With less than three months to go until AdventureNEXT Latin America, international buyers and media have been confirmed, suppliers are filling up the Marketplace schedule, and regional adventure travel trade professionals have started preparing for success at one-day educational workshops.
Following in the footsteps of several successful adventure travel trade events in Central and South America over the past decade, the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) will host AdventureNEXT Latin America 7-9 November 2018 in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Following its winning formula for similar events held in other international destinations, the regionally specialized AdventureNEXT Latin America will feature practical education focused on local topics and access to international buyers and media during Marketplace, the ATTA’s signature networking session.
Adventure travel’s popularity is prevalent in South America, and members of the community have gathered at the annual Adventure Travel World Summit, which has been held in locations around the world including Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and Argentina. AdventureNEXT Latin America is the culmination of the enthusiasm and regional demand for adventure travel, and the ATTA anticipates this will be an annual event held throughout Central and South America.
The event’s theme, One Force, offers the chance for AdventureNEXT Latin America delegates across the region to mobilize and inspire adventure travel in a destination known for its trekking, cycling, water sports, wildlife exploration, and other adventurous activities. Due to its cohesive, focused nature in such an adventure-oriented destination, this ground-breaking event is truly Latin America’s time in the industry’s spotlight.
"Anticipation is building for the inaugural AdventureNEXT Latin America. The event design is customized to fit the needs and desires of the region. Our main goal is to create a productive forum for the exchange of knowledge, to build strong business relationships, and to have a lot of fun together,” said Gabi Stowell, the ATTA’s regional director for Latin America. “Brazil and Mato Grosso do Sul state are working hard on all the details, and I am sure everybody will be pleased with this fantastic destination."
One of the highlights of the three-day AdventureNEXT Latin America is the Marketplace, a dedicated time for one-on-one meetings designed to facilitate productive partnerships industry professionals can continue to develop in the years to come. Nearly 60 buyers from Europe and North America already confirmed for attendance will seek attending suppliers to expand their itinerary offerings, and approximately one dozen international media want to meet regional representatives for story ideas. Suppliers from throughout South and Central America are confirmed to attend the Marketplace, though registration is still open for those who want to participate.
On the first day of AdventureNEXT, education will be split into two tracks — one for tour operators and one for destination representatives. Known as AdventureEDU Jumpstart, these two day-long sessions are hands-on opportunities to address specific business issues for people working in these particular industry sectors. Delegates will walk away from both with practical solutions ready to implement upon returning to the workplace. "During AdventureEDU Jumpstart, I hope to share points of view and strategies within an industry that has similar processes regardless of the country they work in to help people grow as individuals and as companies," said Ena Buenfil, one of the AdventureEDU Jumpstart instructors.
During the final two days of AdventureNEXT Latin America, delegates will be treated to relevant education delivered by subject-matter experts in a manner similar to other ATTA events. For example, in From Ocean to Land: How Conservation Meets Tourism, delegates will discuss challenges and solutions related to conversation tourism in general while sessions like Community Tourism Workshop: Investing in Brazil’s Future narrow in on the country’s specific challenges related to training, infrastructure, and practical knowledge. Offering a roadmap for business growth, Innovative Partnership Models in a Dynamic Sector dives into ways technology and trends can drive innovative partnerships while Charting the Course for Excellence in Business Management offers applicable suggestions for increasing operational quality. During AdventureNEXT Latin America, education sessions will be delivered in English, Spanish, or Portuguese, depending on specific content.
Throughout the event, all delegates will gather together during plenary sessions under the theme of One Force, united in their love for adventure travel and desire to share this passion with others.
In preparation for AdventureNEXT Latin America, approximately 35 delegates participated in BaseCamp, a one-day professional workshop designed to prepare professionals for the November event. “I have participated in other similar events, but I always have something more to learn,” said Rodrigo Marcondes from Impacto Turismo. “This event pointed me in a direction so I can prepare better for (AdventureNEXT Latin America), so it was excellent for me.”
Leading up the AdventureNEXT Latin America, the ATTA will also host AdventureConnects in Buenos Aires on 20 September and São Paulo on 27 September. Those attending the three-day November event — and industry professionals thinking about registering for AdventureNEXT Latin America — are encouraged to register for these free informal networking events.