(SEATTLE) – OCTOBER 13, 2009 – With the October 12, 2009, addition of Mexican tour operator Ecoaventura Mexicana, the global Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) has grown to 500 corporate memberships representing 56 countries.
More than 100 organizations have joined the ATTA since January 2009, setting a new, one-year membership growth record, with more than two months remaining in the period. Additionally, the ATTA late last week eclipsed the 500 pre-registered delegate mark for its 2009 Adventure Travel World Summit, a trade-only executive gathering set for October 19-22, 2009, in Québec, Canada.
“Since re-launching the association in 2005 with around 100 members, our network has continued to grow, mature and effectively adapt its approach to reflect the ever-increasing needs of the global adventure travel community,” said ATTA President Shannon Stowell. “I am particularly pleased that now 500 organizations believe in the vision and benefits of the ATTA. Registering growth, especially in a tough economic climate, is gratifying – I humbly take it as an indicator that we are providing real value for this space.”
To call attention to its 500 member-milestone, the ATTA will recognize at its 2009 Adventure Travel World Summit Ecoaventura Mexicana as its 500th member. In doing so, Ecoaventura Mexicana will receive an extra year’s membership in the ATTA.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to project Ecoaventura towards international markets and Mexico as world class adventure travel destination”, said Ecoaventura Mexicana Director General Ms. Yolanda Ruanova. “It is also crucial to capture all training and best practices opportunities available through the ATTA”.
Membership in the ATTA has fluctuated since its 1990 inception. Between 1990 and 2004, the organizational structure, fee structure, business mission and composition of membership varied greatly, with most of its members based in the United States. In 2004, the ATTA shuttered its doors, restructured under the leadership of Stowell, redefined its mission and re-launched in 2005 as a global organization dedicated to responsibly and sustainably promoting and growing the adventure travel sector. And, since its 2005 re-launch, with Stowell at the helm, the organization has gained global recognition as a key galvanizing force for the adventure travel community worldwide.
Since the start of 2007, the ATTA has more than doubled its membership size. Today, ATTA’s membership is compromised of the following categories: operators, agents and accommodations (332 members); tourism boards, ministries and destination marketing organizations (42 members); industry Partners (102 members); and Association Partners (24 members).
While its annual Summit events are open to all tourism professionals, ATTA a high percentage of ATTA Members meet at the annual Summit for executive-level networking, business and professional development programs, educational seminars and emerging adventure destination product review opportunities. Adventure Travel World Summit sponsors for 2009 include: Host Destination Tourisme Québec and Aventure Ecotourisme Québec; Major Sponsors ExOfficio, Global Rescue, and Men’s Journal; and Key Sponsors Alpine Tourist Commission, Archaeology Magazine, Best of the Alps, Brazil, Canadian Tourism Commission, Tourism Promotion Corporation of Chile, Eddie Bauer, Visit Mexico, Innovation Norway, and National Geographic Adventure.
Established in 1990, the Seattle-based ATTA (http://www.adventuretravel.biz) is a global membership organization dedicated to unifying, networking, professionalizing, promoting and responsibly growing the adventure travel market. Host of the annual Adventure Travel World Summit executive trade conferences (http://www.adventuretravelworldsummit.com), the ATTA also makes possible http://www.Adventure.Travel, the traveler’s Adventure Travel hub of physical, cultural and nature-based adventure travel and guide to trusted tour operators from around the globe.