Adventure Product Development Seminar Provides Useful Recommendations in Difficult Business Environment

(Santa Fe, NM) - May 5, 2009: The Adventure Travel Trade Association and Xola Consulting are releasing adventure tourism product development tools and recommendations. First offered in an online seminar for tourism developers and marketers, the presentation and seminar recording offers information relevant for companies and destinations struggling with the unusual economic and environmental challenges facing the travel tourism markets in 2009.

“Recognizing travelers’ evolving demands and the implications for governments, companies and guides we felt it was a good time to talk about new ways to approach product development and marketing,” said Xola President, Christina Heyniger.

ATTA President Shannon Stowell joined Heyniger in offering recommendations for how to approach a basic assessment of natural, cultural and adventure resources in destination using the adventure industry’s 10 Pillars of Adventure Tourism Market Competitiveness.

Special emphasis was given to the expanding demands placed on adventure travel guides in the current market environment, particularly as travelers become more interested in deeper cultural engagement when visiting new places, often in sensitive natural areas. Tips for marketing and links to additional resources were also provided. To view the presentation, click here. Adventure Travel Trade Association members may listen to a recording of the seminar by visiting the ATTA website at www.adventuretravel.biz.

Companies and destinations seeking to develop or enhance their adventure tourism markets are encouraged to attend the 2009 Adventure Travel World Summit October 19-22 in Quebec.

About the Adventure Travel Trade Association
Established in 1990, the Seattle-based ATTA (www.adventuretravel.biz) is a global membership organization dedicated to unifying, networking, professionalizing, promoting and responsibly growing the adventure travel market. ATTA members include tour operators, destination marketing organizations, tourism boards, specialty travel agents, guides, accommodations, media and service providers. The ATTA presents www.adventure.travel, an expansive consumers directory to global adventure travel resources, destinations and operators, as well as the annual Adventure Travel World Summit executive conferences (www.adventuretravelworldsummit.com).

About Xola Consulting, Inc.
Xola Consulting, Inc. (www.xolaconsulting.com) is a consulting and research services firm assisting tour operators, tourism boards and non-profit organizations with sustainable adventure tourism destination and product development, marketing and research. The Xola team is made up of consultants who, in addition to having consulting industry expertise, are also unique in that many of them have owned, operated or guided for adventure travel companies. Xola also publishes Off the Radar (www.travelofftheradar.com), a newsletter and website providing travelers with information about the best adventure operators around the world - those who provide guests with a genuine, personal experience; who believe in sustainable, environmentally sensitive travel; and who believe in incorporating the local people and traditions of the places where they operate.