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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Adventure Council To Launch At National Geographic Headquarters In Washington, DC The Adventures in Travel Expo teams up with National Geographic ADVENTURE to Create International Adventure Travel Organization
The Adventure Council was formed in response to the overwhelming desire of adventure companies for a common voice in the industry and their need for education in and standardizing of industry best practices. Adventure Council members will sign a pledge to uphold the principles and practices of environmental and social responsibility in carrying out their business and are included in the Adventure Council Directory, a premier listing of the best adventure companies in the world. Also, through the Adventure Council, travel agents will now be able to specialize in adventure travel with a new certification program. Membership in the Council will therefore represent a seal of approval within the adventure travel industry. “The Earth’s cultural and natural heritage must be maintained if future generations are to enjoy the rewards, challenges and educational value of adventure travel,” says Costas Christ, President of the newly-formed Council. “Our mission is to actively promote adventure travel that is responsible and sustainable and in so doing, help to protect the character and authenticity of destinations worldwide. The Adventure Council will be a meeting place for the community of the world’s top adventure companies to address relevant issues and to ensure a sustainable future for the adventure travel industry.” Mr. Christ, the former Senior Director for Ecotourism at Conservation International and currently CEO of the Bar Harbor Maine Chamber of Commerce, is a world authority on nature and adventure travel. In 2004, he was appointed by the London-based World Travel and Tourism Council to be Chairman of the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards Judging Panel. He is also a founding member and former Chairman of the Board of The International Ecotourism Society. “We are delighted that Costas will serve as the president of the Adventure Council. He brings a wealth of tourism development experience in both the public and private sectors to lead this important new organization,” said John Golicz, CEO of Unicomm, organizer of the Adventures in Travel Expo – North America’s largest adventure travel show.“ His leadership and the participation of others key to this industry will enable us to ensure a high level of quality to adventure travelers worldwide and to unify this ever-growing industry under one prestigious banner,” he continued. “We are also encouraged that with the launch of the Adventure Council, over 75 companies have already signed up to become members.” "A strong and successful adventure travel industry can be a great opportunity for protecting the planet’s cultural and natural heritage upon which the future of adventure travel depends. The Adventure Council provides an important forum to support this agenda,” said Francis X. Farrell, Publisher of National Geographic ADVENTURE magazine. “ We are firm believers that the time has come for Adventure travel providers to join together as a community to assure the sustainability and quality of the adventure experience,” stated Dan Austin of Austin Lehman Adventures, a leading adventure travel provider. “We are enthusiastically joining the Adventure Council and look forward to helping create a stronger sense of community amongst travel providers, agents and consumers.” Working in partnership with the Adventures in Travel Expo, the Adventure Council will provide support to the adventure travel community with education, marketing and networking and be an advocate for responsible tourism practices within the industry and among consumers. About the Adventures in Travel Expo: The mission of The Adventures in Travel Expos are to serve both the consumer and tourism industry in the realm of adventure, active travel, eco, nature, cultural, and outdoor travel. The events are held in Chicago, New York, Washington DC, Dallas, Anaheim, California and San Francisco and are the most widely attended and highly rated travel and adventure shows in the world. For more information, please visit www.adventureexpo.com. About National Geographic Adventure: National Geographic Adventure, winner of four National Magazine Awards, including the 2003 Award for Leisure Interests and the 2002 Award for General Excellence, was launched in 1999 as a quarterly to serve an audience of active, adventurous readers and to propel National Geographic’s mission of exploration and discovery into the new century. The magazine rapidly expanded in both publishing frequency and circulation size. Now published 10 times a year, it is available by subscription (800-NGS-LINE) and on newsstands in the United States ($3.95) and Canada ($5.95).
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