As part of its goals to deepen its regional reach as well provide more frequent opportunities for members and the travel community to connect, the Adventure Travel Trade Association has launched a new events program series called AdventureConnect. These events have morphed from ATTA's efforts beginning in 2011 to facilitate "AdventureDrinks," which were more casual networking gatherings based on a communal desire for additional facilitated time where regional adventure tourism groups could come together to socialize and discuss possible partnerships.
"We were hearing real demand globally for more face-to-face, regionally organized connections that offer similar relationship building, professional development opportunities, education and adventure activity exposure as our regional meetings and the Adventure Travel World Summit," said Casey Hanisko, ATTA's VP of Marketing and Communications. "These events are designed to start answering that demand."
Shannon Stowell, President of the ATTA, added “As we see our industry grow it has become increasingly obvious that focused attention on issues on a regional perspective is not only of interest to our members but also directly allows us to help the global adventure travel industry community as a whole.”
The initiative, which complements ATTA's already thriving online digital community in the HUB, directly supports its overarching mission to responsibly grow the adventure tourism industry. The AdventureConnect series will have global reach and be supported by regional advocates and representatives working with the ATTA who will help organize and facilitate events. The ATTA team will also facilitate events at key industry trade shows and meetings throughout their annual travels, such as upcoming AdventureConnect events based around FITUR and ITB Berlin:
- AdventureConnect: FITUR Madrid, Spain February 1, 2013 @ 18:00 (6:00PM)
- AdventureConnect: ITB-Berlin March 7, 2013 @ 17:30 (5:30PM)
- AdventureConnect: Denver with Namibia Tourism February 12, 2013 @ 6:00PM
- AdventureConnect: San Francisco with Namibia Tourism February 14, 2013 @ 5:30PM
- AdventureConnect: Seattle with Namibia Tourism February 19, 2013 @ 6:00PM
- AdventureConnect: Vancouver, BC February 20, 2013 @ 6:00PM