(Seattle, Washington, USA; May 29, 2019) - Aligning its long-standing Tour Operator Scholarship Program with its environmental and social initiatives, the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) will offer four tour operators with scholarships in 2019. Now in its tenth year, the annual scholarship program supports up-and-coming tour operators by providing financial support and access to fellow adventure travel industry partners.
Applications for the Tour Operator Scholarship Program opened 22 May and will close on 19 June.
The ATTA seeks motivated tour operators who have demonstrated potential for creating a positive impact on local cultural, ecological, or historical resources and a high level of professionalism while employing ethical business practices. For the second year, the four scholarship recipients will be selected based on their strategies for making a difference in one of the key areas important to the association:
- Women in leadership
- Climate action
- Reducing plastics in travel
- Youth in leadership
The Jordan Tourism Board will sponsor the Tour Operator Scholarship Program for its second year.
“It is an honor to support the ATTA scholarship fund for our second year in a row. We in Jordan know how important it is to receive support when needed and, therefore, we also know how to give back,” said Malia Asfour, head of JTB North America. “The scholarship fund allows us to help companies in need to attend the Summit and participate in growth and knowledge that leads them to becoming sustainable. It is our hope that these companies will one day pay it forward as well.”
The fourth scholarship in the program supports a women-led business and is provided by the Adventure Angels, a group of women who share and pursue the spirit of adventure. To qualify, applicants must represent a women-led business in an emerging destination as defined by the United Nations. They must have been in business in the adventure travel spaces for at least one year with an annual revenue of less than $250,000 USD.
“It's exciting to select a scholarship winner from a talented pool of applicants from across the globe. These women have overcome major obstacles to build impressive businesses and have a positive impact in their local communities,” said Laura Mandelkorn, acting president of the Adventure Angels. “Attending the Summit offers the scholarship recipient important industry education, fresh marketing ideas, and vital connections to take her organization to the next level. Most importantly, ATWS will inspire, spark lifelong friendships, and provide a continual support network. We have seen firsthand how receiving this scholarship can not only boost business, but also change lives.”
The Tour Operator Scholarship Program submission period is open and will close 19 June 2019 at 11:59 PDT. Tour operators from around the globe are invited to submit their applications using the Tour Operator Scholarship submission form, where additional information about the program and applications are found. The Adventure Angels scholarship application is also available.
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About Adventure Travel Trade Association
Established in 1990, the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) today is widely recognized as a vital leadership voice and partner for the adventure travel industry around the world.
Membership + Trade
The membership and trade organization is designed to be a force for the industry and exists to drive thought leadership, industry promotion, and opportunities to network and convene globally to create trade and business health. It currently serves more than 1,300 member organizations in 100 countries worldwide. The constituency is made up of tour operators, tourism boards, specialty agents, and accommodations all sharing a vested interest in the sustainable development of adventure tourism.
Adventure 360 - Business Services + Events
Through its growing business services division, the ATTA delivers a portfolio of strategic solutions and a robust ecosystem of events around the globe. Those events include AdventureNEXT which focuses on regional promotion and partnerships; AdventureELEVATE a North American-based educational conference; and the premiere adventure travel global conference, the Adventure Travel World Summit. With specialized expertise in research, events, education, media, and promotion, the ATTA business service division is able to provide valuable solutions to a broad set of partners across many verticals of business.
Adventure Travel Conservation Fund
In 2016 the ATTA partnered with other leaders from the adventure travel industry to start the Adventure Travel Conservation Fund (ATCF), a nonprofit that provides funding, connections and an international spotlight on projects that protect the cultural and natural resources which underpin the adventure tourism industry. 100% of membership dues go towards funding these international projects. Each year members nominate projects, which are then vetted and finally voted upon by the ATCF membership.
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