcome & Introductions (15 minutes)
Adventure Travel Industry Briefing (30 minutes):
Led by Chris Doyle, Vice President ATTA: ATTA and industry News & Developments, 2010 Adventure Travel World Summit + special guests from Scotland, Research, Market Size Report, Emerging Trends
Special Session (45 minutes):
Destination Management & Marketing Around the Globe – Spotlight: Hoi An, Vietnam
Presented by Robin Tauck & Partners:
Special Guests: Robin Tauck, Founder (Introduction) & Randy Durband, Sr. Partner (Project Overview)
Robin Tauck & Partners is a new entity — not affiliated with Tauck World Discovery — whose mission is to develop and enhance public-private partnerships that further the goals of “sustainable travel and tourism,” especially with regard to the social aspects of local community development, with a particular focus on world heritage.
They are partnering with many entities, including UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre itself, but other prominent destination management entities as well. For this workshop, participants will: 1) contribute their feedback to proposed changes in tourism management at Hoi An, My Son, and surrounding sites in central Vietnam; and, 2) learn how to engage with Robin Tauck & Partners in other world heritage sustainable tourism initiatives underway now and in the future.
Networking (90 minutes)
Peer-to-peer networking among tour operators, destination marketing representatives, specialty and adventure travel agents, and consumer and travel trade media.
R.S.V.P. for the San Francisco Regional Meeting: Click here.
The Institute at the Golden Gate advances environmental preservation and global sustainability by facilitating cross-sector dialogue and collaboration, encouraging new partnerships, and promoting action. The Institute helps forge environmental solutions by gathering policy makers, scientists, youth activists, and business leaders in an exceptional and inspirational setting.
Outdoor Industry Association Awarded Portland Development Commission Grant for Development of Industry Eco Index
January 13, 2010
BOULDER, CO, January 13, 2010 – Outdoor Industry Association® (OIA) has received a $10,000 grant from the Portland Development Commission (PDC) that will allow OIA to finalize the development of the association’s Outdoor Product Environmental Leadership Standard (OPELS) project, a family of environmental leadership standards for outdoor products scheduled to debut in August 2010.
The Phase 1 Eco Index, scheduled to be released at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2010, will include guidelines for packaging, product manufacturing and materials used in outdoor products as well as tools for measuring greenhouse gas emissions, water and waste. The initial Index will be open for beta testing by global brands. The final Eco Index will be released in winter 2011.
OIA has also announced plans to develop a companion tool focusing on fair labor practices and recently opened collaboration with the European Outdoor Group to ensure global adoption of the index.
OIA will hold a panel discussion January 22 at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2010 featuring product designers from major brands discussing the practical use and business case related to the adoption of the Packaging and Material Guidelines. The panel is a primer for designers on adopting the initial pieces of the index that will prepare companies to adopt the Phase 1 Index next year.
The OIA Eco Working Group, formed by OIA in 2007 to explore the issues of environmental sustainability as related to the outdoor industry, was instrumental in establishing the OPELS project, which will lead to the industry’s first environmental assessment tool or “Eco Index.” The OIA Eco Working Group consists of more than 125 individuals from more than 80 outdoor businesses collaborating to develop the index, which aims to contain environmental guidelines, environmental performance metrics and a comparative scoring system. PDC provided a grant of $30,000 in November 2008 to initiate the project.
“PDC is committed to providing a strong foundation for the outdoor industry’s first Eco Index, as a strategic initiative in building the region’s leadership and competitiveness in the outdoor industry,” said Bruce Warner, executive director of PDC.
“The Portland Development Commission has been an exemplary partner to our industry and its members,” commented Frank Hugelmeyer, president and CEO of Outdoor Industry Association. “The PDC’s support of this project is instrumental in the final product and its long-term benefits for our businesses and ultimately, our consumers.”
The PDC funding has enabled OIA to use Portland-based Zero Waste Alliance as the working group’s project manager for the development of the index. Upon completion of the draft Eco Index, OIA will set a public comment period to collect additional stakeholder input.
“Portland is making a name for itself by being one of the greenest cities in America. The grant money PDC has earmarked for the OIA Eco Working Group provides a timely infusion to an effort that will likely have global implications and will reflect well on Portland, “added Jill Dumain, chair of the OIA Sustainability and Fair Labor Advisory Council and director of environmental analysis for Patagonia.
“We’ve worked with the outdoor industry for several years to identify the areas where PDC can be most supportive and are very pleased to provide funding to complete the creation of the OIA Eco Index. This grant responds to the industry’s desire to more clearly define ‘green’ and ‘sustainable’ and leverages the efforts of several Portland companies committed to environmental responsibility, notably Columbia Sportswear, Keen and Nau,” added Jennifer Nolfi, PDC’s liaison to the outdoor industry.
Stakeholders interested in participating in the completion of the Eco Index are encouraged to contact Amy Roberts, OIA vice president, government affairs at aroberts@outdooindustry.org or 303.327.3511 for more information.
###
About Outdoor Industry Association
Outdoor Industry Association® (OIA) is a national trade association whose mission is to ensure the growth and success of the outdoor industry. OIA provides trade services for more than 4000 manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, sales representatives and retailers in the outdoor industry. OIA programs include representation in government/legislative affairs, market and social research, business-to-business services and youth outreach initiatives. Educational events include the annual Rendezvous®, Outdoor University®, and the Capitol Summit. Outdoor Industry Association is based in Boulder, Colorado, and is the title sponsor of the Outdoor Retailer trade shows. For more information go to www.outdoorindustry.org or call 303.444.3353.
About Portland Development Commission
PDC was created by Portland voters in 1958 to serve as the city’s urban renewal agency as laid out in Chapter 15 of the City’s Charter. PDC’s mission is to bring together resources to achieve Portland’s vision of a diverse, sustainable community with healthy neighborhoods, a vibrant central city, a strong regional economy, and quality jobs and housing for all.
Karen Boe
Media Relations for Outdoor Industry Association
Office (801) 484-8971
Cell (801) 230-5404
Email: kboe@outdoorindustry.org
2009 Summit Delegates Interviewed
January 4, 2010
In an article by Kate Rice on TravelPulse.com, a number of 2009 Adventure Travel World Summit delegates were interviewed, including ATTA Advisors Perry Lungmus and Helen Nodland. The topic: travel agents for adventure travel.
Read full article on TravelPulse.com.
New Study Sparks Adaptation Strategies for Adventure Tourism Companies Coping with Climate Change
December 30, 2009
Newly published research — Adventure Tourism Companies & Climate Change: Observations from the Himalaya, Amazon, and Polar Regions Spark Adaptation Strategies for Business — is available now in PDF format (Download now, 2.9mb: click here) and offers management and business practices for sustaining adventure travel businesses in sensitive environments affected by climate change. With international media buzzing on the topic, as a result of the UN Climate Change Conference 2009 (COP15) in Copenhagen, this report provides valuable research and actionable solutions for some of the first to be affected by climate change: adventure traveler operators.
The following preface to the study is offered by Editor and Adjunct Research Supervisor, Christina Heyniger, of Xola Consulting, who remains committed to observing and following trends and changes in the adventure industry and will continue to publish on this subject in the coming years:
In contrast to leisure tourism, where more emphasis may be placed on man-made settings, adventure tourism’s business model is thoroughly exposed to the slightest environmental changes.
Adventure tour operators, with products and services that depend on healthy natural environments, have a regular and direct connection to important environmental issues such as climate change.
Given that the broader tourism industry has mainly focused on adaptation strategies for two major travel sectors so far — coastal island and ski tourism – we felt it was worthwhile to examine the smaller players in remote environments.
Anticipated Benefit/Outcome of this Research: This research offers management and business practices for sustaining adventure travel businesses in sensitive environments affected by climate change.
We believe that while adventure tour operators may respond to climate impacts in varying ways depending on their location of their operations, they can apply similar business practices to cope with its effects. We hope that by sharing this research, adventure companies will continue learning from each others’ experiences.
A case study approach was used to examine operators in three different regions: polar, mountain and tropical forest.
Three companies agreed to participate in this study:
■ Snow Leopard Adventures; Uttarkhand, India
■ Quark Expeditions; Arctic and Antarctic
■ Amazon Tree Climbing; Manaus, Brazil
Findings:
The overall trend that we observe is that climate change has not yet had a significant effect on the polar or tropical region adventure tour operators interviewed, but has affected tour operations in India’s Himalaya mountain region slightly more. All of the companies interviewed are implementing operational and management focus towards climate change adaptation.
Study Contributors: This paper was developed by Cambridge University student Ryan Piotrowski in collaboration with Christina Heyniger of Xola Consulting – who served as the study’s Editor and Adjunct Research Supervisor – from June – September 2009. Special thanks is given to Parth Joshi from Snow Leopard Adventures, Ltd, New Delhi, Bill Davis, Francesco Contini and Prisca Campbell of Quark Expeditions and Eduardo Cunha of Amazon Tree Climbing for so generously sharing their time, experiences, and field observations.
Executive Summary
With their close relationship to the environment, adventure tourism companies feel and react to climate impacts to different degrees depending on location, but can follow similar business practices to cope with its effects. Common strategic, operational and marketing practices can be used to reduce business threats and take advantage of business opportunities as a result of climate change. As climate change effects become more prevalent and pronounced, companies need to proactively engage in adaptation, moving beyond a corporate responsibility mindset to the application of strategies to manage its business impacts. In reviewing the various adaptation methods currently applied, a general adaptive framework emerges for making climate change part of business and operational strategy.
Data gathered in interviews with three adventure tour companies in different environments — polar, mountain, and tropical forest — reveal ideas for specific climate adaptation techniques and strategic guidance for other adventure tour companies and the tourism industry in general. The interviewed companies’ practices indicate that some adaptation methods for increased extreme weather events have always been practiced, while the long-term impacts of climate change have not significantly affected operations and strategy.
The graphic below summarizes the climate effect companies highlighted in this paper can expect to experience over time. The companies participating in this study are a polar cruise company that operates in the Arctic and Antarctic, a Himalayan- based adventure company, and a tree climbing operator in the Amazon. A brief review of climate change in the interviewed companies’ specific regions is provided along with a discussion of each region’s general climate conditions.
Surprisingly, we observe that climate change has not yet caused significant changes in business for the polar or tropical region tour operators interviewed, but has affected tour operations in the Himalayan mountain region of Uttarakhand, India. Regardless, all of the companies interviewed are beginning preparation to adapt through education and training, while slight itinerary changes have been a response to any existing climate impacts. Subtle differences between the companies are highlighted to provide insight towards future adaptation techniques.
Our research indicates that while adventure tour operators may not be adapting as rapidly as we expected to climate change, opportunities and threats from climate change need to be understood and managed as soon as possible. Strategy, operations and marketing highlight some initial areas for discussion around climate change adaptation. In order to adapt to climate change an Adventure Tourism Climate Change Adaptation model is recommended for the adventure travel industry based on existing models, interview findings. Adventure travel companies must proactively and dynamically engage in strategic adaptation to climate change in order to sustain their business.
OpenTravel Launches the OpenTravel Forum
December 22, 2009
Editor’s Note: Long-time partners of the ATTA, the Open Travel Alliance, a community where companies in the electronic distribution supply chain work together to create an accepted structure for electronic messages, opened a new forum for professionals within the adventure travel sector to actively contribute to the dialogue. Below, please find OTA’s Executive Director Valyn Perini’s open invitation to participate:
“Members and friends of OpenTravel,
Over the years, hundreds of you have used the OpenTravel Implementers Forum to post your questions or comments about implementing OpenTravel schema. Built on the free Google Groups platform, this forum was technically unsophisticated and completely unmoderated by OpenTravel. It met a need, but had limited usefulness.
We’ve heard your requests for a more robust Forum to use as a resource for your implementations of OpenTravel schema, so we are delighted to announce the launch of the OpenTravel Forum.
Built on phpBB, a well-known open source bulletin board application, the OpenTravel Forum has all the functionality you’d expect from a full-featured discussion board, with forums for:
* Architecture
* Hospitality
* Transport
* Travel Services
* Tours and Activities
* Implementers Discussion
We’ve also included OpenTravel documentation, mailing list subscription, events and announcements, and feedback boards, as well as the OpenTravel Showcase where companies that provide tools, services or technologies to assist in the implementation of OpenTravel schemas can post about their offerings.
Best of all, for employees of OpenTravel member companies, several of the discussion forums are moderated by individuals who have in-depth experience with OpenTravel schema and their implementation in production environments. Members can post a question and get an answer from a moderator within 24 hours (Monday to Friday). For more details on forum moderation, check out the FAQs.
We hope you’ll take advantage of this tool to make your implementations of OpenTravel schema successful!
Please forward this email to anyone in your company who might be interested in this service.
Kind regards,
Valyn Perini”
_____________________
Ms. Valyn Perini
Executive Director
OpenTravel Alliance
+1 978 263 7606
www.opentravel.org
On Twitter: @valynp and @opentravel
On LinkedIn: OpenTravel Group
On Skype: valyn.perini
Praveen Moman Joins Adventure Travel Trade Association Advisory Board
December 16, 2009
(SEATTLE) – Praveen Moman, co-founder and managing director of Uganda-based Volcanoes Safaris, today was named to the Adventure Travel Trade Association Advisory Board.
Moman, who has actively advised the Adventure Travel Trade Association in recent years and served in active roles as an Adventure Travel World Summit speaker and committee member, was born in Uganda and grew up on safari. In 1997, he co-founded Volcanoes Safaris, which has since become one of Africa’s premier gorilla safari companies with operations in Uganda and Rwanda. Under his leadership, Volcanoes Safaris has developed a unique great ape eco-tourism model by empowering staff, introducing eco-tourism partnership programs, and launching new approaches to building and running eco-lodges in post-conflict areas. As an authority on great ape ecotourism, Moman acts as a consultant to governments and non-profit organizations.
“In addition to being a long-time partner – one with great wit, humor and personality – Praveen brings to our community a compelling and unusual set of public and private professional credentials, especially in the development area, which is increasingly important to the long-term viability of adventure travel,” said ATTA President Shannon Stowell.
Moman has a first degree in the Biological Sciences from London University and a Masters from Cambridge University. Before he co-founded Volcanoes Safaris, he had a career in policy making and politics in the United Kingdom and the European Union, including working for Lord Heseltine, the former Deputy Prime Minister. He worked as a member of the Cabinet of Lord Cockfield, Vice President of the European Commission, working on the creation of the European Internal Market; and Moman was an advisor to MEPS in the European Parliament on development issues. He also ran a property development company.
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