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(SEATTLE, WASH.) –
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Global warming, poverty alleviation and cultural
conservation headline, while strategic insights, best business practices
and practical tools sessions complete the 2006 Adventure Travel World
Summit (ATWS) “Today’s Tools for Tomorrow’s Adventures” agenda
announced today by the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), which
presents the trade-only event in Seattle October 19-21, 2006.
Summit keynotes, sessions and activities are designed to meet the
immediate and future needs and hands-on business style of leaders in the
adventure travel community.
Overarching themes to be discussed by keynote speakers and addressed
during the daytime activities will mirror pressing topics in the news
today, many of which have a direct impact on the viability of adventure
travel: global warming and climate change; rural economic development and
poverty alleviation through responsible, community-based tourism; and
cultural and heritage conservation. Special concentration will be placed
on the industry’s business tactics that help lead to a positive,
sustainable bottom line for adventure travel as a whole, and positive
changes for each constituency involved: businesses, travelers, and the
people, cultures and natural environments visited around the globe. Among
the dozens of leaders presenting during the Summit, first-released session
speaking roles belong to top executives of Amadeus, Berkely Agency,
Virtuoso’s V.A.S.T. group, OpenTravel Alliance, Yahoo!, Adventure
Collection, Trusted Adventures, National Geographic, Forest Watch, Mexico
Tourism, Switzerland Tourism, India Tourism, CC Africa, Buffalo Tours
(Vietnam), Geographic Expeditions, Polar Expeditions, Africa Foundation,
Alltournative, Archaeology Institute of America, Discover Magazine,
Outdoor Industry Association and dozens of others representing
international media, technology concerns, tour operators, specialty
adventure travel agencies, and marketing/PR/branding experts.
A keystone feature for attendees are the daytime “tracks,” where attendees
will examine business strategies to help improve organizations’ bottom
lines. Attendees will choose from among 30 interactive forums, workshops,
roundtable and panel sessions in two tracks: Better Business and
Selling Adventure. Business and marketing tracks, presented by experts
representing each niche of the industry, include sessions geared
specifically toward tour operators, specialty adventure travel agents,
lodges and attractions, tourism boards and destination marketing
organizations.
Better Business
session topics will address day-to-day adventure travel operational needs,
such as the how-to’s of supply-chain collaboration, complex product
distribution, booking technology, risk management training and
certification, business transition and market access. Selling Adventure
in-depth sessions cover such matters as customer relationship management,
search engine optimization, evaluating and maximizing the value of trade
shows, hands-on public relations workshops and internet marketing.
Concurrent to the business and marketing tracks, the Adventure Travel
World Summit includes an exhibitors’ hall featuring destinations, travel
gear and apparel, and adventure travel products and services. Further
networking suites will be provided on a first-come-first-served basis.
In addition to structured networking adjacent to the tracks, the ATTA has
launched an online networking community enabling all registered Summit
attendees to make important business connections and to maximize their
time at the October conference. Accessible to Summit registrants,
Summit Connections, The Networking Schedule Planner of the Adventure
Travel World Summit, facilitates business-to-business networking.
Summit Connections provides all Summit attendees an online forum to
network with other attendees before, during and after the Summit to
pre-arrange meetings, share information and conduct business.
Presented by the Adventure Travel Trade Association, the annual Summit is
designed for industry executives and decision makers within the travel and
tourism industry with a vested interest in the adventure travel
community. The outcome of the ATWS is to help participants go back with
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.
In-depth session schedules will be available at
www.adventuretravelworldsummit.com on August 1st.
Summary descriptions with the names and biographies of presenters will be
updated on the site by August 15th.
Online registration is accessible at
www.adventuretravelworldsummit.com. Registration
fees are $750.00 (USD) for ATTA Members and $950.00 for non-members. For
information about an upcoming Summit preview conference call, email
info@adventuretravel.biz.
Initial sponsors of the Adventure Travel World Summit include Tourism
India!, Orbitz.com, ExOfficio, National Geographic Adventure,
Yahoo!, AdventureCentral.com, Qatar Airways, Quotient Marketing and Eagle
Creek.
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. |
