Erik Blachford Joins Adventure Travel Trade Association's Advisory Board Along with Three Adventure Travel Influencers

5 April 2016
Translate
Erik B&R head shot 2
Erik Blachford is one of the ATTA’s four new advisory board members

(SEATTLE) April 5, 2016 – The Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA; www.adventuretravel.biz) is pleased to announce the addition of four new members to its advisory board. These new members represent expertise areas of the adventure travel industry that are both new and established for the ATTA.

Erik Blachford is currently a Venture Partner at Technology Crossover Ventures. Blachford was a keynote speaker at the ATTA’s inaugural AdventureELEVATE conference in Snowmass, Colorado, in 2015. His expertise in the areas of technology and travel business development is what brought him to the ATTA’s attention. He served as the CEO of Expedia, Inc., luxury tour operator Butterfield & Robinson, and Terrapass, Inc (a leading provider of environmental consulting services and carbon offsets). Blachford is an active private company investor and also serves on the boards of Zillow, Siteminder, Liftopia, Glassdoor, Peloton Cycle and others.

“One of the things I admire most about the adventure travel industry is its sense of collaboration,” said Blachford. “And there’s no question that the ATTA sits right at the heart of the adventure travel community.”

In addition to Blachford, the ATTA also appointed Maria Elena Malpezzi Price, owner of ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours; Perry Lungmus, Vice President of Travel Leaders; and Chunnie Wright, a Washington DC-based lawyer, to the Advisory Board. Price is well-suited to represent the hundreds of inbound and outbound tour operators from around the globe who are members of the ATTA, while Lungmus can speak on behalf of individual travel advisors and influential consortia of advisors. Wright is presently also an educator for the ATTA’s AdventureEDU program and serves the legal needs of adventure travel companies through her personal law practice.

“I am honored to join the ATTA’s board of talented visionaries in the adventure travel industry,” said Wright. “As an ATTA industry member, I have witnessed firsthand ATTA’s leadership and passion in promoting and professionalizing the sustainable development of the adventure travel industry worldwide.  I am excited to serve ATTA and its members  during this time of tremendous industry growth and opportunity.”

“Each of our advisory board members brings an important account of what’s happening in her or his sector of the adventure travel industry,” said ATTA President Shannon Stowell. “We are thrilled and honored by the willingness of the latest additions to the board to help us fulfill our mission.  The ATTA and our community will benefit greatly from their experience.”

The ATTA’s advisory board is made up of a diverse group of ATTA member travel industry leaders who lend their voice and bring strategic perspectives from representative membership categories that contribute to the ongoing direction of the ATTA. The board has been in place since 2004. The full advisory board can be reviewed here.

About Adventure Travel Trade Association

Established in 1990, the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) serves over 1,100 members in 90 countries worldwide. Members predominantly include tour operators, tourism boards, specialty agents and accommodations with a vested interest in the sustainable development of adventure tourism. The ATTA delivers solutions and connections that propel members towards their business goals and the industry toward a responsible and profitable future. Through its regional AdventureConnect events and annual Adventure Travel World Summit trade conference, the ATTA excels in professional learning, networking and partnering services. With expertise in research, education, adventure travel industry news and promotion, members of the ATTA receive competitive opportunities that help establish them as leaders in adventure tourism.

For more information:

Connect with us:

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram |LinkedIn | Pinterest

Comments