Ciao from Adventure Travel World Summit 2018

18 October 2018
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It seems like just yesterday delegates arrived to cycle and hike through Tuscany on their Pre-Summit Adventures before picking up their name tags for the 15th annual Adventure Travel World Summit. Every year, this action-packed event flies by a bit faster. After a rush of successful business meetings, hands-on workshops, inspiring speakers, and memorable conversation with old and new friends, it’s time for us to offer a heartfelt “Ciao!” from Montecatini Terme.

Tuscany representatives passed a traditional butteri to Visit Sweden representatives as hosts of the 2019 Adventure Travel World Summit © ATTA / Hassen Salum

Once again, the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) team is overwhelmed with gratitude and positive feedback from the 791 delegates from 68 countries who attended the 2018 event. “We couldn’t have chosen a more perfect location for the 15th anniversary of the Adventure Travel World Summit. It has been inspiring — listening to delegates talk about how their fellow delegates, their experiences, and the event content has impacted them,” said Casey Hanisko, president of the ATTA / Adventure 360. “I’m so pleased so many people, especially from around Europe, were able to join us for this successful event.”

On Thursday, the Toscana Promozione Turistica team passed the metaphorical Summit torch on in the form of a butteri, a type of hat worn by Italian cowboys dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries. Visit Sweden took center stage as representatives accepted the honor as event hosts for Adventure Travel World Summit 2019. “We are thrilled to welcome you to our country — in the beautiful north to the beautiful south — to discover your human nature,” said Jenny Jonevret, senior project manager of Visit Sweden. Partnerships with Visit Sweden, the 2018 Summit sustainability partner, and South Pole, one of the leading global firms in decarbonization, allowed the ATTA to offset this year’s event, including all delegate and staff travel.

“On many levels, Sweden is not just leading in adventure tourism, they’re leading globally in things like innovation and sustainability,” said Chris Doyle, executive director of Europe and Central Asia for the ATTA. In addition to being logistically prepared and committed to hosting the Summit, Doyle said, “their entire sensibility about connection with nature, protecting nature, and living sustainable lifestyles is deep in Sweden’s culture. We think that sensibility can be translated to the rest of our 800 delegates who are likely to arrive for the 2019 Adventure Travel World Summit.”

As the adventure industry turns a critical eye toward climate action, environmental protection, and sustainable travel practices, the ATTA anticipates the next year’s Summit in Gothenburg, Sweden, being held 16-19 September 2019, will serve as a fitting destination to continue this conversation.

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