Editor's Field Notes ~ February 2007 Edition:

This month, “Tapping ‘dot-travel’ & Blogging for Gain” starts off the first in an ATTA Member-only series of new Webinars presented by the ATTA and its network of experts in 2007 – you’ll find the synopsis of this call immediately to the right of this column. 

You’ll also find there alerts concerning changes in ATTA’s membership structure, as well as 2007’s schedule of ATTA Members Only calls (starts Feb. 15th), where Members will tap into ATTA news, industry initiatives, FAM opportunities, emerging trends, developing research and other timely topics of import to member destinations, tour operators, agents, media and service organizations with a vested interest in the adventure travel community.

“Project Spotlight!” is a new column entry for AdventureTravelNews™.  Beginning with, “Unparalleled Active Learning Adventures Planned for Threatened Maya Underworld,” we’ll concentrate on special projects with promise to either catalyze critical movements and/or serve as compelling models for success as measured by the project’s expected ability to deliver on the sustainability front, while delivering positive bottom line results for participating enterprises.  This month’s feature describes a collaborative effort that will use Geospatial technology (satellite-based remote sensing, GIS, and GPS), innovative field studies and sustainable tourism experiences to engage Mexican and U.S. high school/college students, tourists, and researchers in activities focused on the ecological, cultural, and economic value of cenotes and surrounding forests on the Yucatán Peninsula.

And, with virtually every major news outlet worldwide reporting on global warming and the “end of the debate,” ATN recommends tour operators take a few extra moments to consider two stories in this issue.  First, you’re encouraged to review the invitation to participate in the Sustainable Transportation Survey.  Endorsed by the Adventure Travel Trade Association and led by Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas, a TIES Board member and a professor of Sustainable Tourism Management at the University of Eberswalde/Germany, the 20-minute online survey will directly contribute to the ongoing development of practical and feasible sustainable transportation guidelines for tour operators. 

Next, Sustainable Travel International offers practical guidance, “Tour Operator’s Top 10: Integrating Greenhouse Gas Offsets into Your Daily Operations”.  Moving forward, you’ll hear from the ATTA about its move use and support the use of Carbon Caculators on Web sites. 

February’s installment of ATN also includes risk management and SEO-related articles, along with news from the industry, fresh resources and new member profiles, including Innovation Norway.  

Best regards,

Chris Doyle

Go to Current Issue >>

Go to Current Issue >>