ATTA Lends Adventure Travel Industry Voice, Perspectives at Events Worldwide
ATTA’s leadership, advisors and strategic partners are playing active roles in the industry and getting out and about. This synopsis of where the ATTA is representing the industry’s voice is the start of what we hope will become regular updates within AdventureTravelNews.com. Our intention is to give ATN readers insights as to where ATTA team members are throughout the year. If you’ll be in the region where we’re headed and you’re interested in connecting with us, please write to info@adventuretravel.biz.
For April and May, here’s where the ATTA will be represented:
Belize (April)
Shannon Stowell will be a guest keynote speaker in Belize City at the Belize Tourism Board’s annual industry event on Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009. It is one of the Board’s signature events and has an attendance of approximately 350 tourism stakeholders. It provides the public sector arm of the tourism industry an opportunity to share with their tourism partners a review of the Board’s efforts over the past year as well as future development plans that will impact tourism growth and market development. Shannon’s presentation will focus on the state of the Adventure Travel Industry, and how Belize and its tourism businesses might increase their market share in a competitive and challenging environment. Shannon will join the Belize Minister of Tourism, the Director of Tourism and the CEO of the Belize Tourism Board in this event.
Mexico (April)
Shannon Stowell, Christina Heyniger (long time ATTA partner and President of Xola Consulting) and Antonio del Rosal, ATTA Executive Director-Mexico, have been invited to speak during the 34th edition of the Tianguis Turístico in Acapulco Mexico, which will be held from the 26th to the 29th of April. During their intervention, ATTA and Xola members will explain the strategic importance adventure travel holds with regard to the development of Mexico’s Tourism Industry, and the crucial role ATTA will be playing in its growth. ATTA and Xola are collaborating with Mexico’s Secretary of Tourism to develop a National Adventure Travel Assessment. This assessment is expected to allow the ATTA, SECTUR and the Mexican Tourism Promotion Board (CPTM) to assist the government in developing a market positioning plan for the Country. With the opening of ATTA representation in Mexico, the ATTA hopes to become a strategic ally for the Mexican Government and for local operators who wish access to: best practices worldwide, strategic media, top tier specialized tour operators and travel agents, and position Mexico as a world class adventure travel destination.
During Tianguis, the ATTA will sign a strategic alliance with AMTAVE, the Mexican Adventure and Ecotourism Travel Association and two-year ATTA Association Partner, through which the benefits of ATTA membership will be more readily available to AMTAVE’s nearly 100 members. Witnesses of honor to this signature will be: The Mexican Tourism Promotion Board, represented by Marketing Director Steve Austin, the Federal Ministry of Tourism, represented by Monica Vejar, Director of Alternative Tourism and the Secretary of Tourism for Mexico City, Alejandro Rojas.
Scotland (April)
For the week of April 20th, ATTA Business Development Director Paula Mendes is on a trade mission to Scotland to size up its adventure travel market and to meet with its tourism officials and tour operators, and to participate in on-the-ground adventures there. For possible appointments there, contact Paula at paula@adventuretravel.biz.
Vancouver, Canada (May)
ATTA’s Shannon Stowell and Paula Mendes will co-host an ATTA Vancouver, B.C., Canada, Regional Meeting on May 5th.
South Africa (May)
ATTA’s Vice President of Business Development Chris Chesak will attend INDABA and will be available for appointments. Email cchesak@adventuretravel.biz
New York (May)
ATTA Vice President Chris Doyle will host an ATTA NYC Regional Meeting on May 13th.
Sweden (May)
Chris Doyle will work from Gothenburg, Sweden, May 15-28 to develop closer ties to the region’s adventure tourism industry. For appointments during his time in Sweden, please email cdoyle@adventuretravel.biz.
ATTA Members Only Tune In Webinar: 2008 Research Roundup
70 ATTA Members on Tuesday took part in the ATTA Members Tune In Webinar, which highlighted new adventure travel industry research.
The Webinar, which featured guest presenters Christina Heyniger and Henrietta de Veer from Xola Consulting, top-lined key facts and figures from the 2008 Research Roundup, released in August 2008. During this 60-minute educational session, Xola presenters put forth their research-based opinion on the current economic crisis, how it applies to the adventure travel industry, and offered suggestions to tour operators to mitigate their losses during this current recession. The Roundup’s main sections were covered including highlights from the report’s main sections:
- Destination Rankings
- Traveler Trends
- Tourism Supply Chain Trends including developments in technology
- Top Adventure Company News
- Travel Media
ATTA Members Only Tune In Webinars are a free opportunity for current ATTA Members. Members that were unable to attend yesterday’s Webinar may find a recorded version on the Members Only Website by December 21st.
Québec Province Wins Bid to Host ATTA’s 2009 Adventure Travel World Summit
Marketing, Networking & Best Practices to Drive the 2009 Summit Agenda
Extending its reach into South America and Europe in 2008, the ATTA, now a nearly 500-member trade group representing 51 countries, returns to its North American roots in 2009 after a six month bidding process. With the ATTA’s foundation and largest membership base is in North America, it will continue to maximize its strength on this continent by connecting it with the global market and vice versa.
ATTA’s trade-only conference venue and date will be announced in December 2008. ATTA made its destination host choice shortly after its 2008 adventure travel trade conferences in Brazil and Norway which attracted a total of nearly 1,000 delegates.
For 2009, Québec won the bid for the estimated 600-delegate gathering primarily because of its active involvement in the ATTA for more than two years, a strong on-the-ground association partner in Aventure Ecotourisme Québec (AEQ), its world-class conference venue options, and access to compelling nature-based and cultural adventure travel product, including its Northernmost territory of Nunavik. Its geographic location also served as a tremendous advantage as it will enable the ATTA to make its Summit more accessible than ever before to adventure travel professionals on the East Coast of Canada and the U.S. In addition to financial sponsorship, Québec’s proposal also included substantial commitment to cooperative marketing efforts, discounts with accommodations, air transport and adventure tour options for Summit delegates.
“Québec clearly recognizes the value of serving as host to the Adventure Travel World Summit, as it brings to the province a large contingent of travel industry influencers and media,” said ATTA President Shannon Stowell. “When it comes to promotion and tourism strategies, Tourisme Québec understands that by assembling the global adventure travel community it is more strongly positioned as an adventure travel destination, and it gives the province a powerful opportunity to showcase its adventure travel product to the media and potential buyers.”
Previous venues have included Seattle (2005-2006), Whistler, B.C., Canada (2007), Sao Paulo, Brazil (2008), and Norway (2008). ATWS events engage, enlighten, inspire, and energize the leaders of the adventure travel community with executive-level networking, business and professional development programs, educational seminars and emerging adventure destination product review opportunities. With the ATWS, the ATTA and its Summit delegates influence the manner in which adventure travel is introduced, executed and sustained in any given destination worldwide – encouraging the industry to adopt sustainability and best practices that give back to the people and places impacted by adventure travel.
Pursuing its strategy to host one World Summit annually, the ATTA will host its 2009 Summit in North America. In 2010 and beyond, the ATTA aims to host ATWS events outside North America in alternating years. Already well into the bidding process, the ATTA, once it has selected its 2010 host destination, will open the bidding process for its Adventure Travel World Summit events for 2011 (North America) and 2012 (outside North America).
Early Sponsors of the 2009 Adventure Travel World Summit include Tourisme Québec, ExOfficio, W.L. Gore & Associates and Men’s Journal.
Established in 1990, the Seattle-based ATTA (www.adventuretravel.biz) is a global membership organization dedicated to unifying, professionalizing, promoting and responsibly growing the adventure travel market worldwide. ATTA Members include tour operators, destination marketing organizations, tourism boards, travel agents/agencies, guides, lodges/resorts/attractions, media, and service providers. Host of the ATWS, the ATTA provides professional support, development, education, research, marketing, career building, networking and cost saving resources to its members.
New & Returning Members Since September 2008
Since September, nearly 50 organizations across the globe have joined or renewed their membership in the Adventure Travel Trade Association. The members roster shows increased participation from South America, as well as a spate of new tour operator members from New Zealand.
Make sure to read about the new members in profiles section of ATN!
| New Members | Returning Members |
| Active New Zealand Adventure South Ltd Agency of Business Travel and Tourism Apumayo expediciones Asiatica Travel Brazilian Adventure Society Canada Goose Adventure Tours Daketta Tours from Ethiopia Dive! Tutukaka Go Point-To-Point Haast River Safari Hiking New Zealand Ltd. ITrek Nepal My Serengeti Safari Ngai Tahu Tourism Norte Trekking Pacific Partners International Socompa South Explorer Southwind Adventures STB Student Travel Bureau Ltda. The New York Times Totally Tourism WestChina Adventure Tours Wildlife Expeditions of Teton Science Schools |
Active Fiji / Tui Tai Adventure Cruises Adriatic Kayak Tours Adventure Women Alaska Alpine Adventures Andean Treks Antarctica Expeditions Discover France / Pure Adventures ENF Canada/Excursions Nouvelle France, Inc. Gateway to Egypt Korubo Macabi Skirt Mountain Travel Sobek Northwest Passage Osprey Packs Skamania Lodge Suntrek Surtrek Tour Operator-Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands Travel Ecuador Vivo International Adventures Wildland Adventures Yacu Amu Experiences Zara Tanzania Adventures Zegrahm & Eco Expeditions |
April & May, New and Returning ATTA Member Update
Since the March installment of AdventureTravelNews, 54 organization have either newly joined the Adventure Travel Trade Association or have renewed their membership. This group of new and renewing members represent diverse regions like spatters on a globe: Tanzania, Argentina, Mongolia, Madagascar, Switzerland, Turkey and Dominica, among many other countries. Be sure to read profiles and news for many of these organizations.
Renewing Members
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New Members
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