Adventure Travel leader Gap Adventures is featured on Apple's web site, cited for continued innovation, leadership, and an unparalleled commitment to organizational culture.
Providence, RI. (PR.com)-- People often develop more than just an appreciation for the brands and the companies they support. When they see a company's values align with their own it can make perfect sense, especially when the company delivers on its promises and also possesses intangibles - the mojo or coolness factor - that elevates affection for the brand.
To thousands of people around the world Gap Adventures is one such company, and today the world's adventure travel leader adds this accolade: the company has been selected and is featured in a business profile by Apple Computer, Inc.
"Apple is always looking for companies that inspire, that do great things with their products, and we share a lot in common," says founder Bruce Poon Tip. Not only are both companies leaders in their respective industries, both share a dogmatic commitment to seamless brand integration and to managing every detail of the client's experience along every step in the relationship.
Poon Tip says that the relationship with Apple, which he characterizes as an ongoing business relationship, is based on mutual respect. He says that Apple sees his company as a leader in a space that is unique and very different than the computer business.
"So many cool companies use their products, so for Gap Adventures to be profiled by Apple, to see that we're respected for our innovation by the people and the company we admire, it's inspiring!" says Poon Tip.
Apple has invited Poon Tip back several times to speak to its employees. "They are always interested in feedback from businesses using their products effectively, and like Gap Adventures they welcome honest criticism that helps them improve," Poon Tip says. "They loved our lip dub video, which was created with their products and also features a few," he adds.
Maintaining a vigorous organizational culture is a business imperative for Poon Tip. "We focus considerable resources on our culture. We have more than 400 people actively engaged in social media every day, so whether they're Tweeting updates from one of a thousand travel destinations or providing feedback on marketing collateral, we stay connected, share information and experiences, and keep the business moving forward from every part of the world," he says.
Poon Tip says that Planeterra, the non-profit he founded in 2003, also relies on Apple's products to manage the progress of more than 40 sustainable development projects around the world - from a women's weaving cooperative in Peru to a new vision clinic being built in Cambodia.
As a purpose-driven business, Gap Adventures stresses innovation, and mobility is a key attribute. "Integration is critical to our operations," says Poon Tip. "We are a 24-7 business that's always moving, so we need to stay connected to our global community of travellers and our teams in more than 100 countries," he says.
A clear example of how Gap Adventures puts technology in action is in its use of iPhones. The company's CEO's (Chief Experience Officers) use iPhones to Tweet real-time photos from tours, and because the photos are geo-tagged CEO's don't need to label as they go.
Since its inception 20 years ago, Gap Adventures has always relied on Apple computers. "As a young entrepreneur I was able to do a lot of things in-house, without outsourcing or adding staff - from designing brochures and ads to developing our first reservation system, which I created using FileMaker," says Poon Tip.
Apple also uses a good number of Gap Adventures photos in marketing its products - on posters, displays, and on screen savers in its retail stores.