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Sponsors and Exhibitors Deliver at 2006 Adventure Travel World Summit

More than 40 sponsors and exhibitors filled the main hallway of the Bell Harbor International Conference Center for the 2006 Adventure Travel World Summit. Up from fewer than a dozen exhibitors featured at the 2005 Summit, the breadth of new corporate partners provided Summit delegates with access to an innovative mix of services and resources for the adventure travel community.

“Our sponsors and exhibitors really brought tremendous energy to the Summit,” said ATTA President Shannon Stowell. “They also provided critical direct support for speakers, receptions, services, and a variety of opportunities for the delegates that really brought the Summit to a whole new level this year.”

While long-time partners ExOfficio, National Geographic Adventure, Orbitz.com, Eagle Creek Travel Gear, Adventure Central, and Qatar Airways greeted the delegates for the second year in a row, attendees were also treated to new displays from Trinidad & Tobago, Quotient Marketing, JetBlue, Exclusive Tents, GoreTex, and others. This commitment by industry partners also provided the ATTA with extra resources to host more creative events and activities and attract high caliber entertainment and experts.

According to several veterans in the industry, the ATTA’s annual Adventure Travel World Summit provides adventure travel professionals with access to the best concentration of top decision makers.

“The Summit was great—the keynotes and sessions were informative and engaging, and the delegates represented a 'who's who' of adventure travel,” said NOLS Admission and Marketing Director Bruce Palmer. “With plenty of opportunities for networking, I walked away with contacts and real tools that I can employ right now!”

Striving to have the right people at the right place at the right time, the ATTA, in partnership with its sponsors and exhibitors, translated the increased sponsor presence into powerful networking and entertainment efforts. Incredible
!ndia – one of the 2006 Summit’s top sponsors – contributed to the Summit’s closing night festivities by providing a fantastic percussionist flown in from India, Indian dancers, fusion Indian cuisine, and Indian crafts for sale to benefit the nonprofit World Concern.

Sponsorships varied. For example, with assistance from Sustainable Travel International and the ATTA, National Geographic Adventure and Virtuoso’s financial support enabled the Summit to be 100% carbon neutral. Bounce Research provided a Summit Connections message board and the entire Internet café, allowing delegates to stay atop their business at home.

Outside Magazine supported The Day Outside, which got delegates outside for a variety of adventures that provided networking, bonding, and fun. Adventure Central, the Brazilian Bureau of Ecotourism, and JetBlue teamed up to host a networking reception in the exhibit hall while GoreTex provided a philanthropic opportunity to donate used outerwear to the homeless.

In addition to Brazil, exhibiting destinations also included Ireland, Canada, Chile, Norway, and Ventura, Calif. Tour operator support also made a difference. Buffalo Tours from Vietnam and Chile’s Cascada Travel took their Summit exposure one step further by exhibiting, while Virtuoso represented agents, and several outdoor gear and apparel makers also exhibited. Joining Adventure Central, reservation software companies new to the Summit included Globe Track, Monkeybean Solutions, and ResLogic.

While the partners and exhibitors expanded the delegates’ networking and business opportunities, it was the exhibitors themselves who tend to get the most out of attending.

Adam Ziegelman, Director of Marketing for Eagle Creek Travel Gear, noted, “The Summit was the best conference or trade show that I have attended in the 15 years I have been going to such things. The speakers were world class. The break out sessions were very useful and the participants are just nice people.”

New partnerships with Archaeology, DISCOVER, and Outside magazines, plus Primedia’s Action Sports Group publications (including Bike, Powder, Surfer, and seven other publications) provided the delegates with introductions to a wide array of media outlets. According to media attendees, both on the editorial and advertising side, the Summit opened the eyes to the power, energy, and diversity of the Summit and its delegates.

“I have never been to such an inspiring and productive event,” noted Travel Account Manager Jared Castardi of DISCOVER. “We met so many great contacts and made so many new friends that we’ll certainly be [at the Summit] next year!”

Even a month later, reports from exhibitors continue to come in, noting the successes of their branding, networking, and prospecting efforts. David Gottlieb at VaxServe noted that they’ve received “a ton of good feeback” from premiums distributed in the delegates’ gift bags.

“The Summit was just terrific, the energy was amazing and the results will ripple through our industry for years to come. This was a wonderful opportunity for us to showcase our services, make contacts with potential new clients, meet with current clients and network with industry leaders,” reported Nancy Harrison, Founder Adventure Travel Media Source

Additionally, Kathleen Fitzgerald, Director of Sales for the Ventura V&CB reported recently that she is, “in contact with several people [from the Summit] on several subjects.” She also offered, “I was personally inspired and professionally challenged daily by the [Summit] attendees and the subject matter. I have never had the opportunity to spend so much quality time with such a large gathering of like-minded, interesting people who are truly making a difference in the world. The passion of everyone and the drive to do things, and do them right, was absolutely overwhelming at times.”

The communal spirit of the Summit was evident during the final luncheon, when an impromptu raffle was held.

While staff scrambled to orchestrate the spontaneous event, sponsors and exhibitors alike stepped up to provide gear, apparel, and other items. Lucky delegates went home with Ameribag shoulder bags, personalized Blurb.com photo album books, Contourwear apparel, Design Salt sleeping sacks, Macabi travel skirts, Thorlos socks, and more. June Nery of Nery Consulting even won round-trip airfare for two on Qatar Airways.

Preparations for next year’s partnerships and exhibits are already well underway. The ATTA is moving forward in developing creative sponsorship packages that will provide mutual benefit to the ATTA, sponsors, and the adventure travel industry at large.

According to ATTA Director of Business Development Chris Chesak, “Plans include further expansion of exhibit spaces and better integration of partnerships to provide delegates with a richer and broader slate of networking activities, strategic partnership opportunities, and adventurous pursuits.”

Not beholden to tradition in the development of “canned” sponsorship approaches, Chesak added, “It’s not enough for us to just sell ‘exhibit space.’ While exhibit space will again play a key role in the success of our exhibition area, we are urging our existing and potential Summit partners to change paradigms and think differently about how to connect with executive Summit delegates to provide the highest value for all involved.”

Commitments to exhibit at the 2007 Adventure Travel World Summit have already arrived. Queries continue to arrive, especially from those who attended the 2006 Summit but did not elect to exhibit in the ATTA’s second annual event.

Joe Aiello, Executive Vice President of the Travel Assist Network said, “The Summit was outstanding. [ATTA’s] staff is amazing and very accommodating. We made some great contacts, learned a tremendous amount about the Adventure Travel Industry and are eager to get more involved next year.”

Exhibit space for the 2006 Summit in Seattle sold out completely. The ATTA fully anticipates that sponsorship and exhibitions for the 2007 Summit will do the same.