(SEATTLE) – AUGUST 10, 2006 – Creator and host of the adventure travel community’s annual Adventure Travel World Summit, the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) today released the names of its Advisory Committee for its Oct. 19-21 conference in Seattle.
The Advisory Committee is comprised of the following industry leaders who have committed to help the ATTA develop and execute the fall Summit:
Adventure Collection | Larry Mogelonsky, Executive Director |
Alltournative | Gavin Greenwood, President |
Alpine Ascents International | Gordon Janow, Director of Programs |
Archaeology Magazine | Scott Verchin, Associate Publisher |
ATMS | Nancy Harrison, Managing Partner |
Buffalo Tours | Kien Tran, Founder & CEO |
CC Africa | Nicky Fitzgerald, Sales & Marketing Director |
Costa Rica Expeditions | Michael Kaye, Founder & President |
Discover France | Loren Siekman, President |
Geographic Expeditions | Jim Sano, President |
Green Team Advertising | Hugh Hough, President |
India Tourism Board | Venkatesan Dhattareyan, Assistant Director |
Lindblad Expeditions | Theresa Mottet, Director of Sales, NW |
Mexican Tourism Board | José Manuel Alvarez Bilbatúa, Marketing Director |
Natural Habitat Adventures | Ben Bressler, Founder & President |
Global Sojourns | Priscilla Macy, President |
REI Adventures | John Sheppard, General Manager |
Switzerland Tourism | Urs Eberhard, EVP Markets & MICE |
Tourism Ireland | Kathryn Hayes, Product Marketing Manager |
TravMedia | Mark O'Toole, Senior Vice President |
Virtuoso | Managing Director, Destination Sales |
Wanderlust Consulting | Leo LeBon, President |
Wildland Adventures | Kurt Kutay, President |
Adventure travel community leaders from key sectors of the global adventure travel community comprise the Summit Advisory Committee. Tour operators, tourism boards, destination marketing organizations, adventure travel agents and media, as well as service partners to the industry, are represented.
“We take our Summit Advisory Committee appointments seriously,” said ATTA President Shannon Stowell. “We expect our Summit partners to actively support the adventure travel community by helping us to maintain a professional atmosphere at our global gathering – and, they’re doing it in spades.”
Advisory Committee members, who are selected annually, provide advice and direction to Summit organizers to ensure their respective sectors of the industry are properly represented. Specifically, Advisory Committee member responsibilities include providing feedback on Summit plans and activities, and serving as ambassadors before, during and after the event.
"I am fully looking forward to contributing to the ATTA's Adventure Travel World Summit as last year's event was enlightening to the point where we returned home with bankable information that made a substantial positive difference to the operation of our company,” said Ben Bressler, Founder and President, Natural Habitat Adventures. “ATTA has raised the bar on adventure travel as a business and a lifestyle."
Presented by the Adventure Travel Trade Association, the 2006 Adventure Travel World Summit (www.adventuretravelworldsummit.com), “Today’s Tools for Tomorrow’s Adventures,” is designed for industry executives and decision makers within the travel and tourism industry with a vested interest in the adventure travel community. The Summit is designed to equip delegates with the tools to better their business, enable the industry to better serve travelers, promote responsible adventure tourism, and optimize the industry’s market potential through productive debate, dialogue and collaboration.
The Seattle-based ATTA (www.adventuretravel.biz) is a strategic membership organization dedicated to raising the profile of adventure travel globally. Established in 1990, the ATTA provides services, knowledge, and connections that help its members succeed in their businesses and contribute to responsible industry growth.
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*Conference speakers, sessions and events are subject to change.