Spotlight on Adventure Champions: Austin Adventures

26 October 2021
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Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) Adventure Champions are the vanguards of the adventure travel industry having been members of ATTA and leaders in the community for a minimum of 15 years. They are true believers in the power of adventure travel and have made an impact on the direction of ATTA and on the industry as a whole. To honor their commitment to their ethos and lasting contribution to the adventure travel industry we are spotlighting Adventure Champions through a series of interviews.

Austin Adventures
Tour Operator
Headquarters: United States
Trip Operations: International Multisport Adventure
ATTA Member since 2005

Austin Family, Austin Adventures
Introducing Dan Austin, Founder
Dan Austin, Founder, Austin Adventures

Tell us about Austin Adventures: Austin Adventures is a leader in Adventure Travel for over 35 years. Austin Adventures is the most beloved, sought-after travel brand in the adventure travel industry. We are a small, family-operated travel boutique with over 35 years of experience delivering the world’s most memorable travel experiences.

We exist to deliver experiences so incredible our guests consider them to be some of the best moments in their life. We achieve that goal by taking the time to really get to know our customers and their needs, and then designing experiences for them based on that knowledge coupled with our deep expertise of the regions they are visiting. We absolutely love our customers, and are so grateful they feel the same way about us.

Why have you stayed an ATTA member for 15+ years?

One word sums the ATTA best–"tribe". The ATTA and all of its members are an amazing group of like-minded passionate individuals making up the ATTA Tribe. No other organization comes close to the ATTA in being a voice for our niche industry.

How has your company changed over the last 15 years? 

It's almost easier to note how we haven't changed. While we have grown and added destinations around the world, our commitment to our guests has never been stronger. We remain committed to being a leading supplier of responsible travel, regardless of the destination. We are no longer a small "mom and pop" shop and have more depth than ever.

What is the greatest force that drives you to work every day? 

That passion, that itch,  and that commitment to be the best of the best in providing life-changing adventures to each and every guest. There is nothing more satisfying than getting those heartfelt notes sharing, articulating we hit the mark and indeed provided a life-changing experience.

What gives you hope about the next generation of adventure travel leaders?

I see it every day in our guides. That passion, that commitment to sharing their uncompromised love for the great outdoors. Their commitment to the planet and its people. Somewhere in these young souls is the next generation of tour operators.

What is your advice for young adventure travel companies?

Stay true to your brand! Focus on determining what it is you do and do well and stay the course. Seek out and hire/retain only the best of the best staff that share a common vision. Share your vision and get full buy-in from everyone. Take good care of key staff as talent is hard to come by.

What gets you excited about the future of adventure travel?

I am seeing more and more legitimate talk and action around honest sustainable tourism. Not just "greenwashing", real ideas and action. A true awareness of what needs to be done to protect the places and people we visit.

Is there anything else you would like to say?

It’s been an amazing adventure to get here. As we enter our 36th year we do so with more excitement than ever. Our recent merger with Active Adventures out of New Zealand gives us even more depth and more great adventures to more destinations around the globe. My role will be less on the day-to-day and more exploring new partnerships, M&A, and more time to support the ATTA and all its efforts. I close with a BIG thank you! A great big shout out of appreciation to Shannon and the entire team at ATTA for 15 years of tireless efforts to be a champion for our industry!

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