Buyer Application

ATTA, the Ministry of Tourism of Ecuador, and Cuenca Tourism would like to invite you to apply for a Hosted Buyer opportunity at the AdventureNEXT Cuenca event, which will take place the first week of September 2025.

AdventureNEXT Cuenca gives attending buyers the chance to discover the unique natural and cultural resources and activities in the World Cultural Heritage city of Cuenca, with a deep immersion in less traveled sites of great interest focusing on community-based and nature-based tourism.

Cuenca, Ecuador, is a captivating city nestled in the Andean highlands, celebrated for its rich colonial architecture, cobblestone streets, and vibrant cultural scene. Cuenca enchants visitors with its stunning cathedrals—like the iconic blue-domed New Cathedral—and its charming historic center. The city is also a hub for artisan crafts, particularly Panama hat weaving and traditional ceramics. Nature lovers can explore the nearby Cajas National Park, a breathtaking high-altitude wilderness dotted with lakes and cloud forests. With its blend of history, art, and natural beauty, Cuenca offers an unforgettable experience for every traveler.

Selected buyer delegates will learn about Cuenca through immersive adventure tours. They will be able to make connections with suppliers from Cuenca at the event’s Marketplace, as well as find inspiration in learning about the value and development of adventure travel through speakers and workshops at the event.

Selected hosted buyer delegates will receive complimentary event registration, accommodations during the event, economy round-trip air, airport transfers, and a multi-day experiential adventure at no cost. Hosted buyer delegates are required to participate in a multi-day Pre-Adventure tour.

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

Please read the following information thoroughly to understand the details and requirements of the offer. This offer is valid for one delegate per company. The attendee must be a decision-maker for itinerary development and part of the leadership team. By completing the application form, you will be included in our selection process for one of the limited number of Hosted Buyer spots. Selection is not guaranteed.

Applications will be considered and reviewed with the destination partner, with the goal to host a diverse group of buyers who specialize in adventure and sustainable tourism with a keen interest in community-based tourism and biodiversity, including:

Outbound Tour Operators
Outbound tour operators craft ideal itineraries and sell those itineraries to individuals or groups as a packaged product. These specialized tour operators provide valuable insight into global travel trends and help match destination products to market demand. Itineraries are often multi-day, running from three to over twenty days depending on the destination and experience.

Travel Advisors (also known as Travel Agents, Travel Curators)
The travel advisor is a curator of an experience for a consumer. They can sell various packaged trips or holidays from different tour operators and therefore provide a more diverse range of options in addition to tailoring their own itineraries in direct collaboration with DMCs.

Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) / Web-Based Marketplace
OTAs curate products from the DMC and directly connect the DMC with the consumer. The DMC is the one crafting the product and selling it to the consumer while the OTA takes a commission for bringing the consumer to them.

What do they all have in common?
They are all sourcing (or buying from) local Destination Management Companies (DMCs), or ground handlers and / or sending clients from their home country or specific markets to other destinations.

HOSTED BUYER REQUIREMENTS

Role and expectations if your application is selected:

Fully-hosted buyers are expected to be researching the experience for potential new itineraries or promotion of existing ones. They are also required to meet with suppliers and destinations during the Marketplace sessions.

If a Hosted Buyer spot is offered and accepted, the Hosted Buyer agrees to:

• Participate in a multi-day Pre-Adventure in Cuenca, matching your core product 
• Attend the FULL AdventureNEXT Cuenca event (all conference days)
• Participate in AdventureNEXT Cuenca Marketplace sessions and attend every pre-scheduled meeting
• Obtain your own travel insurance policy for the trip.

PRE-ADVENTURES (PAs)

Selected buyers will receive information about the process for reserving and selecting the PAs after registration is confirmed.

ABOUT THE SELECTION PROCESS

• Hosted buyer selections will be made from the pool of applications received.
• All applications will be considered, reviewed, and selected with the destination partner.
• A cross-set of criteria is used in the application evaluation and selection process to curate a final selection of buyers related to adventure travel. 
• After initial evaluation, criteria used in the final buyers selection includes:
  
  • A representation of all types of buyers, with a combination of Outbound Tour Operators, Travel Advisors and OTAs, and a mix of generalists to specialists (trekking, cycling, wildlife…)
  • A representation of Buyers new to ATTA events with those who have attended prior events
  • ATTA members and non members are welcome to apply
• Due to the large number of applications typically received for a limited number of spots, not all qualified applicants can be selected.
• You will receive an email from the ATTA in early July 2025 informing you of the status of your application

This application closes on 2 June 2025. Applications will be reviewed and final selections made in early July 2025.

APPLY NOW