Canada's insider blog

The Adventure World Travel Summit kicked off in Aviemore, Scotland, today. It’s the annual forum for reps from hundreds of adventure travel companies from around the world. Adventure tour operators and destination marketers rub elbows and swap tales with guides, media and specialty agents.

This year, we at the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) weren’t able to make it (sob), but we’ll be keeping in touch vicariously through Twitter and the blogosphere. The summit is a blend of presentations, movies, fitness tips (so travellers can last through their adventures), open forums and top-notch speakers. One of those on Wednesday (Oct. 6) will be Canadian Keith Bellows, editor-in-chief of National Geographic Traveler, who’s part of a six-person panel giving thought-provoking talks on transformative thinking.

The Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) runs the summit. ATTA membership can be a big asset for tourism boards. Benefits include “fam” (familiarization) trips, access to industry survey data and discounted tour operator membership for partners.

Who out there is attending? How is it? Any reports?