(SEATTLE) – March 3, 2009 – Building and strengthening ties between specialized travel agents and the tour operators and ground suppliers who offer adventure travel product throughout the global adventure travel community is the key aim behind a newly forged alliance announced today by the Specialty Travel Agents Association (STAA) and the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA).
Under the agreement, collaboration between both associations includes the creation of new channels of communications that help to bring qualified travel agents specializing in adventure travel product before the adventure travel network, and members of the adventure network before the certified and specially trained agents. Specifically, members of the STAA (www.specialtytravelagents.com) who join the ATTA (www.adventuretravel.biz) will now have access to communicate vis-à-vis business-to-business online networking in the ATTA’s new digital networking space, The Hub, which is set to launch March 4, 2009, as well as through shared Webinar programs and during the ATTA’s 2009 Adventure Travel World Summit (www.adventuretravelworldsummit.com).
According to ATTA President Mr. Shannon Stowell, adventure travel tour operators within the ATTA community continue to predict an increasingly important role specialized adventure travel agents will play in the coming years. “Through recent survey research, much event feedback and extensive discussions with operators, we’re finding increasing interest in developing stronger bonds between agents and operators,” said Stowell. “Our partnership will help to advance this mutual interest, and as a result, we fully expect to see immediate returns that helps both sets of professionals to grow their networks, the industry and in the end, bring more knowledge, value and support to adventure travelers worldwide.”
An exchange of cross-promotional and marketing support between both organizations, as well as mutual discounts for membership, resources and events within the respective organizations, is also a part of the cooperative agreement.
“This bringing together of agents and tour operators builds trusted connections that will give our members the best opportunities to succeed,” said Sandy McDowell, STAA president. “We see STAA agents adding to their bottom line. Any STAA agent can expand their client’s experience to include adventure travel in almost any destination they serve. Connecting with this professional supplier base from ATTA represents great new resources for all involved. We’re keen to tap into prospective adventure travel partners who are eager to realize the potential growth that agents can contribute, and in turn, to lean in and learn much more about supporting the outreach efforts of our supplier counterparts who offer a compelling depth and breadth of adventure travel.”
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About the STAA:
STAA is a premier resource working to develop and promote agent members who have specialized in a destination or niche market. By putting all specialty agent members, industry suppliers and CVB’s under the umbrella of STAA’s efforts, the goal of connecting travelers with the right specialist is accomplished and the rewards are shared by the travelers, the agents as well as industry service providers.
STAA’s website is a connection resource linking specialty travel agents with travelers and ultimately their desired destinations, placing all the options for specialized travel in one easily searchable place on the Internet for consumers to utilize. STAA’s website is a professional and sophisticated approach to facilitate the connections between people and places.
For additional information on joining STAA, advertising on the website, or for an interview and further information contact Public Relations Director, Joanne Sanborn at [email protected], 810.629.2386 or visit www.specialtytravelagents.com.
About the ATTA
Established in 1990, the Seattle-based ATTA (www.adventuretravel.biz) is a global membership organization dedicated to unifying, networking, professionalizing, promoting and responsibly growing the adventure travel market. ATTA members include tour operators, destination marketing organizations, tourism boards, specialty travel agents, guides, accommodations, media and service providers. Host of the annual Adventure Travel World Summit executive conferences (www.adventuretravelworldsummit.com), the ATTA provides professional support, development, education, research, marketing, career building, networking and cost-saving resources to its members.
Media Contacts:
Chris Doyle, ATTA Vice President
916.847.0261 [email protected]
Joanne Sanborn, STAA
810.629.2386